Jan 31 2009
Starting Hands To Avoid
Now that we’ve thoroughly exhausted starting hands you can play, let’s delve into some starting hands you should avoid. Of course, depending upon certain factors, you may decide to play some of these hands at on occasion. A major concept to remember is that, in poker, you can learn the basics. In the end, you live by your own rules.
Suited Connectors: You can easily play suited connectors – two cards of the same suit in sequential order – from 10 on up. However, lower than that, you’re usually looking at a dead-end.
Why? Let’s think about this. The board can be potentially kind but more often than not – it’ll be downright cruel to you. A low straight is not called the IDIOT-END for nothing. You can lose big with it. Not to mention the flush possibilities. If you make a back-door flush on the turn, you could be in big trouble on the river if another card of the same suit comes. Unless your cards are big ones, your baby flush (flush made with small cards. Example, 2s,3s,6s,9s,5s is a baby flush!) can easily be beat. Of course, you can also win big with either a low-straight or a low-flush in some cases.
Poker is a game of situations. At the beginning, it’s best not to get yourself into too many sticky ones.
Small Pocket Pairs: Anything lower than a seven is considered suspect to play. Yes, that means you can potentially play sevens, eights and nines. The problem with pocket pairs is that if you don’t hit a set on the flop (which is about a 1 in 8 possibility), you’re could get yourself in big trouble. Unless you are getting a good price to call, don’t! Even then, watch the board for straight, flush or full house possibilities and fold at the first sign of trouble.
Rags: Rags are the junk cards of poker. They’re basically worthless to play with. Hole cards that have queen-high or lower that are NOT suited and won’t complete to make a straight are just junk. Steer clear of them unless you have a poker death wish. Examples of rag hands include: 3c,8h; 9s,2d, and Jh,4s.
