The game of Texas Hold’em poker takes minutes to learn, but there’s so much going on during an actual hand that it can take many years before a player is good enough to win consistently. It all starts with the first two cards. Knowing when to play and when to skip on a hand is the first crucial step to winning at Texas Hold’em poker. Today, I am going to run down a series of starting hands and what you should think about doing when you get them. This list assumes that you are playing at a table with seven or more players and that you are somewhat new to the game of Poker.

The Big Hands

If you receive any of the following four hands, you should raise when it’s your turn to bet. If someone raised the pot already then re – raise.

The four big hands are: AA, KK, QQ and AK.

The Limp Hands

If you find yourself with an upper level pair of eights, nines, tens or Jacks, you want to limp in the pot, which means to simply call the minimum bet. However, if someone has raised the pot, you want to consider folding. You are most likely beat. Some players will limp in with any pair, some with pairs of fours or higher and so forth. This is something you will figure out for yourself.

The Connectors

There are times when you will want to limp in with hands that can possibly pay off. Normally, you will play these hands when you are in the blinds or late position ( one of the last to act ). If the pot gets raised, fold.

These hands are: AQ, AJ, AT, KQ, KJ, QJ, and possibly JT. If these hands are suited, their value goes up, because you gain the possibility of a flush or straight flush.

Many newer players get in trouble with some of these hands, because they get face card envy. Learn when to lay down hands and your profits will go up. If you have a hand that is not listed here, it should most likely be folded. There are times, when on the button, where you might want to play something like a 65s ( suited ). However, playing too many junk hands will milk away your chips. At first, you want to play tight. As you learn the game of Poker, open up and expand your playing ability.

Casinos are very popular not only in the US but all over the world as well. Take the Sin City for instance. Las Vegas is considered the home of the best casinos in the world and along with these impressive gambling hotels comes Poker- the king of gambling games. Unfortunately, not everyone can go to Vegas and splurge money on a real poker game. This is why virtual poker games are such a hit these days. But whether you play poker in a land based casino or at the comfort of your own space over the net, there’s one thing that you need to have to win the game. And that is your own poker strategy.

Planning and perfecting your own poker strategy is not an easy feat. You need to have a clear head, constant poker practice game and best poker books. Others may say that you’ll eventually learn just by watching the game but it will never hurt, especially for beginners, to read at least a couple of best poker books. These books were specifically written to give strategic information and techniques for poker players.

So how do you find out what the best system is for you? One way, and probably the most effective, is through reading poker book reviews about the supposed best poker books in the market. Through these books, you will not only gain more knowledge about online poker games but will also guide you to be the best poker player that you can be.