Ezekiel162
Visionary
Silver Level
I see so many players that play Any Two Cards with the thinking that any 2 cards can win. As true as that might be, poker's "luck" can be bent to further effect by playing better cards. I figured this might might help the players that want to sway their "luck" to a more favorable outcome rather than allow "luck" to just randomly run it's course...
I treat the game of poker like a strategic battlefield situation because it helps my perspective. Players are assigned "troops" of various rankings(cards) that are given ammo(chip stacks) to defend their positions/territory(blinds) against an onslaught, while trying to meet up with the strongest reinforcements possible(matching the board while betting the odds the the enemies/players haven't received BETTER reinforcements) to achieve World War domination(Placing in the money).
Because I formerly served in the military, MY troops are ranked similar to military rankings as such (use whatever kind of system works for you) -
The Number Ranks
--------------------
Enlisted Ranks:
2 = private 2nd class
3 = private 1st class
4 = specialist
5 = sergeant
6 = staff sergeant
7 = sergeant 1st class
8 = master sergeant
9 = first sergeant
Broadway cards are Officer Ranks:
-----------------------------------
T = lieutenant
J = 2nd lieutenant
Q = captain
K = major
A = colonel
? = general (where the...? where the heck is my general?)
YOU and only YOU are always the GENERAL because YOU determine the strategies of where/when/if your troops go into battle, how much ammo to dispense to who and how tactical situations will be resolved.
An army is only as capable as the GENERAL or FOOL/DONK, leading them...
The suits to me are like branches of the service (Army, Air Force, Navy, National Guard), fraternities, teams. Obviously teams work better together than those put together from different teams.
The Suited Ranks
------------------
Spades = Air Force (resembles planes somewhat)
Clubs = Army (uses brute force)
Diamonds = Navy (almost boat shaped)
Hearts = National Guard (used more in peace-time situations)
Battlefield Coordination
---------------------------------
It is what it is.... coordination between your troops. The better your coordination(outs) obviously the better your chances(odds) of winning battles(hands) in the war(game/placing in the money). It's amazing how many players (that don't read, or practice, etc...) do NOT understand this concept.
Higher Ranking is obviously better than lower ranking:
Would you rather have an Ace(Colonel) or a King(Major)? A Nine(First Sergeant) or a Two(Private 2nd Class)?
Connecting is better than non-connecting:
Would you rather have AK(A Colonel and a Major) or T5(A Lieutenant and a Sergeant)? A KQ(A Major and a Captain) or KT(A Major and a Lieutenant)?
Suiteds are obviously better than nonsuited:
Would you rather have two diamonds(2 Navy members together fighting) or a spade and a club(1 Airforce and 1 Army Member)? 2 clubs(2 Army members) or a club and a heart(1 Army member and a National Guard member)?
Pairs are better than non-pairs
Would you rather have AA(2 Colonels) or a AK(a Colonel and a Major)? QQ(2 Captains) or AJ(A colonel and a 2nd Lieutenant)?
NOTE: How you might answer some of the above ALWAYS depends on YOU (The General) because every General has their own strategies...
Thinking of the above in this manner helps to give me more perspective so that now:
AcKc is a Army Colonel and a Army Major. Powerful combo because they both are high ranking & coordinated because their ranks are fairly similar (connected) and they work under the same branch (suited).
AcKd is a Army Colonel and a Navy Major (some ranks are not the same between branches. I'm keeping it simple...) Still a Powerful combo because they both are high ranking but less coordinated because their ranks although fairly similar (connected) they don't work under the same branch (suited) so they don't agree on certain tactics making them slightly weaker than the team before...
Other examples should be self explanatory at this point...
Hopefully this brief article gives newer players more insight as to why certain card combinations should be played or folded at least until they become a General with complex strategies (learning post flop play...) Experiment with your own card types/groups/rankings for whatever is most comfortable for you... Enjoy...
ps: I'm no teacher, nor trying to be... I'm just here learning new insight from more advanced players as well as trying to give something back. Thanks for your time...
I treat the game of poker like a strategic battlefield situation because it helps my perspective. Players are assigned "troops" of various rankings(cards) that are given ammo(chip stacks) to defend their positions/territory(blinds) against an onslaught, while trying to meet up with the strongest reinforcements possible(matching the board while betting the odds the the enemies/players haven't received BETTER reinforcements) to achieve World War domination(Placing in the money).
Because I formerly served in the military, MY troops are ranked similar to military rankings as such (use whatever kind of system works for you) -
The Number Ranks
--------------------
Enlisted Ranks:
2 = private 2nd class
3 = private 1st class
4 = specialist
5 = sergeant
6 = staff sergeant
7 = sergeant 1st class
8 = master sergeant
9 = first sergeant
Broadway cards are Officer Ranks:
-----------------------------------
T = lieutenant
J = 2nd lieutenant
Q = captain
K = major
A = colonel
? = general (where the...? where the heck is my general?)
YOU and only YOU are always the GENERAL because YOU determine the strategies of where/when/if your troops go into battle, how much ammo to dispense to who and how tactical situations will be resolved.
An army is only as capable as the GENERAL or FOOL/DONK, leading them...
The suits to me are like branches of the service (Army, Air Force, Navy, National Guard), fraternities, teams. Obviously teams work better together than those put together from different teams.
The Suited Ranks
------------------
Spades = Air Force (resembles planes somewhat)
Clubs = Army (uses brute force)
Diamonds = Navy (almost boat shaped)
Hearts = National Guard (used more in peace-time situations)
Battlefield Coordination
---------------------------------
It is what it is.... coordination between your troops. The better your coordination(outs) obviously the better your chances(odds) of winning battles(hands) in the war(game/placing in the money). It's amazing how many players (that don't read, or practice, etc...) do NOT understand this concept.
Higher Ranking is obviously better than lower ranking:
Would you rather have an Ace(Colonel) or a King(Major)? A Nine(First Sergeant) or a Two(Private 2nd Class)?
Connecting is better than non-connecting:
Would you rather have AK(A Colonel and a Major) or T5(A Lieutenant and a Sergeant)? A KQ(A Major and a Captain) or KT(A Major and a Lieutenant)?
Suiteds are obviously better than nonsuited:
Would you rather have two diamonds(2 Navy members together fighting) or a spade and a club(1 Airforce and 1 Army Member)? 2 clubs(2 Army members) or a club and a heart(1 Army member and a National Guard member)?
Pairs are better than non-pairs
Would you rather have AA(2 Colonels) or a AK(a Colonel and a Major)? QQ(2 Captains) or AJ(A colonel and a 2nd Lieutenant)?
NOTE: How you might answer some of the above ALWAYS depends on YOU (The General) because every General has their own strategies...
Thinking of the above in this manner helps to give me more perspective so that now:
AcKc is a Army Colonel and a Army Major. Powerful combo because they both are high ranking & coordinated because their ranks are fairly similar (connected) and they work under the same branch (suited).
AcKd is a Army Colonel and a Navy Major (some ranks are not the same between branches. I'm keeping it simple...) Still a Powerful combo because they both are high ranking but less coordinated because their ranks although fairly similar (connected) they don't work under the same branch (suited) so they don't agree on certain tactics making them slightly weaker than the team before...
Other examples should be self explanatory at this point...
Hopefully this brief article gives newer players more insight as to why certain card combinations should be played or folded at least until they become a General with complex strategies (learning post flop play...) Experiment with your own card types/groups/rankings for whatever is most comfortable for you... Enjoy...
ps: I'm no teacher, nor trying to be... I'm just here learning new insight from more advanced players as well as trying to give something back. Thanks for your time...