The one thing I remember at the beginning of my poker-playing career was the need for guidelines. I wanted to know what the best starting poker hands were and how to play them. As time goes by, you’ll learn that there are many other factors that go into becoming a winning poker player. However, hand selection has to be the single most important factor in your list of skills to develop. If you’ve gotten past the first stage of learning how to play Texas Holdem, you are ready to start learning how to make money playing live or at internet poker rooms.
If you combine the strategy presented here with the available online poker gambling bonuses, you’ll have a money-making combination. This article applies to No Limit Texas Hold’em cash game (full table) hands only. Poker tournament hands and Fixed Limit Texas Hold’em hands will be covered another time.
Starting hands for No Limit Hold’em cash games
I suggest that, as a new player, you restrict your play to these 15 hands. All pocket pairs(13 total), AK, and AQ – that’s it!
Again, this hand selection strategy applies to a full table of 9-10 players. Short-handed (6-max) tables require a very different strategy. This group of hands is very limited, but they should keep you out of many tough spots. Restricting yourself to these hands only will allow you to a) make money or at least b) break even while trying to clear a poker bonus. Next, I’ll talk about how to play specific hands to make you the most money.
How to play the best Texas Hold’em starting hands
AA, KK, QQ, JJ, & 1010
If no one else has raised, you should raise all of these hands. A good rule of thumb for your raises is (4xBig Blind) +1 Big Blind for every limper. So, if you’re playing .05/.10 NL your standard raise would be $.20 (4 x .05). Just add .05 more per limper to punish them for limping. If there has been a raise before it’s your turn, reraise AA and KK and just call with QQ, JJ, and 1010. If there has been a raise and a big reraise in front of you, push all-in with AA and KK and fold everything else.
AK and AQ
Raise both of these if no one else has raised first. If there’s a raise in front of you, call with AK and fold AQ. AQ doesn’t play well in a raised pot so just muck it!
All other pairs 22-99 – Flop sets.. get paid
Limp or call a standard raise with all of these pairs. You don’t mind a standard sized raise because you are hoping to flop three-of-a-kind and win a huge pot. If you miss your set, be ready to fold if there’s any real action. This is your bread and butter in No Limit. Be patient, wait for your set, and get paid.
Yes, this a simple strategy, but it will make you money while you’re learning the ropes as a No Limit poker player. As you gain more of an understanding of betting patterns, position, stack size, etc, you’ll be able to expand your hand selection and become an even better poker player.
Testing my 15 Poker Starting Hands Strategy
WIthout a doubt, one of the best internet poker rooms to test this strategy has to be PokerStars. They offer stakes as low as .01/.02, and to avoid getting bored while waiting for one of the 15 hands, you can play multiple tables. Right now they are offering a deposit bonus where you deposit at least $50, and they will give you $50 FREE. To get the PokerStars bonus, simply follow this link, download their free software, and enter the bonus code First2008 at sign up. Keep me posted on how these poker starting hands work for you!
Do you have questions or comments about these No Limit poker starting hands?
Best Gambling Bonus 2008
Fri, Jun 27, 2008
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