As stated in the previous article of the series, the following are suggested guidelines for an average 9 handed $2/$4 Limit Hold 'em table, where it is neither an aggressive nor very tight line up

2004-10-19

Playable hands. Part 2

As stated in the previous article, the following are suggested guidelines for an average 9 handed $2/$4 Limit Hold 'em table, where it is neither an aggressive nor very tight line up. Slight adjustments would have to be made if the game became too tight, and likewise if the game became a little wild.

Pocket Pairs were discussed in the previous article.

The following is advice for 'suited' starting hands, i.e. both cards are of the same suit:

AK - Play and raise at every opportunity in any position, only put the brakes on against tight opponents AQ - Play and raise in any position. Don't re-raise AJ, A10, KQ - Play in any position. Raise in late position. Raise in the blinds heads up A9, A8, A7, KJ - Call in un-raised pots. Preferably in mid or late position. Only raise in the blinds heads up against weak opponents A5, A4, A3, A2, K10, K9, QJ, Q10, J10 - Only call in late position in un-raised pots. Pass in raised pots or in bad position. Only raise in the blinds heads up against weak opponents K8, K7, K6, K5, K4, K3, K2, Q9, Q8, J9, J8, T9, T8, T7, 98, 97 87, 86, 76, 75, 65, 64, 54 - Only call in late position in un-raised pots. Pass in raised pots or in bad position Q7, Q6, Q5, Q4, Q3, Q2, J7, J6, J5, J4, J3, J2, T6, T5, T4, T3, T2, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 85, 84, 83, 82, 74, 73, 72, 63, 62, 53, 52, 43, 42, 32 - Pass these hands. They are unprofitable

The following is advice for un-suited starting hands, i.e. both cards are of a different suit:

AK, AQ - Play and raise in any position. Re-raise in late position AJ, A10, KQ - Call in any position. Raise in late position if the pot is un-raised KJ, A9, A8 - Call in any position in un-raised pots. Raise in the blinds heads up A7, A6, A5, A4, A3, A2, K10 - Pass in early and mid position. Call in late position. Raise in the blinds heads up QJ, Q10, Q9 ,J10 ,J9, T9, 98, 87 - Pass in early and mid position. Call in late position K9, K8, K7, K6, K5, K4, K3, K2, Q8, Q7, Q6, Q5, Q4, Q3, Q2, J8, J7, J6, J5, J4, J3, J2, T8, T7, T6, T5, T4, T3, T2, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 86, 85, 84, 83, 82, 76, 75, 74, 73, 72, 63, 62, 53, 52, 43, 42, 32 - Pass these hands. They are unprofitable