Despite the waves that the US Congress Bill has been making, online gamblers all over are still feeling hopeful that somehow this mess will be sorted out. As the saying goes, life goes on…
A friend of mine recently bought a 500 piece poker chip set and we had a good old game of Texas Hold ‘em round at his place. This got me thinking that I should write a series of posts about this particular brand of poker, so I’ll start with some facts about starting hands.
More than being the current craze in our homes, Texas Hold ‘em is actually the most popular variation of poker these days. Whether online or offline, this poker variation is taking the gambling world by storm. The much hailed World Series of Poker is a prime example. More so, other countries are following suit. In the major cities of countries all over the world, Texas Hold ‘em poker tournaments are being set up by enthusiasts. Bar tours, mini-satellites, and all sorts of events are now being held in most any place imaginable.
As I already wrote an article on the basics of Texas Hold ‘em, let’s focus on the starting hand for this post. The general rule is that you play out less hands when playing in a loose game; a loose game being one wherein everyone is playing out their hands most of the time. The idea is for you to wait for stronger hands and make your opponents pay for their weaker hands. On the other hand, it is advisable to play out more hands and bluff more when the game is tight. This way, you might steal some hands.
So what makes a good starting hand? Ask various experts on the game and the chances are that you’ll get different answers as well. The fact is that the best possible starting hand in Texas Hold ‘em is very much dependent on the nature of the competition as well as your position on the table. So there is no clear cut answer to this question. Besides, each player has his own guarded strategy when it comes to determining a good starting hand.
Perhaps one thing many experienced poker players will agree upon is the AK “Big Slick” combination. With an Ace and a King, you have a very strong starting position. Pocket pairs also make for a good starting hand. In fact, they are among the top ten best starting hands for many players. There’s a big danger with feeling too confident when you have a good starting hand, though. You should never forget that a starting hand is just that – something you start with. In Texas Hold ‘em, though starting hands may be important, what really counts is how you finish the hand. Even with a good starting hand, you can mess things up with your play.
So instead of resting your laurels when you get a good starting hand, it’s better for you to put all your mental energies into the game and make a strong finish. That’s what wins games in poker… ;-)
