More of this Feature • Part 1: Guidelines

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The two videotapes I picked up when I started this project  had similar ideas about starting hands for beginner players. Both tapes stressed limiting the number of hands played. Playing any starting hand is considered playing loose while limiting your play to the stronger hands is considered playing tight. They advised playing tight and limiting your play to only the most powerful starting hands for your first few sessions. These are basically cards that you can play from early position. There are 16 opening hands that fit this criterion.

If you have these you can raise from any position and re-raise if the pot is raised before you. The other starting hands I have dubbed the early eleven.

All of these hands can be played from any position which will alleviate making positional mistakes It was also suggested to play small pairs in late position in an UN-RAISED pot but be prepared to fold if you don't  flop a set. If you are the big blind and no one has raised you get to see the flop without putting in any more money. You will stay with any cards since you already have bet the hand.

You might be thinking that limiting your play to these hands is playing too tight but there is a logical reason for this advice. In the "How to Beat Winning Hold'em Players" tape, Ben Tracy stresses the importance of the patience and discipline needed to become a winning player. He suggests playing only these hands for a three-hour test. If you can't limit your play during this time period you will need to work a lot more on you discipline if you ever hope to become a winning player.

I think this is some sound practical advice for anyone starting out. After a few sessions of tight play you will gain confidence and can start to expand the number of starting hands you play.  If you are just starting out you might as well learn the game correctly from the beginning. This means learning, which hands are playable and which are not. It will be a lot more profitable if you do.

When I participated in the free poker lesson at Foxwoods, The dealer suggested that I enter their low limit tournament to get the feel of live table play. I will try this three-hour test when I enter the tournament next week. Limiting my play to these hands will allow me to concentrate on the other fundamentals of the game. I can use the time to observe other players, try to read hands and establish a strong table image.

NOTE: This is the original series of articles that was written in 2000 as I learned to play the Texas Hold'em. It documents some of my experiences during my first year of playing casino poker. I have tried to keep the links to outside sites updated where possible. This series of articles is not part of my book, 
 From the Kitchen to the Cardroom- Get the Edge at Low Limit Texas Hold'em