
-----------------------------------
PokerGuru
15.05.2008, 05:54

Guru's Mini POKER LESSON 4
-----------------------------------
Guru's MINI POKER LESSON 4

Good Evening, PC scholars -- and you all are, whether you realize it or not!

Tonight, by your request, my lesson is about the the BEST and the WORST starting hands in Texas Hold'em.  

It is not the first decision you have to make when entering a game, but it is the first CRITICAL decision.  It is the essence of the meaning of "when to hold'em and when to fold'em!

If you are a beginner in poker, NOW is a great time for you to start studying to be a money winner....with this lesson.

I am a tight aggressive player, no doubt about it, because my experience 
shows (and all statistics show) that the tight aggressives win the most and 
the most often.  Of course, once in a carefully considered while, I have to 
switch my style to catch my opponents off guard.  We certainly do not want to become predictable!

This will not be my only "when to hold'em, when to fold'em" lesson.  There is more to know than can possibly be presented in just two or three lessons.  

There are many variables we have to consider and I want you to learn them all well enough for them to become second nature to you.  That is how I shall present the lessons, with lessons on other poker topics thrown in quite often to prevent boredom in learning.  I hope you all know that I consider boredom the second biggest obstacle to learning.  The #1 obstacle is mental laziness, which also makes us age faster and is a real enemy of memory.

This is definitely a good way to start your poker education if you are just 
starting, and the best way to sharpen your poker education to a fine edge if you are advanced.  My goal from now on will be to have my lessons apply to both kinds of players.  Yes, it is a challenge.  But I have always loved a good challenge.  So please tell your non-poker-playing friends that this lesson is the place to begin learning how to make some GOOD money, as well as to keep your brain active and alert, and maybe even live longer and be a mentally sharp-as-a-tack old fart!  I am serious.  It is time we had a new membership drive anyway, since we are about to unleash a bunch of new things! 

Those who have been following me for awhile know that my methods test out to be THE way to play winning poker.  And that you are frequently surprised by the fact that my ways often differ from the flood of information floating around out there.  That is because that information has been copied from one author to another to another, with none of them playing enough poker to test what they are saying.  Whereas, I have built a successful playing career by playing and keeping notes and experimenting with strategies and then testing them over and over!  The way I love research, I should have been a scientist!

But on with the lesson!

To start, I'm going to give you straight out and point blank what I consider to be the very best starting hole cards.....and also the very worst!  Then, with each new lesson, so you will have time to learn, I will include more and more good and bad hands.

So here we go!  Woooooooooooo Hoooooooooooo !

The very best 2 cards you can be dealt face down (in the hole) is, of course,  two Aces.

A pair of Kings is the second best, since only one other hand can beat them.

Third best is, in my opinion, an Ace and a King, suited only slightly 
stronger than unsuited.  (Suited = same symbol, hearts, diamonds, spades, or clubs.)  Advanced players, don't be insulted.  We want ALL PCers to know more than the average player, at least.

A pair of Queens is the 4th best.

Fifth....a pair of Jacks I am very happy to hold, but if the flop (the cards 
dealt face up on the table for all players to consider part of their hand) if 
the flop brings a Queen, King, or Ace, I like it a lot less, because any of 
them could pair up.  But I would ALWAYS play them -- just with caution.

I consider an Ace with a Queen the 6th best.

And 7th best would be a King with a Queen. (Memory tip: "wed in Heaventh, these happy seventh").

8th best is an Ace and a Jack, but suited is FAR better than unsuited.  (Memory tip:  "Jack has to dress to the 8th to get a date with an Ace.")

I consider an Ace and a 10 to be ninth best, because of the possibility of matching the Ace.

10th best is two drunk and jolly fellows, a King with a Jack.  However, if an opponent makes a high raise, they are not too drunk to know they should fold.

Since we are taking this topic a little bit at a time (so you can keep up 
until a huge number of hands' value is known by you), we will now take up your homework assignment I posted earlier.  Remember?  You should have memorized this little diddy:


"An animal kicks, kicks, and kicks!  Quit?  Quit???  Just jackasses.

Also, queens kick queens!

Aces jump and then Kings jump!"


Now.  Why did I have you memorize that?  This is one of those times I am asking you not to talk about this except with one another and, of course, your loved ones.

I am about to share with you a little trick I used to remember the ten best starting hands, in order, until they became second nature to me.  Simply memorizing that little ditty.....and considering only the first letter of each word.....is my secret, like this:

An Animal    = AA  = #1
Kicks, Kicks = KK  = #2
And Kicks!   = AK  = #3
Quit? Quit???= QQ  = #4
Just Jackasses=JJ  = #5
Also, Queens = AQ  = #6
Kick Queens! = KQ  = #7
Aces Jump    = AJ  = #8
And Then     = A10 = #9
Kings Jump!  = KJ  = #10

to be continued 

Your Ever-Lovin' Guru

-----------------------------------
mirrors34
15.05.2008, 09:29


-----------------------------------
my head hurts...........lol

well done and what a great starter for the new players out there

-----------------------------------
mirrors34
15.05.2008, 09:43


-----------------------------------
I got this in an email which might be useful to some

1.	AA: You have a 31% chance of winning with pocket rockets.
2.	KK: You have a 26.02% chance of winning a round.
3.	QQ: Pocket Queens will give you a 22.03% chance of winning.
4.	AKs: A suited pair of Aces and Kings gives you a 20.19 chance of winning.
5.	JJ: A pocket pair of Jacks gives you a 19.09% chance of winning the hand.
6.	AQs: Suited Aces over Queens gives you an 18.66% chance of winning.
7.	KQs: Suited Kings and Queens give you an 18.08% chance of taking the pot.
8.	AJs: A pair of suited Aces and Jacks gives you a 17.47% chance of winning.
9.	KJs: Suited Kings and Jacks, as your pocket pair gives you a 17.05% chance of winning.
10.	TT: Drawing a pocket pair of Tens is a 16.83% chance at taking the pot.

-----------------------------------
PokerGuru
15.05.2008, 14:50


-----------------------------------
Dear Mirrors!

Thanks, my friend.  I have always been a fan of pro-active and interactive learning.

And I love lessons with student participation and I love even more interactive teaching and discussions.

I haven't read the content of your post yet.  I wanted to let you know immediately that I welcome it!

Any member should feel free to post any comments or questions they may have following any of my lessons.

Your Guru

-----------------------------------
PokerGuru
16.05.2008, 11:42


-----------------------------------
I read it, Mirrors!  I am sure all members will appreciate the percentage information.

Thank you for your contribution!  I appreciate it.

Your Guru
