When playing Fixed Limit Holdem, not just any old cards will do. Before the flop, one must maintain discipline in his starting hand strategy. For basic Fixed Limit Holdem preflop strategy, it is important to understand which hands are playable, as well as which hands are not playable. The reality is not every hand is playable. In fact, when playing Fixed Limit Texas Holdem, one is correct in only playing roughly 26 to 30% of all starting hands, generally. It is imperative to a fixed limit player’s long-term success that he displays patience, and great judgment when determining what hands to play, as well as which hands to discard.
When we play Fixed Limit Holdem, the first thing to do is create a universe of playable hands. We wish to create a list of hands that have the characteristics of a potential winner. Understand that this list of starting hands is not a list of “always play” poker hands, but instead a universe of sometimes, or often acceptable and effective starting hands. In addition to the hands that are playable, we will look at the characteristics of such starting hands, which will come in handy for later discussions both before and after the flop in Fixed Limit Holdem.
The first group of hands we will commit to playing in Fixed Limit Holdem are the hands that are considered powerful, or superior starting hands. Naturally, pocket Aces, as well as pocket Kings and pocket Queens fall into the universe of powerful hands. Additionally, hands such as Ace King suited or unsuited, as well as Ace Queen (containing the same suit) prove to be powerful hands to start these hands should be raised most all of the time and from virtually any position in the hand preflop. Typically, a hand of this nature will be the strongest hand before the flop, where the pot building should begin.
The second group of hands we wish to define in our playable universe is the hands that make good “top pair” hands. This means that when these hands make top pair, they typically make the best hand. Hands such as Ace-Queen not suited, Ace-Jack, Ace-Ten, as well as King-Jack fall into this category. These hands can expect to be the best hand when they flop top pair. Additionally, pocket pairs – such as Jacks, and tens can be placed into this category of Fixed Limit Holdem starting hands that hold up well as top pair hands. Hands of this nature should be usually played from earlier preflop positions varying between raising and limping. These hands should almost always play from the later position in an aggressive manner.
Pocket Pairs such as Nines, Eights and Sevens are often playable, but carry additional risk and should not be over-played. When we overplay a hand, we play it in a manner where we believe the hand is far stronger than it truly is. These hands are playable most of the time from most any position and can be raised or limped preflop from late position, or played passively from early position before the flop most of the time.
Suited aces are best played from later position, but do not fair well against players raising from early position, as these hands can often turn into “trap hands,” which are hands that flop top pair but are dominated.
Optimistic Hands such as small and medium suited connectors are sometimes ideal to play in Fixed Limit Holdem. These hands are hands such as seven-eight suited, as well as the trusty same suit four-five are speculative in nature, and sometimes playable. When playing optimistic hands, keep in mind we are being hopeful with these hands. Low pocket pairs such as pocket fives are also included in the universe of optimistic hands, as they typically require a set to win.
Hands that are optimistic in nature do not possess power before the flop, but have characteristics that can pay substantial dividends after the flop occasionally. Hands of this nature should be used in moderation, when circumstances dictate doing so – such as when in late position, or in the unraised blind. Optimistic hands should rarely play from early position, whereas they play best folded more often than not.
While there are many styles of poker, there is no one magic formula that constitutes when or how to play each hand of poker, there are logical methodologies for determining what hands to play, and which to discard. Optimistic hands are rarely profitable and should be played in late position, typically when a big pot is brewing.
Superior starting hands may be played from any position and prefer big pots, thus one is best raising when obtaining a superior hand. Medium pocket pairs and hands with top pair potential are hands that should vary in their play depending mainly on position, most often choosing to either raise or fold. By creating a universe of hands we are comfortable starting out with in Fixed Limit Holdem, we begin reducing the times we play hands that are not profitable.