Decent Starting Hands

When you start poker you probably read at least one book about poker. This is good and proper, but you may be confused by the huge number of starting hands contained in them. Here is a simple way that won't tax your mental faculties unduely.
Play only hands that have A, K, Q, J or 10 in them. Fold any hand that has a 9 card or lower in either or both. Of the 1326 possible hands you will be playing 190 of them, or roughly 14%. If you think this is too few, include the nines, which increases your hands played to 276 or to almost 21%. When you are dealt one of the suggested hands play it in your usual way. When in the small blind, if you think the hand is playable, play it. When in the big blind always check if you can, regardless of what you're holding. Other players will soon sus you out if you play only the suggested hands, and you might not get too much action, so now and again play other hands to confuse them.

I agree this is good advice. I used the Sklansky starting hand chart when I was getting started. It sounds like you're recommending only playing the top 3 tiers of the chart when first starting. I've only been playing about a year myself so I still stick to this for the most part. I try to mix it up with suited connectors and two gappers.

What about position though? I think any starting hands strength is always related to the players position. Like, If I have KT on the button, that's a raise but KT under the gun is a fold.

I don't really agree with this
99,88 is way more playble in my opinion than A10,K10...

Running Nose II said:

When you start poker you probably read at least one book about poker. This is good and proper, but you may be confused by the huge number of starting hands contained in them. Here is a simple way that won't tax your mental faculties unduely.
Play only hands that have A, K, Q, J or 10 in them. Fold any hand that has a 9 card or lower in either or both. Of the 1326 possible hands you will be playing 190 of them, or roughly 14%. If you think this is too few, include the nines, which increases your hands played to 276 or to almost 21%. When you are dealt one of the suggested hands play it in your usual way. When in the small blind, if you think the hand is playable, play it. When in the big blind always check if you can, regardless of what you're holding. Other players will soon sus you out if you play only the suggested hands, and you might not get too much action, so now and again play other hands to confuse them.

Click to expand...

Soooooo, were do you play again? And whats your nickname there? Oh, and the limits you are playing would be nice aswell...

This is probably the poorest advice i have ever heard of regarding to starting hands. If you dont want to get exploited or dominated on regular bases i would suggest you stick to proper openingcharts wich can be found here: CC-Strategy

Also it depends on what type of game you are playing, your stacksize and so on. But the range you gave is just wrong, for any type of Holdem.

Running Nose II said:

Here is a simple way that won't tax your mental faculties unduely.

Click to expand...

There are lots of charts out there, some free on the internet, that make good suggestions about what to open raise from various positions, depending on the game you are playing. Here's one for full ring cash, which also works fine for the early stages of full-ring tournaments that start with medium or deep stacks:

http://www.acepokersolutions.com/files/Fullringstartinghandcharts.pdf

I strongly recommend taxing your mental faculties with a chart like this. They are not much more difficult to follow than this advice, while also having the minor advantage of not being absolutely terrible.

Deciding what to play when others have already bet is more complicated then a chart can capture. Poker is harder than tic-tac-toe.

This post was meant for beginners at poker. Hold your jets, there is more to follow when I start to refine the system and include more hands. I often wonder is it's people's inborn nature to be critical.

PS

I felt that if everything was included that the post would be too long, and people may lose interest before the end.

AlexThe Owl, Your charts demonstrate precisely the point I am trying to make. What beginner can remember all the possible combinations and permutations contained in these charts? A simpler chart than the one you quote for a beginner is Sklansky. Charts are excellent online, but do the rules allow them in a live tournament? I think not.

Very interesting your post, I try as much as possible to follow a range Tight, even if it is difficult at times, reading this type of content strengthens our correct way of playing, and this will decrease the variance.

Please explain to me what it is that you find wrong with these starting hands. They are all solid hands. Remember that thse are the basic hands amd more is to follow.

Running Nose II said:

Please explain to me what it is that you find wrong with these starting hands. They are all solid hands. Remember that thse are the basic hands amd more is to follow.

Click to expand...

There is no `problem` with these hands,it`s just that 90% of players out there play the same cards.Your just asking for trouble being predictable against an above-average player who knows what your hand is,a better player will exploit this strategy.It will only take you so far,,,imo GL

Running Nose II said:

AlexThe Owl, Your charts demonstrate precisely the point I am trying to make. What beginner can remember all the possible combinations and permutations contained in these charts?

Click to expand...

I'm not sure why memorization would be any more difficult for a beginner than for an experienced player? I used to be better at memorization than I am now.

Here is the "tight" chart, the one for beginners, expressed in non-graphical form.

Early: {22+, AJ+}

Middle: {22+, AJo+, A9s+,QJ and any better 2 broadway cards}

Cutoff: {22+, any 2 broadway cards, ATo+, A2s+}

Button: {22+, A2+, any 2 broadway cards, suited connectors 65 and better, unsuited connectors 76 and better, broadway cards with a 9 except Q9o, K8s}

Small Blind: {22+, A2+, any 2 broadway cards, suited connectors 87 and better, broadway cards with a 9 except Q9o}

Who could remember that? Anyone willing to put a tiny amount of effort into improving their game, that's who.

Running Nose II said:

A simpler chart than the one you quote for a beginner is Sklansky.

Click to expand...

This is simpler? Not by much, if at all.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_hold_%27em_starting_hands

Running Nose II said:

Charts are excellent online, but do the rules allow them in a live tournament? I think not.

Click to expand...

I'm not sure of the answer to that. You are allowed to make notes in any room I've been in. I don't know if the rules would prohibit writing those ranges at the top of your notepad before you get to the table.

Your advice has the advantage of being easy, but the disadvantage of being awful.
You are opening far too many hands early, and not nearly enough late.
And your initial post doesn't even make it clear if this is for full table or six handed, or for opening or calling, or if it is applicable to tournaments or cash.

Labeling this advice as "for beginners" does not improve it. Do not assume beginners are too lazy or foolish to benefit from a chart. Bad advice is worse than no advice.

Your right,i should of looked at the chart,didn`t,,,,it`s a good base to start with.:icon_salu (and mix it up with more experience):stupido2:

terry, I did mention in the last two sentences not to play these hands all the time, but to mix others into your play.

Running Nose II said:

terry, I did mention in the last two sentences not to play these hands all the time, but to mix others into your play.

Click to expand...

You did,,,my bad,man.I should`t of posted in this thread as i have no interest in charts,nor do i use them,or ever will.But GL with them and i really hope they help u,Cheers!

You should use charts to learn the relative strengths of the starting hands. When I was starting off I learned how to rank a starting hand and then used those rules for a while. However, when I checked a chart I realized I was playing certain hands wrong and playing some weak hands.

mostly it depends on your position.. on button so many hands are decent to play or open . but for example KQo is ru bussh on UTG

You’ve surely got to think twice about folding pocket 8s or 9s? The odds of you winning against an AQ or K10 or whatever are good. Better than 50/50.

If you only ever played those hands not only would you miss out on chances to build your stack, you’d also get beaten a few times by people that had similar or better starting hands.

And did it say to not even raise AA if you are in the BB? Hmmm... 9/10 you should raise them, lest you be caught by someone hitting a set of 4s (or something equally crap) on the flop.

Usually this is the basics. You really can have a lot of success in the long run by following this recipe.

I play recently and as you correctly noticed mainly on these cards and play. But much is important what is your stack and where you are sitting at this time.

every hands a winner,and every hands a loser...best you can hope for is to die in your sleep.

That Nice and interesting..!I Will try it To see if you are right. Thanks

You have to know your opponents style before you decide what hands to play.
Beginners should be told to throw away the hand charts and to study their opponents.
Weak tight opponents will fold almost all their range.
Calling stations chase with anything.
Lags have a huge raising and calling range.
Beginners should train to recognize these player styles and forget the hand charts which are only a guideline.
They also get to know the importance of position.
Stack sizes have importance according to the number of Big Blinds you hold.
A large BB stack means you can play the smaller suited connectors.
A low BB blind stack, you have to start taking risks and shove weaker hands.