Poker strategy for the Beginners

It is possible to classify the starting hands of Texas Holdem on their merits. Here we take the classification into 8 groups of David Sklansky, the group 1 being the highest. However, this classification is not rigid, and it will take into account the circumstances in which you play the hand. Indeed, if you are placed in good position or if you play against a pigeon, a hand average can be regarded as strong.

The ranking of hands

Sklansky ranks starting hands of Texas Holdem into eight groups. In remembering this table, youll be able to compare the strength of several starting hands.

Note that the strength of a hand depends on three main properties:

The height of the cards: this is explained simply. Imagine that you have on hand two cards higher than your opponent. You King and 8 and him 7 and 4. If the flop offers everyone a pair (flop type K - 7 - 2 for example), you play the strongest. If the flop does nothing to offer you, two you also have the upper hand.

The color same: we see in this classification, only two hands of cards with similar, the hand is stronger if the color of the two cards is identical. This difference may be relatively obsolete (one group of difference between AKS and AK) or look like a real gap (three groups of difference between ATs and AT). Note that the connectors, the two cards that follow as 8 and 9 for example are classified in the same category as KXS. The connectors offer the greatest opportunity to achieve a result. The holes (two cards that can be connected with a third, as J and 9 for example, are not offering much to overlook a little less opportunities.

2) The playable starting hands in early position (in the first to speak)

In poker, the player who last spoke has a considerable advantage as it takes its decision after seeing other players take their own.

For this reason, some hands will be playable only when there is this advantage.

Here is an overview of playable hands when youre wrong, ie in the first to speak:

In a part where the players are neither too tight nor too aggressive, advises Sklansky hand to play the first of the 4 groups.

If opponents play a lot of hands without being too aggressive, you can add the starting hands of Group 5.

Against players tight, you only focus on the hands of the first three groups.

3) The playable starting hands in middle position

The middle seats includes four, five and six tables together, nine or ten players. In this position, your disadvantage is reduced and you can expand your game:

If the pot is not revived, you can enter the game with any of the first 5 main groups.

4) The playable starting hands in late position (in the last to speak)

Mike Caro, poker theorist made the observation that at a party, the money flowed in the clockwise shows with a point of arrival for the donor. When you are placed last speech or just before, even two front seats. You have an advantage over your opponents. You see them act before taking your own decision. You can find their weakness and sequester more easily. As a result, you can play more starting hands: