Poker Talk

If you intend to be a good Texas Holdem Poker player, you must know which are the finest starting hands, the ones that you can play and the ones that you must fold. Bluffing may help you win any kind of hand but there are several hands that can help you win more often and with guaranteed earnings.

Here we shall discuss the ten most excellent starting hands that can assure you of good results.

Ace-Ace:

The finest starting hand that you can get in Texas Holdem is a set of two Aces also called pocket rockets.

King-King:

The second best hand is ‘King Kong’ also known as the cowboys.

Queen-Queen:

The third most appropriate hand in Holdem Poker is a pair of Queens also known as the ‘ladies’.

Ace-King:

Some players may not think so but most agree to the fact that the Ace-King suited hand or the ‘big flick’ is the fourth most convenient hand in Texas Holdem.

Ace-Queen:

This is considered the fifth best hand and is a set of an Ace and a Queen of the same suit. It is also called the ‘big chick’ or ‘little slick’.

Jack-Jack:

A set of Jacks or ‘fishhooks’ makes the sixth most excellent hand.

King-Queen:

A King and Queen of the same suit make the seventh best hand in Holdem Poker.

Ace-Jack:

An Ace and a Jack of the same suit is considered the top starting hand in Black Jack, but in Holdem it is the eighth highest starting hand.

Ace-King Off Suit:

To see this pair listed as one of the preeminent starting hands may come as a surprise but it definitely is a pair that can be considered as the ninth top hand in Texas Holdem.

Ten-Ten:

This takes up the tenth position in the list. Also known as the ‘dimes’, this set of tens is a good starting hand.

As a new comer to the game, you should abide by these 10 foremost starting hand strategies, as they will always help you win. When you are well into the game and have enough experience to know that you can test out other starting hands, you can do so with ease. You could even try bluffing at this point.

However, you must always bear in mind that you can even lose money if you attempt playing with vulnerable hands. So, think clearly and play wisely.

It’s not exactly a secret that online, the vast majority of players suck at poker. Not only do they suck at the game itself, they pretty much suck at everything connected to it. Take rakeback for instance. While deals like the ongame rakeback and the rakeback Full Tilt Poker offers give players a handy advantage over the house rake, the vast majority of them never even consider signing up for such a deal. Some of these guys do realize they’ve made a mistake by signing up without rakeback, but they only do so when it’s already too late and they have an account opened. Most online poker rooms won’t allow those who already have a rakeback-less account to open a new one for rakeback.

Anyway, learning about the advantages of rakeback and signing up for a deal is only a matter of some reading up. Most of the factors that will differentiate you from suckers at the poker table are similarly “insignificant”.

The truth is, you don’t need to be a rocket scientist and you don’t even need to be extremely skilled in poker to beat 95% of players out there. Just master a few basic concepts and you’ll be amazed at how big an improvement you’ll show at the table.

One of the most common mistakes rookies make is that they play way too many hands. Every time they pick up their two pocket cards, they start seeing all sorts of dreamy flops that will hit their hand dead on. Then they build on the weak starting hand mistake by chasing it way too deep into the hand.

There are several reasons why beginners act this way, not the least of which are the “strategies” they pick up watching televised tournaments. Guys on TV seem to be raising and shoving on almost any two cards, and professional players openly advocate that real poker is about playing the player and not the cards, and therefore they can win pots on any two cards.

First of all, professionals are correct about the importance of playing the player over playing one’s cards, but you have to bear in mind that these guys don’t play on the same thought level that you do. On the level where they play, starting hand selection takes a back seat to playing the player, but on your level (which is most probably the first or second level of poker thought, where you only consider your cards and maybe the board texture), proper starting hand selection is vital.

Add to that the fact that the hands you see on TV are specially selected ones (they’re not going to show you the hundreds of hands that were folded before because it’s just too boring for TV) and that you may have seen action from the closing stages of a high buy-in tournament where starting hand values change radically.

The bottom line is, as a rookie you should exercise proper starting hand selection. There’s no shame in learning starting hand charts. After all, if you do not consider the suits, there are 169 possible two-card starting hands, and some of those hands win a much higher percentage of the time than others.

The premium starting hands are the AA,KK, QQ, JJ and AK suited. These hands are not guaranteed winners, but they do offer you a serious edge over the suckers at your table. Don’t lose sight of the fact that real poker begins after the flop, however, by selecting your starting hands well, you’ll make it much easier on yourself to play after the flop and you’ll simplify the decisions you’ll be forced to make.

Besides the starting hand selection, keep an eye out for your table position as well. The same starting hand will have a different value depending on whether you’re in early or late position and depending on the information you collect on your opponents before you act.

It’s not always fun and profitable playing poker, especially when you are playing a level you are not very familiar with such as Omaha Poker or 7 card stud poker. There are nights when your stars don’t seem to be in cosmic alignment. And nights when you just don’t feel in a good mood. Those nights are real hard and a pain in the neck. Who wants to lose money, anyway? But you are a good player. You can handle yourself well whatever bad luck comes your way. So, no reason to go on a tilt. But that is not always the case. No matter how strong your intention of playing well is, there are still moments that you lose control of yourself and play hands you shouldn’t be playing.

I know what you will ask now, how do you avoid these slip offs and keep yourself in control. There are actually simple and easy steps to avoid them. First off, if you feel like going on a tilt, shake yourself off, stand up, and go for a walk. Simply put, refresh yourself. Have a chat with your friend or order some coffee to pump up your adrenaline. You can also go to the washroom and sprinkle water on your face. There’s nothing more refreshing and better at getting back your energy in playing Texas Holdem Poker than cold water on your face. You can also pinch your toes to bring back the energy you lost. This may sound silly to you, but believe me it does brings you back from the hypnosis you had at the table.

Second, try the letter therapy. Get a piece of paper and wrote there “I am here to make good decisions at the table. Not simply to win money.” Write that a few times and put it in your pocket. Every time you feel like tilting or making a bad decision, take it out and read it. That would remind you of your real goal in those
Poker Sites.

Third, keep a positive attitude. You have in your hands the power to make your games as good as it can get. It’s about how you face and act in every game. Don’t let your negative attitude overcome you. Stay focused and every time you lose tell yourself, “that money I lost was not mine. It was just visiting.”

Lastly, every time you play poker, be it in casinos or online poker rooms, think of it as a job. Tell yourself that you are hired to play there. The money you have is not yours, but it belongs to your boss. And unless you make good decisions, you are not to be paid. Think of your boss as mean and demanding. He doesn’t care if you win or lose as long as you play correctly and make sound decisions. Naturally, you would not want to be fired, right? So, make sure to always make the right choices, and your spot at the payroll is guaranteed.

There you are. Simple and easy-to-do steps to keep yourself in check. Keep them in mind and you are sure to have fun at the tables.

“Barry, can you play tight in a Texas Holdem Poker game?” that’s what a friend ask me sometime ago. Good question. For beginners and those who don’t know yet what a tight player is, he is the one who starts the hand with a high pair like an AK. He’s easy to spot in a table. He usually only raises when he feels he has a sure thing.

To most poker players, including me, playing too tight is not really a problem. This is also true to new poker and low limit players playing Holdem or 5 card stud poker. But when it comes to high limit games, players often play tight and aggressive. One attitude of a player that’s too tight is that he does not vary in his play. This makes him easy to spot and avoid at the table. Often, it is easy to get rid of less quality hands when raised by a tight player. That is if you don’t have a very big hand.

As I’ve said, tight players are easy to spot, so this make them win less money. How? Let’s say I make a call against most of the players at the table when I have a good, but not great, hands in me. When the too tight player bets, I would throw away all my hands. I may be giving the tight player a chance to win the pot by bluffing, but I know that I am not risking much as the tight player will seldom or never bluff.

So, can you play too tight in a No Limit Holdem game? Definitely. There’s nothing wrong with playing too tight. If you don’t, those who played nothing but a pocket of aces will win the most. Now, that’s what you don’t want to happen, right? So, don’t be afraid to play tight once in a while.

Take a heed though that when you are at the table, it is best to study your opponents. Learn their skills and techniques. If you can’t take playing too tight at all times or your opponents are better than you, don’t hesitate to transfer to another table. If you see that playing too tight works for you, then it is best to take advantage of the situation and win lots of pots.

But remember, if you have been playing too tight for a while know, take time to loosen up. Don’t stay in one technique in all your plays. Most successful poker players combine tactics in their game. So, you can random your playing style and combine it with a tight play. But don’t play aggressively and tightly when you are don’t have the best play. Just simply resort to tightness rather than playing too aggressive. Other players at your table may not like this, but don’t mind them. This can work to your advantage.

So, whatever Poker Games you play, just play hard and play with your mind. If ever you decide to play too tight, take a well-calculated risk. Remember that the best hands don’t always win the pot. It all depends on how you play the game.

Poker is one of the most popular games played online today. I’ve been playing this game for a long time now on various poker sites. I first learned it in our kitchen table with my uncles. Back then, all I knew were the basics. I was such an aggressive player because I want to win lots of pot for my dates on weekends. But much to my dismay, my aggressiveness did not win me lots of Poker Games. As I grew older, my realize my mistakes and negative techniques that worsen my play. These days, when I play in online poker sites or casinos, I try hard not to commit the beginner’s mistakes I did before.

My favorite uncle told me before that poker is a game of skill rather than luck. It is a game that requires skill and great deception in order to win. By playing with my mind, I can still get ahead of my opponents despite losing a few sessions. He added that patience is also a good virtue in poker. He told me that I cannot just charge every game. I have to wait for my cards. When they come, that’s when I make my move and push my chips into the game. He was such a great man. He was the one who taught me how to win at poker by not forcing my luck on it.

These days, I’m teaching a cousin to play poker. I’m trying to impart to him everything that my uncle has told me. If you are a newbie at poker as well, let me share to you what I told my cousin. I hope I can help you get better at your game, be it a casino or Online Poker game.

The first important point to remember when in a Poker Room is to keep your emotions and attitude in check. The table is not a place for you to show your frustration in life or your love for foul words. Your opponents won’t tolerate you. If you don’t want to get thrown out of the room, control yourself.

Second, not knowing what a bet is in a Pot Limit Texas Holdem game. As a beginner, you have to know that the bet is when it is your turn to play the game. Understand that in a limit game, the bets doubled before and after the flop. Now, that is what you have to keep track of.

Third, know your limitations. Don’t play in a $10 table in your first game. Start at the lower tables and work your way up. It’s never a good idea to force your way up when your skills are not yet enough. Only when you have enough experience and skill can you win as many pots as you want.

Fourth, never play when you are drunk or in a bad mood. The biggest mistake you can make as a beginner is to lose control at the table. Your opponents would take advantage of your situation and take as much money as they can from you.

Lastly, never play more than what you have in your pocket. Set a limit to yourself. When you have used all the money you have set for that day, stop playing. Don’t chase after the money you lost. Just leave the table and go back on another time.