Dealing With Your Deal: A Basic Guide On Selecting Poker Hands

Playing poker can be a complicated game if you are going into it unprepared. However, there are several ways to approach a hand of poker, and this is a strategy guide on dealing with your deal. There are 100s of different combinations you can come up with when playing poker, and the way you start your game should depend on several different factors as well. There are two separate categories when it comes to your hands, and they are called “offsuit” and “suited.” Offsuit refers to two cards of a different suit, and suited refers to the same suit on both of your cards. 

There are also several different types of poker, including Texas Hold ‘em, Omaha, and many more. There are several different strategies when it comes to selecting your poker hands when it pertains to multiple different games. In fact, there are multiple ways to approach your strategy depending on the position you sit at the table. Strategies also change depending on the number of players participating in the game taking place. 

Table Positioning 

If you find yourself in an early position at the table, you should take advantage of strong hands and high pairs. Face cards are ideal for this type of positioning, so if you end up pocketing a king and an ace, either suited or offsuited, it’s a good idea to play the hand. These cards would put you in a good position heading into the flop. If you find yourself positioned in the middle of the table, you have the ability to be a bit looser with the way you play your hand. A position in the middle of the table tends to allow you to be comfortable with higher cards, just under face value, like tens and nines. 

Depending on how the beginning of the table flows, you could even be comfortable with seven and eight, heading into the flop as well. A whole new world of possibility opens up if you find yourself at the end of the table on a particular hand. That positioning allows you to be a lot more flexible with what you play and what you throw away in the pre-flop. It gives you an opportunity to monitor the rest of the table heading into your decision to call or fold or potentially even check if you’re the Big Blind. 

Game Type

Depending on the type of game you are playing, there are several different ways to approach hands. 

Cash Games

Cash games have more of a limit and fewer possibilities for potential outcomes and tend to have a ceiling on the amount of money that you can win. When participating in a cash game, you may want to focus more on premium hands. Playing in a cash game allows you to be a bit more selective with your opportunities. Cash games also allow for more flexibility when playing pre-flop. 

Tournaments 

As blinds increase throughout the tournament, it may force you to play more hands to accumulate chips and stack up some wins. If you are looking to make a deep run throughout the tournament, you need to pick and choose your spots. However, as previously mentioned, as blinds increase throughout the tournament, you may have to get a bit more aggressive with your hand selection. Higher blinds will force you into playing a less impactful hand if you are looking to remain in a comfortable spot in the chip count.

Conclusion 

After taking the time to check out this basic guide on when to play poker hands, you should have a better understanding of those strategies. Being selective about your hands is crucial to your success, as well as other factors, like your position on the table and being able to read your opponents. With experience comes a better understanding of how to do all of those things and it should lead to you becoming a better poker player in the long run.