startPlay or throw – perhaps the main question a poker game, and the winner is the one who knows the correct answer. If the starting hands can be clearly divided into groups, and with absolute certainty say: “Here is this you win, but it – hundred percent kill” – the problem would not exist. There would have only to learn all the hand and walk around the casino to collect winnings. However, when poker would then be turned into a poker and roulette: what fell, it fell …

Of course, the classification of hands there, and their use can significantly improve your game, but rely entirely on them is not worth it. In assessing starting hands, it is important to consider not only the maps, but also the position of the table (in the first place), the rates, the degree of skill players, the number of participants, size of the stack … the list goes on. The more factors you can take into account, the better to own the game. In this lesson will be considered starting hands for the major varieties of poker: Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo and Seven herds.

Starting hands in texas holdem
There are several ways to groups hands. One of them was proposed by Lou Krieger (Lou Krieger). In his system of five groups: couples, ligaments, holey hands (gapped hands, in contrast to the ligaments), odnomastnye bundles odnomastnye holey hands. This division is logical: if you do not pair, it is either odnomastnye cards, or disparate, or ligament or Buggy hand. In fact, it complements the system Sklanski. Let us consider them in descending order:

Couples

The smallest pair for early position – 7 7. In late position, any admissible pair, if the action of the opponents you have concluded that they were holey hands, or you can see the flop cheaply.

Bundles

Odnomastnye
From early position is permitted to play a major odnomastnye ligament. You can expect to receive as a result of a large pair or triplet, a straight or a flush. It must be borne in mind that if you have a large bunch of odnomastnaya ak, then you can straight up on one side only. While with kq you a little more options.

When it comes to secondary odnomastnyh ligaments (from jt and less), it should be given to throw a hand, especially if you’re in early position. However, in the middle you have enough information about the table: if all players have done before you call, you can stay in the game even with a small ligament odnomastnoy to see the flop. In late position is permissible to raise the bid, if no one did this to you.

Neodnomastnye
In early position ligament type qj and below do not play, while the average position of the ligament are allowed to qj jt inclusive. In late plank is lowered to 87. Play these hands can be, if to you, no one raised the stakes. Otherwise it is better not to risk and throw a hand.

Buggy hands

For holey hand operates one simple rule: the smaller the hole between the cards, the better the chance to collect street. For example, if you q8, is to make the street you come only these cards – jt9, while with the qt for you a lot more options: akj, kj9, j98.

Odnomastnye
In early position are encouraged to play only large hands with a small hole – aq, for example. In late position is permissible to play holey hands with a large hole like k2, if this game has.

Disparate
Disparate holey hands worth playing only in late position and only if the gap between the small cards. However, in most situations such hands it is better to discard.

As a generalization of what is the table that was created by David Sklanski (David Sklansky) and Malmutom Mason (Mason Malmuth). In their system starting hands are divided into 8 groups:
Group 1: A-A, K-K, Q-Q, J-J, AKs *
Group 2: 10-10, A-Qs, A-Js, K-Qs, A-K
Group 3: 9-9, J-10s, Q-Js, K-Js, A-10s, AQ
Group 4: 10-9s, KQ, 8-8, Q-10s, 9-8s, J-9s, AJ, K-Ts
Group 5: 7-7, 8-7s, Q-9s, T-8s, KJ, QJ, J-10, 7-6s, 9-7s, A-xs **, 65s
Group 6: 6-6, A-10, 5-5, 8-6s, K-10, Q-10, 5-4s, K-9s, J-8s, 7-5s
Group 7: 4-4, J-9, 6-4s, 10-9, 5-3s, 3-3, 9-8, 4-3s, 2-2, K-xs, 10-7s, Q-8s
Group 8: 8-7, A-9, Q-9, 7-6, 4-2s, 3-2s, 9-6s, 8-5s, J-8, J-7s, 6-5, 5-4 , 7-4s, K-9, 10-8

* S – the first letter of the word “suited” – odnomastnye
** x – Random Site

Compared with the classification Krieger, their starting hand requirements a little tougher. According to the theory Sklanski in early position should play the hands of groups 1-3, in the middle – 1-5, but later – 1-7. As repeatedly stated, the position in holdem is especially important. For example, if you must go first, it is obvious that you have much less information than those who will make a move after you. Late the same position allows you to draw conclusions about your opponents hand and in accordance with this resolve, which is better – throw or play. Thus, more than in early position you are, the less you have the information and the higher demands on the hands that you play.

Omaha and Omaha Hi-Lo
In Ohmahe requirements for starting hands much stronger than in texas holdem. On the one hand you have four cards in his hands and more options on the other – to your opponents as much. We know that players moving from Texas Hold’em to Omaha played a much freer (loose), and frequently overestimate the starting hands. Especially when forgetting that in Omaha for the construction of the combination, you can only use 2 pocket cards and three overall. Consider all the options of combinations in Omaha it is impossible, however, as in Hold’em, there is some kind of rating the best hands.

Omaha (Omaha High or Omaha Hold’em)

In Omaha the best starting hand is considered aakk, in which both ligaments ak odnomastnye. With this hand you can count on a fulhaus, either on street or in a flash, the three of a kind, or, in extreme cases – the best couple. The second best starting hand – aakq. Thus, you get an additional opportunity to collect the street, while, ideally, if the ligament akq – odnomastnaya.
In other words, the more options you have the winning hand, the better.

Here’s a rough ranking of the best Omaha starting hands: A-AKK, AAKQ, AAQQ, AAJJ, AA-10-10, AAQJ, AAQ-10, AAJ-10, AAxx, AKQJ, AKQ-10

Omaha Hi-Lo

For this type of Omaha is the best starting hand – aa23. Ideally, if the first ace of the same suit as the 2 and the second – the same color as the 3. Thus, you can expect to flush, straight, the lower (low) and upper (high) hand. The second best hand is considered aa2k. In this case, with ak, you can count on the best combination of the highest, and since a2 – a better bottom. Of course, the chances are increasing, and if the ligament ak a2 – odnomastnye.

Here are the best starting hands for Omaha Hi-Lo (in descending order): AA-2-3, AA-2-K, AA-3-7, A-2-3-4, A-2-3-8 A-2-KK, A-2-QQ, A-3-4-5, AA-4-5, AA-9-J, A-2-QK, A-2-KJ, A-2-6 – 10, A-3-KK.

Whether Omaha Hold’em or Omaha Hi-Lo, worth to remember – despite the fact that the starting hand aaa7 looks impressive, her chances of winning are small, because the presence of the third Ace in your hand automatically reduces the opportunity to make a triplet. Thus, having received at the hands of three of a kind or a quart, it’s best to leave the game, unless Aces or Kings. In this case, you can try to raise it and steal the pot. If someone is after you again makes the raise, it is better to drop the card.

Seven Stud

In Seven flock to see “playability” your hand or not, except for the value of your hands should be taken into consideration, and face cards of opponents. You are already at the very beginning you have some information about the desktop, and can evaluate the probability of winning according to the number needed for a better hand of cards is among the opponents of the board. The best starting combination Seven herds were as follows (in descending order, in parentheses are the hidden card):

1. Three of a kind, especially if a large triplet like (KK)-K.
2. Large pair of A-A to the J-J. Bonus points if a couple – your pocket cards. In addition, no small importance is playing kickers: the hands (QQ)-A lot more chances than the (QQ) -4, for example.
3. Large odnomastnye ligaments, such as (AK)-Qs, (KQ)-Js, (J-10)-Qs
4. The average pair of 10-10 to 8-8, and the average odnomastnye ligaments, such as (J-10)-9s, (10-9)-8s, (9-8)-7s.
5. Large odnomastnye holey combinations of type (AQ)-Js, (KJ)-10s, (AK)-10s.

As already mentioned, the knowledge of the above ratings and classifications can improve your strategy, but in the end everything is determined by the player. No wonder, for example, in Texas Hold’em are told that «any hand can win». Any hand can lose.




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