Best Play Games

No limit Texas holdem has become the most popular form of poker. One of the biggest decisions that every player makes is there first action in the hand. Almost everyone who has played a bit has seen a starting hands chart. You can’t play just any two cards all the time.

Many people would like to have strict rules to apply to their starting hands, but many factors make this difficult. You can set some strong guidelines, but there are always differences in every situation that can swing your decision, sometimes radically. It is the players who can make these adjustments that are the winning players.

What things will make you adjust your pre flop play? Things like stack sizes and short tables can be factored into your guidelines. Things like playing style, overall ability of a player, or a player on tilt, are where the adjustments come from.

Let’s take a look at a couple of situations where you could adjust from normal pre flop betting. We will look at no limit cash game situations. Many players use the gap concept for playing against a raise. The gap concept tells you that you need a hand at least equal to the minimum hand that the bettor would be raising with from his position at the table. Here’s a hand where you might adjust this rule.

Let’s say the UTG (first to act) player raises three times the blinds. He is a very wild and aggressive player, and both of you have only $30 at this $1/$2 game. You have seen him show weak hands in this situation many times.

Everyone folds to you on the button. You have QJ of hearts. Against a tight solid player, you can easily fold here. Having the chance to play this hand versus a loose wild player is a good opportunity.

It is much less likely that he has a big hand, and if you hit the flop, there is a good chance to get paid well by this type of player. A tight solid player with AK won’t pay you on a Q74 flop. This guy easily could bluff, or chase for a hit if he has AK. You have position as well here, so these reasons make this a call instead of a fold.

Let’s set up another scenatio. This is also a $1/$2 no limit game. The first 4 players fold. The next player, with $40, bets $6. It then folds to you on the button. You have AA. You, the small blind, and the big blind, have about $100.

Normally you will want to raise with AA in this situation. But, both blinds have been very tight, not defending their blinds. I think by calling, you have a chance to make more money. Let’s look at why this can happen.

It is unlikely both the blinds will call, if they do, you need to be careful. I think it is worth this risk, considering the other possibilities. If you raise, and one of these tight players has a good pair, like 10 10 or JJ they will only call, or maybe even fold. If you just call, they should be inclined to re-raise. This can lead to the short stack going all in, followed by you at least calling, maybe raising, or even pushing all in right there. This makes for a much bigger pot.

If the small blind and big blind both fold, you just play the original bettor. He won’t put you on AA because you just called. He will usually bet after the flop and you can go all in, or slow play if the board is safe. If he has KK or QQ you will get the money all in no matter how you play. But if he had something like AJ he might have folded if you re-raised. By just calling, if a J or A hits the flop, all his money will go in.

How the players are playing at your table makes a difference. The good players pick up on these things, and adjust to take advantage. In the long run they make more money because of this.