NLHE Starting Hands

This is a subject that just gets beat to death...

Plus, I think way to many players put too much emphasis on pre-flop play (small mistakes) and not enough on post flop play (big mistakes), myself included.

But, for various reasons, I am looking into developing my own pre-flop strategy/NLHE starting hands chart. I understand that the nature of NLHE makes this a difficult (if not impossible) problem to solve. Optimum pre-flop strategy involves adaptation to current game conditions and structure. No lock step procedure is going to cut it... I'm looking for something that could be recommended to absolute beginners are used by more advanced players in unknown game conditions (early in a session against new opponents).

I'm starting with simple circumstances. Namely, from a given position, which hands should you open raise?

I'm starting with the assumption that from EP-MP you should only open with what is likely the best hand. In late position, you need to open up that range a little to take advantage of fold equity.

So, from UTG, in a ten player game you should only open with the best 10% of all possible starting hands. From +4 (with 5 players left to act) you should open with the best 17%.

I may come up with my own hand ranking system or use pokerstove to decided which hands are top 10%, top 20%, etc...

Then, I'm going to go back and moved some hands around based on the nature of NL play. For instance, the top 15.4% of possible starting hands (using PS) would include Q9s and exclude 66. In a NL game I'd much rather raise w/ 66 than Q9s.

See any holes? Comments/suggestions? Is this thing on? Does anyone have a dollar that I could borrow?

Most any of the currently remoccended starting hand charts would work fine for new players, if they believed in & followed them, which, of course, they don't. Beginning players need to put most of their emphasis on pre flop play, as their inexperience puts them at a disadvantage most anytime they get past the flop.

As you progress as a player you will put more emphasis on post flop play and widen you range of hands. Ithink this is a natual progression as you learn.

But I think opening you mind to different ideas/plays will help you at any time.

Part 4, Section 9 in Hold'em Poker for Advanced Players is titled: "Its Important to be S00ted."