Starting Hands in Texas Hold ‘Em

No other casino game offers similar advantages to those we enjoy in the poker room. The other games don’t even come close. What other game allows you to view your cards and then decide whether you will play or not, even before you have placed a bet?

The importance of selecting good starting hands can’t be overstated. Some players seem to believe any two cards may end up getting “hit in the mouth” on the flop. In the short term one might see profits from playing low quality starting hands.  Over a period of time, however, the profit derived from low quality starting hands will invariably turn into a loss.

There are many considerations regarding starting hands including but not limited to;

The quality of your hole cards
Your chip stack
Your opponents chip stacks
Your position at the table
The size of the pot
The aggressiveness or passiveness of players yet to act
In tournament play you will also want to consider the stage of the tourney

If you try to start out with an inferior hand (hoping it will hit on the board) then you place yourself in a position of having to play catch-up time after time. Over the course of time this will have a negative effect on your bankroll. All other things being equal, over time the player who generally plays better starting hands will emerge as the more profitable player.

 Consider this – In each hand of poker that is dealt, there are likely to be two or three players who are dealt good cards. If you decide to play with inferior cards you have to beat all the people who have been dealt good cards.  Over time the results of playing inferior starting hands against good hands will create a negative expected income from your poker play.

Obviously the blinds and the player on the button will enjoy greater latitude to play weaker starting hands, but don’t get crazy. If you’re in good position and can limp in then go ahead and you may get lucky. If you don’t get lucky then you should get out of the betting before any more of your chips go into the pot.

Until next time, good luck on the felt.

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