- What are solid
cards to start playing with? -
In a ring game, your starting hand standards
generally don't vary. They remain the same for the complete
session. In a Poker tournament on the other hand, your starting
hands vary significantly has the tournament progresses and
chips move from one player to another. Additionally the style
of play the predominates Poker Tournaments and the usual NL
structure dictate a big modification to those starting hands
that may be quite profitable in a Poker ring game.
The biggest modification is the omission of suited pockets
from the list of starting hands. Most ring games have an average
of 4 or 5 players before every flop At a Poker Tournament
table the average is probably 3 or less except at the very
beginning of the tournament. (In a re-buy/add-n tourney this
period of normal play may last until re-buys are no longer
allowed.) If you play suited cards in a ring game you can
expect to win about 1 out of 5. With good multi-way action
your flush draws can supply a positive expectation. In a Poker
Tournament on the other hand where heads-up is the normal
action, you do not get the pot odds required to make a flush
draw worth while.
There is a second consideration and more important consideration.
In a ring game if you bust out you go to the ATM. You can
bust out 4 times and wait to win on the 5 th . In a Poker
tournament if you bust out, you're done and on the rail. If
your still not convinced, look at this example.
In all types of poker, straight draws probably lose more
money than any other "starting" hand. Don't even
consider connectors, unless they have intrinsic high card
value. The hand JT does not have high card value and has a
negative expected value anyway.
Here are the starting hands:
• Limit your starting hands to the absolute top tier
of hands; AA, KK , AK s and AK. QQ is a marginal starting
hand in an early position.
• Any hand that does not contain an Ace is barely marginal.
(Especially in a freeroll where many players believe any ace
should see the flop.)
• Do not play 2 suited cards hoping for a flush, if
they both don't have intrinsic high card value.
• Straights lose.
• If someone raises in front of you, consider folding.
Of course we'll discuss modifications that are required during
the different stages of the Tournament.
See you at the final table.
Sarge |
