US Friendly Poker Sites
Holdem Starting HandsUS Friendly Poker Sites » Holdem Starting Hands
Pocket pairs are a good starting hand in late table position with no previous raises. Play them slow in the early positions. Aces, Kings and Queens are strong until someone raises before the FLOP. Suited connected small cards can be played if the bets are small and there were no significant raises. Small pairs are a danger with many players calling, as they are easy to beat unless you get trips. Play unless the raises get out of line. High card connectors are worth a draw if the price to call is right and there are no significant raises. Many hands can be played depending on the betting that preceded the decision to call. The call if there is a large raise is one of feel and maybe a hunch.
After the flop the hands are beginning to shape up. With two cards to go one player could have four to a flush, another could have trips or two of a kind. The betting may give a clue as to how strong the hand you have to call is. If you have a hand with many outs, you may need to give a little on the rational to call. Number of outs do matter and need to be considered when thinking about what to do.
If you plan to run a bluff, be prepared to bet at least three times to carry it out.
Strong starting hands can be slow played to try to get a better payoff out of the hand. Just do not cry if you let someone outdraw you by slow playing. Skill at betting a hand to get maximum value is part of learning to play Holdem very well.
Playing small suited connectors can be very profitable since most people are drawing to high cards. If you make your hand, you will be very likely to get paid off. Watch any TV tournament and you will see this play over and over from the better players.
Conclusions
Any good poker book will give you a list of poker stating hands and will have a chapter on starting hands. Some players are so hung up on starting hands, that they cost themselves money as the other players will not play if the Flop is likely to have helped a high pair. By never changing their strategy, they give away too much to the other players.
Copyright © - 2012 US Friendly Poker Sites all rights reserved. 