Hand Selection,
Beginner Strategies
July 11 2008
The most important decision you’ll make in any poker hand is whether or not you’re going to play the hand at all. Starting hand selection should be one of the first topics you learn about if you want to be a winning player. Novice players don’t realize that each hand has a winning percentage, and if you choose more hands with higher percentages your results will improve.
Which hands to play is best determined based on your position in that particular hand. Position is a definite advantage in poker, so the better your position the weaker your cards can be. In fact, if there have been no raises ahead of you, it’s commonly accepted that you can play any two cards if you’re on the button. The more spots off the button your position is, the higher the winning percentage your pocket cards should have.
When playing under the gun (worst position) it’s widely accepted that you only play premium cards, or at least cards that you’re willing to call a raise with. When you’re in middle positions, starting hand selection choices should take into consideration the usual behavior of the players that are to follow in late positions. If the player on the button always raises, you should tighten up and wait for good hands when in that position. If the button player always limps or folds, you can loosen up a bit and try to limp in the hand with weaker cards for the cheaper price.
Use
table position to your advantage with Bodog Poker.
