Importance of Poker Starting Hands
One of the biggest mistakes new players make is play too many hands. Playing online and not playing a lot of hands can be boring at times, but if you want to be a winning player you must be selective with your starting hands. This may cause you to get a little angry if you had a 10h7s in your hand and the flop is 10 10 7, but this is rare. You are far more likely to miss hitting your hand and lose more money over time with this hand than you would make. Poker is about making smart profitable decisions. This article is geared more towards limit holdem than no limit or a tournament. Tournament strategies are a lot different than cash (ring) games. In cash games you are not under any time and blind pressures like in a tournament.
Your position relative to the blinds is very imporant. You should be playing less hands from early position and more hands from late position especially when you are in the dealer position. The blinds are a little different because of the forced bets.
Assuming a ten person table:
Early position includes: The immediate person to the left of the big blind also called Under The Gun (UTG) and the next position to the left
Middle position includes: The next three positions moving to the left (clockwise)
Late position includes: The next three positions ending with the dealer position
This leaves the two blinds: small and big blind.
Early Positions
Because you are in early position you do not have a lot of information with a lot of people still have to bet. Because of this you are not in an ideal bet. This means you should just be playing premium hands that will have a high percentage of winning.
Play large pairs: AA, KK, QQ, JJ, sometimes 10 10. 10 10 can be beaten easily if you do not hit your set by any over card. Since many people play high cards you’ll be beaten if many people are in the pot. Pairs are best to play against fewer players.
Also play AKs, AKo, AQs, AQo. AJo and AJs can be played if you are at a weak table, but you have to fold the hand if you feel strength after the flop.
If you are at a loose table (many players seeing the flop) you can play KQs, J10s since these are drawing hands, and if you make your hands (straight, flush, or straight flush) you will win a large pot. If the flop misses, fold the hand.
Middle Position
In middle position you have a little more information because a few people have already bet. You still are not in an ideal position so you should be selective on your hands still.
Play all of the hands you would in early position
You can play 10 10, 99, 88, 77, AJs, AJo, A10s, A10o, KQs, KQo
If you are at a loose table, you can add Axs. You are hoping to hit a nut flush and win a big pot. If you miss the flop, fold the hand. Even if you hit top pair (Aces) you are still probably behind unless you hit two pair.
If you play 1010, 99, 88, 77 you have to be able to fold the hand if you think you are losing after the flop. You are trying to hit your set and win a big pot. The middle pairs are good to limp in (minimum bet) and see a flop. If you hit your set than bet aggressively
Late Position
In late position you have the luxury to place your initial bet after most of the other table and on all bets to come. This is very important. This allows you to play more hands in late position. Since you will get a feel for what everyone at the table has, you can bet, fold, raise accordingly
Play all the hands you would from early and middle position
Add Axs, QJs, QJo, J10s, any suited connector to 76s
In late position you are going to play a lot more drawing hands
Remember that you must take into account what other players are betting. If someone has raised the pot, you shouldn’t play so many drawing hands because you are up against a pretty strong hand most likely. If a lot of raising, reraising is going on, only play the premium hands.
In Summary
In early position play few hands. Only the premium hands
In middle position you should loosing up a little bit
In late position you should play most of your hands
For further reading I would strongly suggest your read Player’s Guide by David Sklansky and Lee Jones. It examines starting hands in holdem.
