Poker is a game of skill, strategy, and luck. One of the most important decisions a player can make is deciding what hands to play. In this tutorial, we will discuss what hands you should play in poker and how to make the best decisions.
Firstly, it’s important to understand the different types of hands and their rankings. The highest-ranking hand is a royal flush which consists of a 10, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace all of the same suit. The second highest-ranking hand is a straight flush which consists of any five cards in sequence all of the same suit. The third highest-ranking hand is four of a kind which consists of four cards with the same rank such as four Aces. The fourth highest-ranking hand is a full house which consists of three cards with one rank and two cards with another rank such as three Kings and two Queens.
The fifth highest-ranking hand is a flush which consists of any five cards all of the same suit but not in sequence. The sixth highest-ranking hand is a straight which consists of any five cards in sequence but not all of the same suit. The seventh highest-ranking hand is three of a kind which consists of three cards with the same rank such as three Jacks. The eighth highest-ranking hand is two pairs which consist of two cards with one rank and two cards with another rank such as two Aces and two Kings. The ninth highest-ranking hand is one pair which consists of two cards with the same rank such as two Queens.
Now that we have an understanding of the different types and rankings for poker hands let’s take a look at what hands you should play.
The most important factor when deciding what hands to play is position. Position refers to where you are sitting at the table relative to the dealer button.
If you are sitting in an early position (the first few seats after the blinds), you should only play premium hands such as Aces, Kings, Queens, and maybe Ace-King suited. This is because you do not want to risk a lot of chips with marginal hands in early position as you have no information on what your opponents may have.
If you are sitting in a middle position, you can play a wider range of hands such as medium pairs (7s-10s), suited connectors (cards that are consecutive and of the same suit), and Ace-Jack or Ace-Queen suited. These hands have the potential to make strong hands but still have some value even if they do not improve.
If you are sitting in a late position (the last few seats before the dealer button), you can play a wider range of hands such as small pairs (2s-6s), suited one-gappers (cards that are consecutive and one apart such as 5-7 suited), and Ace-Ten or lower suited. These hands have great potential to make strong hands or can be used for bluffing opportunities.
Another important factor when deciding what hands to play is the number of players at the table. In general, the fewer players at the table, the more aggressive you should be with your hand selection. This is because there are fewer people to act behind you so you can afford to play more marginal hands.
When playing against tight opponents who only play premium hands, it’s best to tighten up your hand selection as well. This will prevent you from losing chips unnecessarily by playing weak hands against strong opponents.
When playing against loose opponents who play a wide range of hands, it’s best to loosen up your hand selection as well. This will allow you to take advantage of their loose playing style by playing more speculative or drawing type hands.
In conclusion, when deciding what hands to play in poker it’s important to consider your position at the table, the number of players at the table, and your opponent’s playing style. By taking these factors into consideration, you can make better decisions and increase your chances of winning. Remember, poker is a game of skill and strategy so always be mindful of your hand selection and play accordingly.
