Poker is a game of strategy, skill, and chance. One of the most important aspects of playing poker is knowing what hands to play and when to play them. In this tutorial, we will be discussing what poker hands you should play to increase your chances of winning.
Firstly, it is important to understand the ranking of poker hands. The highest-ranking hand is a royal flush, followed by a straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pairs, one pair and high card. Knowing the value of each hand will help you make better decisions when playing.
The next thing to consider is your position at the table. If you are in an early position (the first few players to act), it is generally advisable to play only strong hands such as pairs (tens or higher), ace-king or ace-queen. This is because there are still many players left to act after you and they can still raise or re-raise your bet.
If you are in a late position (one of the last few players to act), you can be more liberal with your hand selection as you have more information about what other players might have based on their actions. You can consider playing weaker hands such as suited connectors (cards that are consecutive and suited), small pairs or even lower-ranked hands if no one has raised before you.
In addition to your position at the table, it is also important to consider the number of players in the game. In games with fewer players (such as heads-up or six-max games), you can afford to be more aggressive with your hand selection as there are fewer opponents who can potentially beat your hand.
However, in games with more players (such as full-ring games), it is advisable to play only strong hands as the chances of someone having a stronger hand increase with each additional player.
Another factor that should influence your decision on what hands to play is the betting action before you. If someone has already raised before you, it is generally advisable to play only strong hands such as pairs or high-ranking suited cards.
If no one has raised before you, you can consider playing weaker hands such as suited connectors or small pairs. However, be mindful of the players left to act after you as they may still raise or re-raise your bet.
Finally, it is important to remember that poker is a game of variance and luck. Even if you make the correct decisions on what hands to play, there will still be times when your opponent will get lucky and beat your hand.
In conclusion, knowing what poker hands to play is an essential skill for any poker player. Factors such as your position at the table, the number of players in the game and the betting action before you should all be considered when making your decision on what hands to play. Remember that poker is a game of skill and chance, and even with the best hand selection strategy, there will still be times when luck plays a role in determining the outcome of the game.
