| Starting hand selection is a basic
strategy that every player should know. David Sklansky was the first to lay out a proper
starting hand selection based on your position at the table. Other books have taken the
theory a bit further; Phil Hellmuth coined his phrase “top 10 hands” in his
book. Starting hand selection, like everything in poker, has a lot to do with the
situation you’re in at the time. There’s
no sense discussing the top 10 hands very much. These hands are usually good to play in
any position, regardless of the tempo of the table. They consist of A-A, K-K, Q-Q, J-J,
A-K, A-Q, A-J, K-J and A-10. The last two are a bit dangerous in early positions, but if
the game you’re playing isn’t aggressive, those hands can be played early on.
For novice players learning the game, these hands are all they should be playing. For
players that are a little more experienced, many other hands can be played, depending on
the situation you’re in at the time.
Suited connectors are hands that can be played from any
position if you think there won’t be a raise after you act. It’s not recommended
that you call too big of a raise with these hands because you will be dominated by any big
pair you run into. If you flat call the blinds and the raise is too big, you’ll have
to give away what you called without seeing a flop, and that’s essentially giving
away chips. Against two big cards your chances are pretty good, so if an opponent makes a
small raise, and you feel like gambling, you can try your luck and see the flop. Suited
connectors are great cards to have in late positions because they present limping and
raising opportunities, depending on the tempo of the hand.
Suited aces are a lot like suited connectors in strength,
but they carry a different danger. With suited aces it’s easy to get into kicker
trouble if you hit your ace. Calling a raise with these hands means that you pretty much
have to hit your flush or two pair. And even two pair can be vulnerable if there’s
another big card that a player with a big ace may have hit for a bigger two pair. Try to
limp into pots with these hands, unless you’re on the button and no one has forced
the action, then you can raise it up.
Small pairs are good hands to play if the pre-flop action
isn’t too aggressive. Like the suited connectors, it not a good idea to call, only to
have to relinquish what you threw in there after someone makes a big raise. These hands
are best played pre-flop with a raise, so you can find out what you’re up against. If
you can’t force everyone out pre-flop, you’ll pretty much need to hit your set.
Any big cards on the board could be trouble, and you’ll usually be out of position. A
continuation bet is ok post flop if you have position and your opponent/opponents
haven’t bet out.
Any other hands shouldn’t really be played unless
you’re in a short table situation or you’re in a blind position. |
