Chance's
Winning Texas Holdem Poker II
Postion
& Blinds
Position
Most
holdem players agree that more hole cards
can be played profitably in late position
than in early position. Any holdem hole
cards that win money in early position
will certainly win more money in late
postion. Any hole cards that lose money
in early position are probably not worth
playing in any position.
Much
of the advice about playing loose in late
position is based on computer simulations
where the players don't get any smarter.
In a live holdem game it won't take the
other players long to see that you're
playing weak hole cards on the button.
You'll then be check raised or worse yet,
you'll be betting while a strong hand
is smooth calling all the way to the river.
Too many situations like those will wipe
out all the easy money you made with weak
hole cards in late position.
There
are very few hole cards that are losers
in early position and winners in late
position. Exactly which hole cards to
play in late position and fold in early
position will vary from game to game.
It's impossible to know what to play or
fold based solely on position, and even
if you did know, the gain would be very
small and very risky. If your hole cards
are not strong enough to play in early
position, don't play them at all. Late
position is not a license to gamble with
trash hands.
Blinds
When
you're in the small blind and no one raises,
it's tempting to call with weak hole cards
just to see the flop. If your hole cards
are weak, abandon your small blind bet
and fold your hand.
Likewise,
when you're in the big blind and someone
raises, fold your hand if it's not strong
enough to play. Throwing good money after
bad has never been a good idea.
You
might win a little more in the long run
by playing a little looser in the blinds,
but you'll increase the risk to your bankroll
more than just a little. Save yourself
some grief. Wait for winning hole cards
even in the blinds.
If
no one raises your big blind, you'll have
an opportunity to see the flop with your
raggedy, no-hope, no-reach, offsuit hole
cards. Check your option and see what
Lady Luck flops for you. You'll get an
occasional miracle flop and that's when
you can show them the error of their ways.
You can do the check raising or smooth
calling and win back most, if not all,
of the blind bets you abandoned previously.
Part
III will discuss Rake & Tokes.
Read
Part
I, Part
II, Part
III, Part
IV, Part
V,
Part
IV
Chance's Winning Texas Holdem Poker Site
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