Knowing what to play is the best strategy you can employ, especially as you go up the levels of No limit hold'em. Most of the following starting hands are best played for a small raise in early and middle position.
If you’re in late position or in one of the blinds, you might want to consider limping in (just calling the big blind). That way you can see a cheap flop.
Good advice to follow is - play if you hit the flop; fold if you don’t.
Remember, “win big and lose little” should be your motto.
So, what other hands can you play?
- High Aces – These Aces include the Ace-Queen (AQ), Ace-Jack (AJ) and Ace-Ten (A10). High Aces look better the closer you sit to the dealer button. These hands can easily become subject to domination a situation in which the kicker comes into play. For example, Jen holds an AK. You hold an AQ. The flop comes A,6,A. You can’t win unless a Queen comes to give you a full house… or you both split quads with a King as the kicker – it’s not likely.
- Big pocket pairs – These pocket pairs range from Sevens (77) to Tens (1010). If on the flop you hit a set, bet it. If not, consider folding, especially if a straight or flush is possible.
- High Kings – King-Queen (KQ), King-Jack (KJ) and King-Ten (K10) are usually okay to play. Try to see the flop for cheap and get out of the hand at the first sign of trouble.
- Blackjack hands – These hands would equal at least seventeen numerically. They’d be good shots to win at a blackjack table. Here’s how you “count ‘em”. Any card under 10 is equal to the number on that card. Example: 2=2. Tens, Jacks, Queens and Kings all equal ten. An Ace is high and equals eleven.