Online Poker Guide - Texas Holdem Strategies
Texas Holdem Strategies: Playing Difficult Hands in Poker
Poker, from the outside, would seem a pretty simple game. Indeed, the game itself is rather easy to understand although, as the saying from poker legend Mike Sexton (learn how Mike Sexton defended poker in the US) goes, “It takes a minute to learn but a lifetime to master”. That is because, although in the scheme of things the game is very basic, it has many intricacies which make it far more challenging than you may have originally thought.
Some of those intricacies involve playing rather difficult hands or situations which require some thought. We all know that playing Aces can be quite straight forward most of the time but what about Pocket Nines, from an early position, near the bubble of a poker tournament? Or a pair of Jacks when a pot has been raised and re-raised? Situations like that occur in poker quite frequently and often require you to make decisions for your tournament life or for a full cash game buy in.
When playing those type of difficult hands it is imperative to pay attention to your opponents. Ask yourself a series of questions before you make your decision. Do you need to risk most, or all, of your chips at this stage? How are your opponents playing? Are they likely to be on tilt? Is the bubble near? Are players playing a cagey game because of the bubble? – the questions are endless but over time you will be asking yourself those type of questions without even thinking about it. It will become second nature to you as your experience in online poker or offline poker grows.
So what are the most common “difficult hands” and “difficult situations”? Let’s take a look at an example and a possible solution:
- You are playing in a tournament on 32Red Poker. After 4 hours there are 3 players left before the bubble bursts. You are comfortably in the cash positions at the moment with an above average stack. It’s your big blind and you pick up Ace-King, a hand that at some stages you would be willing to risk your tournament life for. The player in first position makes a minimum raise by doubling the big blind. It is folded to a player in mid-position who flat calls. The play reaches the button where a player with a similar stack to yours moves all-in. The play is folded to you. What should you do?
Let’s examine that hand carefully. Firstly, the player under the gun has raised the minimum amount. That alone should alert your suspicions. The minimum raise from early position is often an indication of a very strong poker hand. When the player in mid position calls you can suspect he or she has an above average hand or perhaps a drawing hand like Ten-Jack suited. Finally, the decision on how you play your hand has almost been made for you when the button player moves all in. You can assume that player has a very strong hand and your Ace-King is, at best, now a coin flip.
The sensible decision there is to fold. You are near the bubble and players on your table are keen to risk chips. There is no pressure on you at this stage and so risking your tournament on a coin flip is extremely dangerous yet, because Ace-King is such a strong hand, you may well be tempted to try your luck. In part 2 of this strategy we’ll look at more common difficult hands and positions and how to play them.
Back to Texas Holdem Strategies or go on to Part II or Part III of playing difficult hands.
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Online Poker Guide: Playing Difficult Hands
It all seems easy when you're picking up chips early when you have strong pocket cards, but when other factors come into play and the bubble (the finishing positions that payout) nears suddenly poker becomes harder. Inexperienced players will suddenly play too aggressive and commit to pots they don't need to, or tighten up and not play good cards that could win them the tournament. Ultimately, you can only take the advice above so far - you will need to play, you will need to make mistakes and experience the pressures first-hand. Do so at a poker room that gives you the poker bonuses you deserve: 32Red Poker.
