Starting Hands For No Limit Texas Holdem
By: SCOTT MERSKY

Starting Hands In No Limit Texas Hold'em When I started writing this article, the first thing that popped into my head was Barry Sheck's now famous saying from the O.J. simpson murder trial ..... "Garbage In, Garbage Out". While any two cards can turn into a monster, it is more likely than not you will wind up mucking them after the flop. If you are the type of player that plays every hand no matter what, give me your telephone number, I would like to invite you to my home game.

One of the first things a new Texas Holdem player needs to learn is which starting hands are worth playing, and which ones should be folded. Like the Kenny Roger's song says "you gotta know when to holdem and know when to foldem" Many beginning and intermediate Holdem players play statrting hands that they have no business playing.

To give yourself the best chance of winning, you should play only premium starting hands. Many top Texas Holdem players employ this strategy with much success. Unless you play Gus Hansen or Daniel Negreaneau ( and I will bet most of you don't) it is a good rule of thumb to play only quality statrting hands.

Ok, so what are the best statrting hands? I'm glad you asked.

The best starting hands are:

Large Pairs - Aces, Kings, Queens, Jacks. Even pairs of tens and nines and eights are high quality starting hands. Play them.

Aces with suited High Cards - When you get an Ace with a K, Q, J, or even a ten, many good things can happen. You already have high card. If a flush comes, you'll have the best possible one (the "NUTS") because of your ace. High straights, and even a straight flush is possible with these cards. Play them.

Suited Faces Cards and Tens - While it's nicer to have an ace in the hole, suited face cards are playable hands. They hold a lot of potential including high pair with a strong kicker, straights, and flushes.

Aces with unsuited High Cards - Aces with an unsuited partner can still give you top pair with a high kicker, or a high straight. Because other players may also have an ace, the strength of the second card in your hand is important. If two players tie, that second card, or 'kicker' will decide the winner. This is why A-10 is a playable hand, and A-6 is not. (A-10 can also turn into a high straight). So while aces are highly sought after, do not feel the need to play every hand in which you are dealt an ace.

King with Face Card - A King with a Queen, or with a Jack is a playable hand. But, it is not as strong as you may think. Still, two face cards rank high enough that seeing the flop is often a good idea. These are the strongest starting hands in a Texas Holdem game. Other hands are playable depending on the circumstances at the table, but beginners may want to stick to playing only these premium hands until they understand the game more fully.

Playing these starting hands will not guarantee that you will be a winner at No Limit Holdem. As your game improves you'll realize there are situations where even premium statrting hands hands should be discarded. But, for now if you play only these statrting hands your game will improve dramatically, and you'll win more pots.

Good luck and I hope you make a fortune playing Texas Holdem.

www.crushingsitngos.com

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