AA, KK, QQ

Other comments: These starting hands are described in the way that I think I play them. I am sure there is not much that differs even if a late position allows you to take the corner wider with for instance suite connectors. Normally I take it very easy with one gap connectors, lower pairs and similar.

These starting hands differ fairly much from the ones recommended in for instance Lee Jones “Winning Low Limit Hold’em” and “Internet Texas Hold’em” by Matthew Hilger.

Lee Jones recommends that you raise all pairs down to 88 if four players or fewer have called before you. Further he recommends raises with ATo and A9o with up to four players that have called before you. I think it is better to avoid these raises as you probably will be out unless you hit three of a kind at the flop with the lower pairs. A raise with ATo and A9o also isolates you with players who have AJ and possibly AQ and better. These will not reveal their hands if they are at a position before you and then you unnecessarily might get problems. It is better to calm down at JJ and TT which you only raise if you are first in (as described above). Lee also thinks you should play suited connectors down to 54 which I think is somewhat too low. I also think it is too optimistic to call with KXs if four players or fewer have joined plus joining with Kto if up to four players have joined. I think it is better to play it if you are first in and in that case just call, perhaps raise if the player that called you plays very loosely but not aggressively. Another alternative is to raise if you are FI and you think the blinds will fold. Lee Jones also mentions that it is possible to play QXs if more than five have called. This is not completely crazy but they are still marginal hands that hardly make any difference. You might as well fold and thus save time and avoid hard decisions. This is specially applicable if you are playing multiple tables.

Matthew Hilger has quite a few weaker hands represented compared to what I have. It should however be mentioned that what Hilger has discussed seems to be considerably more justified then Lee Jones starting hands. My table is more tight than Hilgers table because I have neglected the starting hands that only have been included in order to create a looser table image – that is marginal hands which do not make any difference and whose only purpose are to be hard to read by your opponents. These are however unnecessary at the lower tables like $0.5/$1 – believe me – they will contribute so much money at each flop that it pays off to play tightly. If this should not be the case you know that there always are such tables to be found somewhere else. All your opponents will also refuse to fold and instead call up to the river card. Then it is good to always have a good starting hand. You will however notice that the opposition already at the $1/$2 level will get a bit harder and there it then might be time to add more starting hands. In this case I then recommend the book ( which I find really good for beginners) “Internet Texas Hold’em” by Matthew Hilger.

PLEASE NOT THAT THE ABOVE HANDS ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN USED WHEN PRODUCING THE STATISTICS YOU FIND AT FIXEDLIMITHOLDEM.COM