Many players make the mistake of thinking that hole cards are not that important – after all, there is still the board to consider and there is always the chance to ‘recover’ at some point later on.

Some Facts about Hold’em

There are two things to keep in mind in Hold’em poker. First, is that you have to place a bet at every turn if you want to stay in the game. Remember, the betting starts pre-flop after the hole cards have been dealt out – if you’re going to ‘ignore’ your hole cards in the hope that subsequent cards will give you what you need to ‘win,’ you may end up losing your stake because you keep throwing chips into the pot only to fold or lose later on.

Secondly, you mustn’t forget the fact that five out of your seven cards belong to the community. Everyone can make use of them to build his hand. “Good” cards on the flop are not an automatic win for you – you may have the beginnings of a full house on the flop, but they can be the beginnings of a four-of-a-kind hand for someone else.

The best approach to playing winning poker is to be prepared to take advantage of any opportunity – and the opportunities start happening when the hole cards are dealt.

Dealing with Small Pairs

One of the major decision points for many players is to receive small pairs as their hole cards. For many players – amateurs as well as professionals – this is the equivalent of being placed on the edge of a knife: jump off or stick it out? The temptation to fold is as strong as the impulse to stick it out and pray that the flop, the turn or perhaps the river card will turn things around.

There are two ‘rules’ to keep in mind if you’re dealt with low pocket cards. The first one is to ‘stay cheap’; that is, if you decide to stick it out in the game in the hope of recovering on the next cards, don’t bust your stake doing so. In other words, “HEDGE YOUR BETS!” Don’t go wild raising and trying to bluff when you’re holding a weak hand.

The second rule is “be PREPARED to bail out.” There should be no hesitation, no second thoughts once you’ve made a decision. If you feel it is going to be best for you to fold immediately pre-flop, do so. If you decide to stick it out, be prepared to bail when you hit the flop or the turn.

High Card Jump Starts

The reverse is true if you’re holding a top pair – it’s not a matter of being prepared to bail out at the slightest hint of trouble. If you’re holding a pair of pocket Aces or Kings, you must focus on building up the pot. Going in with teeth flashing at your good fortune almost guarantees everyone else folding – and leaving you with a small, small pot.