Any two-card hand can win. This is the pitfall many poker players get into. Another pitfall is, the more hands played, the merrier.
Well, our opponents will all be the merrier when we always decide to play too many hands. Playing one poker hand is difficult enough. Playing several hands at a time takes away focus and results in the negligence of other equally important aspects of poker. We must also watch the pot, pay attention to what other players are doing, and pay particular attention to their betting patterns. So, all these could be jeopardized when we overburden ourselves with many hands.
Remember that two aces are what we want. They can end up in a lot of beautiful possibilities. What we detest are 2 and 7 with different suits. According to experts, out of 169 potential hands, only about half are capable of winning. Of this half, about 80, only a few will actually land us on a poker win—if we are positioned correctly. It doesn’t follow that just because our starting hand falls within the 80 winning hands, we’d surely win. Our position from the dealer button will decide if the excellent hand we choose wins.
As a rule in this lesson on what poker hand to play, same-suited cards are perfect. They have lots more potential of ending up winning than cards that are differently suited. What we’re aiming at here is a flush possibility. When we have cards of the same suit (all spades or all hearts, and so on) it is easier to end up winning with a flush or switch hand to a flush. Good initial hands, like high pairs, give flexibility and better chances for strategizing or positioning for a win later in the game. Lower cards don’t do this much.
Some poker players hold on to weak hands in hopes of getting something substantial from the flop. This does happen, but it’s better to rely more on the hand and position formula than on luck—although we need that, too. Experts agree that winning is more about getting a good start by getting a good initial hand. “Hold’em Poker” by David Sklansky identifies some of the potential starting hands with the corresponding positioning necessary. Study these hands and positioning, and if possible memorize them.
It is really important to know what poker hand to play. This gives us more focus, more probabilities, and the potential to win.
