For beginners and amateurs alike starting hand requirements will help separate you from the donkey's taking all of your chips when they got lucky hitting a straight playing seven-four off suit under the gun and the skilled player who selectively picks his hands and is almost never behind when he hits his hands.
The first thing to do is to devise either on paper while thinking about the game which starting hands you will play. There are a few ways to determine which hands you should play and which hands you should let go and once you develop this section of your game you will be on your way to playing successful poker. If you have no idea which hands should be played and you just play any two cards or any face cards than let me lay things out for you but first some terminology. The term opening the pot means you're the first one to enter the pot with either a call or a raise. The term under the gun means first to act or to the left of the big blind. The term suited connector refers to hands like seven-eight suited or nine-ten suited
Hands to play based on your playing style:
Tight players: If you are a tight player and don't want to play a lot of hands than the worst hand you should open a pot with should be J-10s any hands ranking below that hand should be promptly folded. This does not apply to pocket pairs, which you should play 6s and up but lower pocket pairs should only be played in later position. Hands like K-Q, Q-J, K-J etc... are only played in middle or late position by tight players.
Loose players: If you like to play a lot of hands than the worst opening hand you should play is J-7 and you should play all pocket pairs in just about any position. You also like to play suited connectors, any two face cards and king-7+ suited.
The next thing to take into consideration is your table position relative to the blinds and the dealer. This is of vital importance and is usually ignored or unbeknownst by the common donkey. To simplify playing cards based on position, when you are under the gun or after the player under the gun you should play your tightest, most selective game in this position. Once you are in middle position with about the same amount of players to your left and right relative to the blinds than you can loosen up slightly but don't get carried away. Once you get to the dealer button or one to two before the dealer than you can play your loosest game but that doesn't mean play any two cards, regardless of your playing style still no hand worse than maybe 7-6s should be played in this position. When you are in the blinds, even though you have money invested unless you can check your option I usually advise playing a tighter game because you will be out of position post-flop and will have to act with minimal information about opponents hands.
|
For a more in-depth and complete explanation of starting hand requirements, the top ranked hands, playing styles and table positional play please refer to the starting hand requirements tips section of http://www.mega-poker.net and explore the other strategy sections of the site. Also join the forums for more poker advise as well as referring to my personal blog for more informal strategies not found on the main site. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matt_Canei |
2008-03-01 02:13:35
While the only way to learn how to really dominate the table in online poker gaming is to play a lot, there are a number of key things to remember to get your strategies in place and be able to keep your cool under pressure.
1 – Not every hand needs to be played!
Not every hand is a winner and not every hand can be bluffed well either. It is not a problem to fold a few times to then...
2008-03-01 02:10:23
Here is a poker strategy that many people fail to follow, but by adopting it you will help yourself become a better player and you will have an edge on the weaker players in your game.
First, switch your thinking for a moment from cards to slot machines. As yourself this: What is the worst part of playing slot machines? It's when the first two slots reveal a big win, but the third slot turned...
2008-03-01 02:07:38
There are all kinds of Texas Holdem poker strategy idea out there that players swear by. While many of them will work some of the time, they won’t always hold water. No matter how good a Texas Holdem poker strategy happens to be, the fact is a little luck will come into play. There are, however, some Texas Holdem poker strategy suggestions that can help players put the odds in their...
2008-03-01 02:05:59
Trying your luck on a poker tournament? Whether you're a newbie or a pro, you will need more than just good luck. Arm yourself with a useful poker tournament strategiy to fatten up your pockets.
Friday-night Games vs. Big Bad Tournaments
Playing with your buddies on Friday nights is one thing. Joining a poker tournament is another. Not only are stakes raised to bigger bucks, the game shifts...
2008-02-27 01:56:14
Thousands of men and women from different corners of the world have taken up online poker playing in the past several years. Most analysts agree that the number of people who regularly participate in online poker will double within the coming couple of years.
Perhaps you have started playing online poker. If so, you likely are interested in some tips that will assist you in bettering your game....
2008-02-27 01:52:14
The goal of this article is to show you how anyone can actually begin playing online poker for real money without making a deposit or using a credit card. I have made over $4000 dollars playing poker online without ever using my own money. It’s a great way for beginning players to start risk-free. Listed below are 3 easy steps to follow.
Step 1
Create a Neteller Account
You’re...
2008-02-27 01:48:14
Successfully stealing blinds in Texas Holdem poker is a secret weapon of many poker pros. However, like anything else this is a learned skill and one that takes as much know-how as it does experience.
To be able to consistently steal blinds from your poker opponents you must master these five insider poker secrets.
1. Be Aggressive
First and foremost you can not win and steal blinds...
2008-02-27 01:45:44
Making a living playing online poker is certainly not for everyone. However, it can definitely be done. And for some it can be accomplished easier than you ever thought possible. Follow these seven steps and discover if making a living playing online poker is right for you.
1) Know What Games to Play
If you want to make a decent living playing online poker you must know what games to...
2008-02-27 01:44:39
In poker, you place bets due to one of two reasons:
1) you feel you have the best hand and you want to increase the size of the pot or
2) you feel your opponent has a weak hand and they will fold if you bet.
Make sense?
Sure, you can add variations to the above but that's really what it comes down to. In order to maximize your winnings it's not how many pots you win but how big...
2008-02-27 01:41:21
Online poker tells can be read just as easily and be just as profitable as being able to read someone heads up in person. Although you cannot physically see the opponent, there are many different things your opponent can do to give away his hand. A few things to look for are:
• The Whiner
When a person gets beat by a dumb play by his opponent, drawn out on, or completely bluffed,...
2008-02-27 01:29:44
There is a saying which basically states that the game of poker can be learned in minutes and yet takes a lifetime to master. Yes, the rules are easy to learn. However, poker is a multi-faceted game. This means that it takes more than knowledge of the rules to walk away from the table a winner.
To excel in poker, a player must know about the other aspects of the game. A winning player must be...
100% FREE CASINO TIPS AND SYSTEMS
NO POP UPS
NO SPYWARE