Poker Question------Nolan, Marine, or anyone else

[tchism]

I've played a lot of local poker over the years....but Texas Hold 'em is fairly new to me. Any insight or tips for a new comer?

What are the best first 2 cards to bet on? Cards that can build a possible straight? possible flush? pair?

I can't figure out why everyone in the poker rooms raise so much based on the first two cards. At first, I was guessing that they were simply trying to force people out.....but that wasn't always the case.

What are definate fold hands? Basically...teach me everything you know as I am a beginner.

 

[yyz]

http://www.lowlimitholdem.com/


I went to this site, and they have a spot called "Starting hands"......it should get you started!

 

[tchism]

Thanks YYZ!

 

[Nolan Dalla]

Re: Poker Question------Nolan, Marine, or anyone else

I've played a lot of local poker over the years....but Texas Hold 'em is fairly new to me. Any insight or tips for a new comer?

***REPLY: If you plan on taking the game seriously, buy at least one of these books -- Lee Jones' WINNING LOW LIMIT HOLDEM and/or Ken Warrens TEXAS HOLDEM POKER. The $20 you spend will be more than made up for if you plan on playing in holdem games at casinos. Also, there is a lot of good information at this site I work with (hope Jack won't mind me posting the address):
http://www.pokerpages.com/ I do an advanced poker section there, but the better thing to look at is Lou Kreigers section for beginners. Don't be fooled by the "beginner" tag...there are always concepts that need to be reinfocred. It'a amazing how many prople ignore the basics. The site has a poker school, but there is also a lot of good information for free.

What are the best first 2 cards to bet on? Cards that can build a possible straight? possible flush? pair?

***Doyle Brunson (1976 and 1977 world champion) said it best.....FIND TWO BIG CARDS AND BET 'EM. That's good advice. let the suckers play to hit the straights and flushes. If you stay away from "chasing hands" you will be way ahead of the curve (in low limit games). Best two cards in holdem -- A-A, K-K, Q-Q, J-J, A-Q, 10-10.....then it gets trickier depending upon how many players are in the pot (I'm oversimplifying).

I can't figure out why everyone in the poker rooms raise so much based on the first two cards. At first, I was guessing that they were simply trying to force people out.....but that wasn't always the case.

***You raise for one of two reasons....(1) You think you have the best hand, or (2) You are trying to increase the size of the pot to make the most amount of money in case you hit your hand (example -- you are drawing to a nut flush, a raise is not a bad play if there are many people in the pot. WIth 2 cards to come you have a 37 percent chance of hitting the flush.....a raise will give you an overlay on your money). Another reason to raise is to mis-represent hands and bluff, but this is a useless strategy in low-limit holdme.

What are definate fold hands? Basically...teach me everything you know as I am a beginner.

***I've been playing this game for 15 years and still don't know everything. If you want to come over, plan on staying until the year 2017. Then, you're on your own

Good luck.

-- Nolan Dalla

 

[Nolan Dalla]

I WROTE:

Best two cards in holdem -- A-A, K-K, Q-Q, J-J, A-Q, 10-10.....then it gets trickier depending upon how many players are in the pot (I'm oversimplifying).

OF COURSE, I FORGOT A-K, which is the fourth best possible hand, right after Q-Q. Head up, any pair is a slight favorite versus the A-K, but since you are in many multi-way pots, the A-K is the 4th best hand you can be dealt.


Sorry for the typo.

-- Nolan Dalla

 

[tchism]

Thanks Nolan! I was one of those idiots playing for flushes and straights too many times. Fortunatly....I've been playing the play money tables for quite sometime trying to learn something....but they don't know how to play themselves...so it wasn't teaching me much. :shrug:

I think I"ll do some reading and try my luck at the WSEX poker tables. I'll let you know how it turns out!

Thanks again!

 

[TexasBC6]

At the risk of stating the obvious, I just want to make sure people know that A-K (or A-Q, or K-Q, etc) has to be suited to be a premium starting hand. A-K unsuited isn't bad at all, just not nearly the starting hand that A-K suited is.

 

[Bluemound Freak]

Don't forget that there are two kinds of games! Your local game and your casino game! Do Not confuse the two! I did and got ripped a new ass! I can play a local game all day long but as soon as I sat down at the casino I was in another world. I've been playing Hold em with friends for a while and I do allright but I have never done any good at a table! Until you get the feel of the game sit at the Blackjack or 3 card Poker tables, you'll save money!

 

[marine]

Sorry I didnt reply, been out to sea a few days.
Get yourself a good poker book.
Practice

oh, and i disagree with the statement that AK suited is better than AK offsuit.
With an AK suited , yes you can hit your flush
BUT...
with an AK offsuit... you can hit TWO flushes.*






*note: pure sarcasm.
You have to throw it in the game... otherwise people will think you are a rock.

I was playing in a poker room one nite and had the flop come A, 10, 8 all spades. I led out the betting and made the comment " Maybe I can hit my runner runner flush"
unbelievably, the other 3 clowns folded.



For basic knowledge, play your big cards. Position is key, the closer you are to be the last one to act the better, so if you have a big/good hand in the hole, raise it to force the players behind you to fold and giving you the position of last to act.