What's the minimum hand you'll stay in a hand of Texas Holdem?

Posted by Chad C at: 2008-01-09 08:15:16
You're in the middle of the betting order, stacks are relatively low still, what kind of hands do you play with (in general)? I'll usually play if I have at least an ace or king or same suited cards that are next to each other (ie. 8 and 9 hearts, or 7 and 8 spades, probably nothing lower tho)

Posted by rippen77 at: 2008-01-09 12:53:05
Early in the game, wel it depends on who and how many people are in ahead of me, and who it is that is behind me. If all players proved themselves to be fair to good players, and assuming that no one mucked; I would stay with suited OR connecting anything if the blinds were not raised. If the blinds were raised, say 3 times the blinds( standard bet). I would need suited connectors or 2 paint, or any pair to call. A pot bet and no muckers ahead of me, would need a Pair or a painted, suited connectors, like Big Slick. Ya know but this is just playing the cards alone. As anybody knows that has played the game for any length of time, the cards are only half the game. Playing the players in the trick.

Posted by wondermom at: 2008-01-09 13:07:42
It depends on my position, pot odds, my opponents, and if it's limit or no-limit. If I'm facing a raise from a tight opponent in early position, I know that he probably has a good hand and I'd only play premium hands like AA or KK. If I can limp in from late position or the SB and my stack is healthy, I'll widen up to include any pair, any connected cards, or any big suited one-gapped cards like K-J, or any A with a big kicker. If I'm up against a table full of people I know I can outplay after the flop, I'll generally loosen up my starting requirements regardless of the action in front of me. If I know that my players are very tight and I limp in with a lesser hand, and the flop is 3 low cards, I know that they probably missed the flop and I can win it on a bluff. Limit poker is harder to narrow the field, and needs to be played more analytically than no-limit, so my starting hands tend to tighten up a bit. In other words, there are a lot of factors to consider.

Posted by everything_and_nothing at: 2008-01-09 10:27:47
Early in a tournament I'm usually VERY tight I won't play with anything less than say K-10. Paint and Pairs. It all depends on your style though, I have friends who will play almost anything.

Posted by Terence L at: 2008-01-09 08:24:58
Depends on how many players, how much money is at risk. And the odds on your cards being the best. I'd never stay for less than half of what I have already won or what I started with