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As a beginner, make sure not to lose and try to participate in various different games to gradually gain experience.
Texas Hold'em world champion Phil Hellmuth has a winning strategy for beginners that is worth considering.
Beginner's Winning Strategy: Only play the top ten hands - AA, KK, AK, QQ, JJ, TT, 99, 88, AQ, 77. Why can such a simple strategy make money?
Firstly, playing only the top ten hands ensures that you win more than you lose. Playing hands alone cannot guarantee winning every hand, but the key is to win more than you lose.
Even with pocket Aces (AA), you won't win every hand. But let's assume you win two out of three times with AA. If three people are in the hand each time, your odds of winning are 4:1 (winning two hands against four opponents and losing one hand, so you win four times the money you lose). Additionally, the most significant losses in Texas Hold'em usually occur when chasing hands. For example, if one player has AK and another has AQ, and the community cards include an Ace, both players may continue betting. However, AK has better odds of winning against AQ (AK wins against AQ at approximately 4:1 odds). In reality, many players play hands with two cards higher than ten. By only playing the top ten hands, your odds of having better high cards than your opponents are usually high. Playing only the top ten hands minimizes the risk of bad beats and potential losses.
In practice, playing only the top ten hands can be challenging. You'll need patience because the opportunities to play these strong hands are limited, perhaps only 2-4 times per hour, including when you are in the Big Blind and Small Blind positions, which reduces your playing opportunities even further. This approach transforms the exciting game of Texas Hold'em into a more methodical and less thrilling ""job."" So, many people who see others winning with hands like T-J or A-2 start playing looser themselves, which is a mistake. If your goal is to make money, you must be able to withstand the boredom.
In Texas Hold'em, there's a saying: ""Any two cards can win."" This is why many people play any two cards; they are looking for excitement and the thrill of winning with bad hands, essentially paying for entertainment. If your goal is to make money, you must be patient and disciplined.
Now, let's discuss the specific strategies for playing each of the top ten hands:
**AA:** If you have a pair of Aces, you should continually raise before the flop. This is the best hand you can have, and you want to build the pot when the odds are in your favor. If nobody has raised before you, consider slow-playing and just calling to encourage others to bet more. If you're facing a tight table where only 2-3 players see the flop on average, consider just calling when you have AA instead of raising before the flop, as raising might scare away potential callers. AA plays best against 2-3 opponents, increasing your chances of winning and reducing the chances of getting ""bad beat.""
**KK, QQ, AK:** These hands should be played similarly to AA.
**JJ:** Be cautious with JJ because it's not a small pair, but it's easy to lose money with it. Play it very carefully. If no one has raised before you, consider raising yourself. If someone has already raised, and you're behind them, you can just call. Fewer players in the hand is better for JJ. (You want to eliminate hands like A9 or K8 because A, K, or Q on the board can threaten your pair.)
**TT, 99, 88, AQ, 77:** Play these hands similarly to JJ, but be even more cautious. These hands are not the strongest, so you want to play them when fewer players are involved. Having a small pair in hand and hoping for a Set on the board isn't a strong strategy. If there are already 6-7 players involved, you may consider folding these hands, especially if the first three community cards don't help your hand.
This should serve as a basic strategy for beginners. I'll gradually introduce intermediate and advanced poker techniques in the future. |
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Post time 28-9-2023 11:40:03