Like most forms of poker, to be a consistent winner at limit holdem, you need to enter the pot with a better hand than your opponents on average and understand the probabilities involved with having the best hand at any one time and improving to the best hand. Following closely in importance is a solid understanding of position and maximizing your winning hands while minimizing your losses. In this first of four limit holdem sections we are going to look at position and starting hand suggestions. Part two will discuss general pre-flop strategies for limit holdem, part three is about maximizing profit and part four covers isolating an opponent and implied odds. Please refer to the sections on no-limit holdem if you want to learn about it, as correct strategy is slightly different than what you use for limit holdem.
Position refers to when you must act on each round of betting. The best position is the dealer, or button, as you will be able to act after everyone else on each round of betting with the exception of the first. This is a large advantage because you will have the maximum amount of information before you must act and you may limp in (enter the pot by calling the bet instead of raising) with little chance of being raised by the blinds. This position will also allow you to see another card for free many times when you have a drawing hand. The second best position is one spot to the right of the button and continues around to the player to the left of the big blind, often called under-the-gun. When we discuss starting hands below, early position refers to the first three places to the left of the big blind, middle position is the next three places and late position is the button and the spot to his/her right.
Here are some suggestions for starting hands in each position. These are very tight and designed for beginning players. By following these guidelines you will not be entering many pots, but when you do you will have a strong hand. As you gain experience you will be able to expand these selections based on the other players in the game and your own abilities. Of course if a hand is listed for early position, it is also included in the later positions. I have not duplicated the entries to make it easier to read. A small s signifies cards that are suited, i.e.: AKs is an Ace and King of Hearts or Spades, etc.
Early Position: AA KK QQ AKs AK AQs AQ AJs
Middle Position: JJ TT AJ ATs AT KQs KQ KJs KJ QJs
Late Position: 99 A5s A4s A3s A2s KTs KT K9s QJ QTs QT JTs
Small Blind: 88 77 66 55 44 33 22 JT and any other suited cards
All of the above recommendations assume no one has raised before you enter the pot. You will enter the pot with a raise with some of these hands. If there has been a raise before it’s your turn to act, you need to enter the pot with only the best hands like large pairs and Aces with big kickers.
Author:Wesley R. Young
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