starting hands

[Kangaroo 0]

ok well after watching some people have success in tmts lately im analysing my play and trying to make myself a better player with the aim of cashing in a few of these. Now Im pretty sure i play too many starting hands cos I donked off alot of my money in sngs on party and then todya ive only been playing extremely strong hands until im down to short handed and Ive won 3/3 this morning ($5).Now what I dont understand is that I read blogs and it says begginers play toomany starting hands. Then in a journal entry of a tournament it'll say somehting like I limped in with K6o. Now I think to fold anything worse than AJo 90% of the time when is the right time to play a hand like this? likeI raise this hand shorthanded sometimes but if im reraised or called ill fold or fold if i miss the flop.so basically when if ever is it correct to play a hand like this.

[Phillip_339 0]

Whose limping with K6o? Can i see a link? Is it a pro thats limping with it?I personally dont see how anyone can limp with K6 pre-flop, under almost any circumstances. Raising with it is completely different, but calling, your might as well just say to the other players....."here, have some chips, i dont want them anymore" Limping with hands like K6o are just asking for trouble....and i would certainly like to know who does it.

[loxo 0]

Position Position Position.IMO the most important aspect in regards to starting hands, 910s might be considered an instant muck for a lot of players from UTG but increases in value in the correct situation on the button for instance.Your K6 off hand, what are you hoping to achieve with it? You limp in from the mid position and the flop comes down KJ4....what now. Sure you have TP but how good is it, especially in a multiway pot.Try and only play very strong starting hands from early position and expand a little as you get closer to the button, depending on the betting action of course. And then work really hard at your post flop play.

[Kangaroo 0]

thanks guys now that i read back its not actually K6 but i was just trying to pick a hand that wasnt AJ A AQ or a pocket pair.

[DrawingDeadInDM 0]

thanks guys now that i read back its not actually K6 but i was just trying to pick a hand that wasnt AJ A AQ or a pocket pair.

Three handed, when in doubt, raise.You're more than likely never dominated incase someone calls.If you're re-raised, consider the opponent, hand range, etc and evaluate whether or not it's worth it to make the call.

[Merby 3]

A player who has good reads on his opponents and/or knows he can outplay his opponent post-flop, could make this hand profitable. Possible +EV (the "play your opponent and the chip stacks" approach as opposed to the "play your cards" approach).Me, I would donk off chips if I tried this: -EV. Hence, I actually like to have a decent hand.Since reading your opponents and post-flop play can be some of the most difficult facets to learn, it is definitely -EV for beginners and intermediate players to limp in with such weak holdings.Cheers,Merby

[jayistheman 0]

when you see pros play moderately weak hands, the blinds are usually relatively small compared to their stacks. playing weaker hands is also possible in cash games. you never clarified this, but i'm assuming you speak of sng's. the blinds in these are far too large and fast to be making loose limps.

[GeneralKong 0]

If you really want to know how to play MTT's because I'm the self proclaimed king of them, you must be first inducted into the pirate hall of fame. Then you have to spend 9 years at a buddhist temple in Tibet. At the end of your stint as a buddhist you must go do community service with every hippy christian that ever existed, including Jesus himself. Do you understand my point yet?Incase you dont I'll dumb it down for you. I'm all for tweaking your game asking people to help you out on some of your weaker points but you honestly just asked HOW DO YOU PLAY POKER? You give a topic this broad to people and they will smash your face with a their donkdom. Seriously though, the hands you choose as starters are just as important as your play as whole. How do you figure out what starting hands you should play?? PLAY PLAY PLAY then when your eyes are numb your fingers are bleeding and you have removed and burnt your superman underoos you will understand what starting hands you should use. So get your ass out there and get experience, and yes you will lose at first but thats how you will learn.-GeneralKong