Holdem Starting Hands

Top starting hands should be raised and played aggressively. AA, KK, QQ, AK, JJ, AQ, these hands are most likely to be the best before the flop. By raising and eliminating other players early you reduce the risk of getting outdrawn. These hands will hold up the majority of the time against 2 or 3 opponents. So it is important to reduce the number of opponents you face early by betting strong. Other factors when deciding on how much to bet is your position. If you are first to act then you should be folding all but top hands. If you are near last position you have the advantage of seeing what your opponents bet and can make your decision on how strong you feel they are based on there actions.

Top hands are so important and new "rookie" players lose more often by playing too many hands. Its dificult to fold so much, but if you do you will see how profitable it can be. Watch the poker players on TV. These players beat hundreds of opponents to get to the final table, and they do it time and time again. These are great players and most of them play premium hands or are at a level much higher than this and are experts at playing there opponent and not there hands. So as a new player dont try to play hands you shouldn't because you see it working on TV. Playing your opponent and not your cards is what makes the poker greats masters. But it takes much longer to master these skills, and you need the building blocks to get there.

These hands look good to start with, but will trap you and cost you money if you do not improve or if you are dominated. Hands like AJ, KQ, KJ, QJ, K10, Q10 and J10 . These hands should not be played after a raise and not played at all in early position. You want to have your money in the pot when you have the best hand, playing these hands will cause you to lose money in the long run.

Meduim pairs are great to start with, but if after the flop you haven't tripped out you should fold them. A single pair will rarely win in a multi-opponent game.

Suited connectors are a decent starting hand. If there is a bet and a call before you fold them. They are best played in late position.

Top Ten Starting Hands
1. A-A (Pocket Aces)
2. K-K (Pocket Kings)
3. Q-Q (Pocket Queens)
4. A-K (Ace King)
5. J-J (Pocket Jacks)
6. 10-10(Pocket Tens)
7. 9-9 (Pocket Nines)
8. 8-8 (Pocket Eights)
9. A-Q (Ace Queen)
10. 7-7 (Pocket Sevens)

Raise these Hands

Top hands to raise with preflop
A-A (Pocket Aces)
K-K (Pocket Kings)
Q-Q (Pocket Queens)
A-K (Ace King)
J-J (Pocket Jacks)
10-10(Pocket Tens)
A-Q (Ace Queen)

Hands you want to see a flop with
A-J (Ace Jack)
K-Q (King Queen)
Q-J (Queen Jack)
J-10 (Jack Ten)
9-9(Pocket Nines)
8-8 (Pocket Eights)
7-7 (Pocket Sevens)
A-10 (Ace Ten)
10-9 Same Suit (Ten Nine Suited)

Kerry Mann is an online poker pro. His website http://www.pokerliving.net tells more about him and how he makes a living at online poker.

---

How to Play Video Poker Slot Machines

Video Poker is a game that requires some skill to... Read More

Poker Revenue Basics

Poker is one of the most famous card games across... Read More

How to Beat Roulette with A Simple 3 Point System

Many players try to beat roulette by buying a "sure... Read More

Video Poker: Why People Lose More Than They Should

Ask any casino executive and they'll tell you that video... Read More

How To Avoid The 3 Destructive Traits Of Traditional Gambling / Lottery Systems

There is over $120,000,000,000 spent on lottery systems along across... Read More

Compulsive Gamblers Guilt Affects Their Gambling Addiction Recovery

When a compulsive gambler is in recovery, feeling guilty is... Read More

Online Gambling Basics

Poker, black jack or any other casino game with a... Read More

Gambling Addiction 101

A lot many of us know something or the other... Read More

Please Help My Husband, Wife, Partner, Spouse, or Other Family Member to Stop Gambling

It doesn't matter whether you are the husband, wife, partner,... Read More

The Secrets of the Outside Numbers

Pssst...! Wanna know a secret?How about the secrets of the... Read More

Land Casinos Vs. Online Casinos

Since the emergence of a few online casinos in 1996,... Read More

Spread Betting Basics

Spread betting is a complicated venture; the statement is nothing... Read More

Texas Hold em Poker Basics

Texas Hold em Poker (also know as Holdem Poker) is... Read More

Do You Believe These Four Online Slot Machine Myths?

The fact that people don't really understand how online slot... Read More

Gambling Interesting Facts

SoccerbettingIs there such thing as "kangtao" or surewin tips?I have... Read More

Shorthanded Poker, an Untapped Gold Mine

Feuled by seemingly nonstop television coverage and internet access in... Read More

The Secrets of the Field

Pssst...! Wanna know a secret?How about the secret of the... Read More

Becoming a Consistent Winner at Online Low-Limit Texas Hold Em

Start with LIMIT Texas Hold 'EmBoth limit and no-limit Texas... Read More

Theres More to Poker than Texas Holdem!

Texas holdem is taking over the world, but believe it... Read More

College Football Betting - Point Spreads

But, in the college ranks, you see those types of... Read More

Amazing Lottery Secrets - Just the Facts!

When it comes to Lottery Secrets, we've discovered amazing and... Read More

Playing Online Poker For A Living

Playing online poker for a living is absolutely doable, but... Read More

Compulsive Gambler Continues Down Self Destructive Path With Little Hopes To Stop Gambling

Everyday I here of compulsive gamblers who are continuing to... Read More

Blackjack - Increase Your Odds With Basic Strategy Plus

Blackjack Basic Strategy, played perfectly in a game with favorable... Read More

Semi Bluffing

Bluffing is an important part of most poker player's games.... Read More

5 Tips for Finding the Best Poker Websites

There has been an enormous growth in poker websites in... Read More

Discover YOUR Online Poker Room

As all the poker sites on the internet call themselves... Read More

A Crazy Night in Vegas

It was a Sunday afternoon. My friend Kurt and I... Read More

2005 NFC South Football Preview

OVERVIEW: NFC SouthIn the NFC South look for Tampa Bay... Read More

Play Online Baccarat Game

Baccarat - the game of the rich and famous -... Read More

Slot Machine Basics 101

Let's begin with a little bit of basic knowledge about... Read More

Gender Differences in Gambling

Being a fairly regular gambler, I have noticed a few... Read More

A NO B.S. Explanation of Spread Betting For Newbies

Note: The goal of this article is to give you... Read More