Selecting Starting Hands in Hold’em

A common problem many players face is not knowing what hands to play from various positions. While there should usually never be a fixed way you play at the table because your opponents and the size of your stack (and your opponent’s stack size) will dictate playing differently, having a good guideline to start with can give you a strong foundation and teach you proper positional play.

The following are just that... guidelines to get you started playing Texas Holdem. As you learn more about the game, you can expand or even reduce the requirements based upon what makes the most sense for your game.

If you are first to act (meaning no one has made a bet or call yet):

Small Blind:

Make a standard raise with any pair, any ace, any king, Q-J, Q-10, J-10. Fold all other hands.

Under The Gun (UTG), UTG+1, UTG+2 (Early Position):

Make a standard raise with aces, kings, queens, and A-K. Limp (call the big blind) with all other pairs and A-Q. If the hand is raised after you have limped, call any raise that is less than five times the big blind with the pairs and use your discretion with A-Q)

UTG+3 (Middle Position):

Make a standard raise with tens through aces, A-K, and A-Q. Limp in with all other pairs (if the hand is raised after you call, call any raise that is less than five times the big blind with deuces through nines).

UTG+4 and UTG+5 (Middle Position):

Make a standard raise with any pair, A-K, A-Q, A-J suited, A-10 suited, and K-Q suited.

Cutoff and Button (Late Position):

Make a standard raise with any pair, any ace/king/queen suited, any ace unsuited, any two cards ten or above suited or unsuited, and any suited connectors.

If there are limper(s) in front of you:

Big Blind:

Raise with aces, kings, queens, and A-K. Check your option with all other hands.

Small Blind:

Raise with aces, kings, queens, and A-K. Complete the blind with deuces through jacks, A-Q, any suited ace, any two paint-suited, and any connectors including one gapped (there is a gap of one in the cards, i.e. 6-4) from 5-4 up to J-10 (all possible cards would be 5-4, 6-4, 6-5, 7-5, 7-6, 8-6, 8-7, 9-7, 9-8, 10-8, 10-9, J-9, J-10). If the hand is raised by the big blind after you call, use your discretion in calling but call any raise less than five big blinds with deuces through jacks.

UTG+1 and UTG+2 (Early Position):

Raise with aces, kings, queens, and A-K. Limp in with deuces through jacks, and A-Q. If the hand is raised, call any raise less than five big blinds with deuces through jacks and use your discretion in calling with A-Q.

UTG+3 (Middle Position):

Raise with tens through aces and A-K. Limp in with deuces through nines, A-Q, A-J suited, A-10 suited, and K-Q suited. If the hand is raised, call any raise less than five big blinds with deuces through nines and use your discretion in calling with the other hands.

UTG+4 and UTG+5 (Middle Position):

Raise with eights through aces, A-K, A-Q, A-J suited, A-10 suited, and K-Q suited. Limp in with deuces through sevens, and any two cards ten or higher that are suited. If the hand is raised, call any raise less than five big blinds with deuces through sevens and use your discretion in calling with the other hands.

Cutoff and Button (Late Position):

The instructions for UTG+4/UTG+5 apply here. Additionally, limp with connectors (suited or unsuited) one gap or better and any suited ace. If the hand is raised, use your discretion in calling with the other hands.

If there is a raise and/or a raise with callers in front of you:

Blinds:

Reraise with aces, kings, queens, and A-K. Call a standard raise (< five big blinds) with deuces through jacks. Use your discretion in deciding whether to call with A-Q unless the first raise came from the cutoff (one before the button) or later, in which case reraise.

UTG+1 and UTG+2 (Early Position):

Reraise with aces, kings, queens, and A-K. Call a standard raise (< five big blinds) with deuces through jacks. Use your discretion in deciding whether to call with A-Q.

UTG+3 (Middle Position):

Reraise with aces, kings, queens, jacks, tens, and A-K. Call a standard raise (< five big blinds) with deuces through nines. Use your discretion in deciding whether to call with A-Q.

UTG+4 and UTG+5 (Middle Position):

If the first raise is not from early position, reraise eights through aces, A-K, A-Q, A-J suited, A-10 suited, K-Q suited. If the original raise is from early position, reraise only with 10's through aces and A-K. Call a standard raise (< five big blinds) with deuces through nines. Use your best discretion in deciding whether or not to call with A-Q
.
Cutoff and Button (Late Position):

All the instructions for UTG+4/UTG+5 apply. In addition, call a standard raise (< five big blinds) with any connectors (suited or unsuited, one gap or better) from 5-4 to J-10.

Holdem Strategy

The Main Holdem Strategy Index: The Great Game of Holdem

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