Have you ever heard of Texas Holdem starting hands charts?

Well, if you are a big follower of Texas Holdem poker, you must have come across one, at least one way or another when learning how to play the game.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with learning different techniques and strategies on how to play poker. It is in fact good to learn the basics by trying to absorb as much basic knowledge as you can.

However, you must draw a line between consultation and total reliance.

Unfortunately, most players cannot decide whether they should play a hand or not without consulting their starting hands chart. They forget to think for themselves, which is what the people who have made the starting hands chart did.

Unquestioning reliance is not a mark of a good poker player.

Understand How the Charts Work

When you look at the starting hands chart, you must try to understand why the chart is saying that you cannot play this hand and why you should definitely raise on this hand.

If you will notice, the typical chart will tell you that if you have an unsuited King and Queen and you’re next to the blinds or you’re playing from an early position, then you should definitely fold.

This is not always good strategy. Let me illustrate.

Suppose the other players at the table are super tight players, is it still good strategy to give up the hand?

Tight players are likely to fold against an early raiser even if they have an unsuited yet still good Ace-Queen combination.

By raising pre-flop, you are going to give the tight players pause and you may induce the other players to give up the hand. You will reduce the odds against you and you may ultimately walk away with the pot.

Of course, you must also assess your reputation on that table.

If you’re perceived as a tight player and you did this, your chances of walking away with the pot are increased.

If you are perceived to be a loose and aggressive player, then you’re likely not going to get your desired result. In which case, an unsuited KQ combination may indeed be a good reason to fold, as the chart has suggested.

The Point

The point is that you should not depend blindly on the starting hands chart for your decisions.

You must get involved in the decision-making process. Assess the strength of your position, the equity and your opponents’ playing styles before you decide to fold or raise pre-flop.

The starting hands chart is there just as a learning guide. It’s not meant to be a substitute for critical thinking.