No Limit Holdem 101: Starting Hand Selection Part 1: Starting Hand Categories

This is intended to be a series of articles about playing on-line no limit holdem cash games. There will be times where I venture into live poker and times where I venture into SNGs, MTTs, Satellites, and games other than no limit holdem, but for the most part this will target no limit holdem cash games.
For the 11th installment of this series, we will talk about starting hand selection and specifically categorizing our starting hands.

We are going to break our starting hands down into categories. Then we are going to have a basic goal in the playing that category of hands and a basic strategy to accomplish that goal.

The first category will be Big Pocket Pairs (AA, KK, QQ). With a hand in this category you can be fairly certain that you are ahead pre-flop. You should also realize that the only likely significant improve to your hand will be making a set. While it is not impossible to make a straight of a flush with a paired hand, it is unlikely. So you are playing these hands primarily for their current face value.

The second category will be Unpaired High Cards (any two cards Jack or higher). With a hand in this category you may well be behind before the flop. Even a pair of deuces currently has you beat. You will need to hit something on the flop to make a hand. Your goal is to hit top pair on the flop and you will have a good (maybe great, maybe not great) kicker. You are also looking to hit straight draws and flush draws (if your cards are suited).

The third category is middle pocket pairs (JJ, TT, 99). With these hands you may well be ahead before the flop, but you are unlikely to stay ahead after the flop unless you make a set. Play these hands carefully pre-flop. You are looking to either win the pot pre-flop or make a set.

The fourth category is drawing hands (suited or unsuited connectors and semi-connectors, suited aces.) With these hands you are looking to hit a big hidden hand on the flop or hit at least a big draw on the flop. Obviously the face value of the cards in play will affect your play. JTs is a superior hand to 67s as a made flush will have higher showdown value.

Okay. I believe in keeping it simple. Those are the 4 categories of cards we will deal with.

In the next installment we be will talking about starting hand selection – how to play the various categories to get maximum value.