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Server Time: 2/13/2012 11:04:53 AM PACIFIC |
 Starting requirements, Mike K, 20. Jan 2003 20:42 | ||
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| I've decided to follow the starting standards from WLLH. I am having trouble memorizing them however... well actually i haven't put so much effort in that task as of yet. but i'm wondering if anybody has any recommendations about how to do that best. For those not familiar with the book it recommends hands in this way: whats playable Middle Position with nobody in yet, or with 4 or less callers, or with five or more, or with a raiser. Just seems kind of daunting. I might just have to spend plenty of time with it but any help would be appreciated. Thanks. | ||
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| Re: Starting requirements, NiceFella, 20. Jan 2003 22:23 | ||
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| Yes, I agree that it can be a lot of information to try to memorize. This is the approach that I used to learn it: 1. Focus on the concepts more than the specifics. Some hands are drawing hands where you want a lot of players (therefore you call in late position behind many limpers in an unraised pot) and some hands do well against the fewest number of opponents (therefore you reraise QQ in any position both because it's a good hand, and also to get players to fold). Knowing the underlying concepts keeps you from making a costly error. 2. Memorize the hands you would play under the gun -- the top ten hands or so, like AA, AK, etc. These are the hands you'll always play, and usually raise. These are the hands you really care about. Then you can relax your requirements down from these as your position and pot odds situation eases up. 3. Become familiar with the set of hands you'd only play under the most favorable of circumstances -- the marginal hands you limp in with on the button against a full field, the hands you complete your small blind with. This provides the "other end" of the spectrum that began with the premium hands. You'll only rarely play these hands, and never play a hand worse than these. Once you know the best and the worst, you can interpolate between them. Try not to play those worst hands too often :-) Abdul Jalib has prepared a chart which I found useful because it graphically arranges starting hands according to their expected worth. It helped me learn the relative strength of the hands: http://www.posev.com/poker/holdem/strategy/preflop-abdul.html Personally, I made a copy of that chart and carried in my pocket. After a hand was over, I'd sometimes confirm my play decision by referring to the chart. In the end, you'll intuitively learn what's a good hand and what isn't for each situation, but I agree that rigidly learning the "expert advice" is the only way to begin. When in doubt, err on the side of tightness. Good luck! NiceFella | ||
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| Re: Starting requirements, Bob, 21. Jan 2003 13:23 | ||
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| Mike, Forget about memorizing starters. Concentrate more on figuring out what the best hand possible is after the flop and seeing where you are at in the scheme of things. For starters play only those hands that have a chance of improving Lg pairs, suited connectors, flush draws then if you don't improve or "hit" anything on the flop get out. Save your money for the hands you do hit. Don't play str8s or flushes unless you have 4 cards of the hand on the flop. And forget inside str8s for now. Play tight but be agressive when you have a made hand (top pair),(a set), if somebody raises you and you don't have the nuts think seriously about dumping the hand. All of that will stand you in pretty good stead until you get some play under your belt. With experience the starters and all of the rest of it will slowly come into focus over time (took me a year to start winning online at HE) and I been a winning stud player for 35 years. (live play) Don't try to get fancy or speculate on luck and it won't cost you too much to become a winner too. JMHO | ||
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| Re: Starting requirements, Mike K, 21. Jan 2003 23:13 | ||
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| Thank you for your responses... i was going to change my question to something more like "what kind of process people went through to learn starting hands?" but your answers have been valuable without the change... thanks again | ||
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| Re: Starting requirements, Steve, 23. Jan 2003 10:03 | ||
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| One thing that was very helpful to me was to sit down and write an essay myself on starting hands. Writing about something, to me is the ultimate way to "find out what you know and don't know." Really helps to commit things to memory, and causes me to think very hard about the subject matter. I agree with the others who have said don't worry so much about memorizing the specific hands you can play. It seems much more valuable to study the other material in that chapter. Suited connectors and small pairs like many opponents, big pairs like few opponents, etc... Try writing your own essay on what cards to play and why, it can be very rewarding! If it helps you, why stop there? Write about other aspects of your game you are trying to perfect. It works very well for me, maybe it can work for you also. | ||
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