Do you want to play poker? Do you want to win in poker games? If you want to play poker, you will surely read many poker tutorials both online and in reference books. You will watch many poker tournaments on television. You may also try to play as much poker as you can either with friends, in casinos or online.
If you train this hard, you will remember the advice that you should not be afraid to fold when you do not have the best starting hand.
If you remember the best starting hands, you will not see the pocket nines that gave Joe Cada the WSOP Poker Championship last year.
You will also not see in the top ten best starting hand the K-10 unsuited cards of Carlos Mortensen that gave him the win in the Hollywood Poker Open of the 2009-2010 WPT Tournament.
Even the 10-9 unsuited cards of Mike Mustafa are not in the top ten best starting. But these medium strength starting hands have brought these courageous poker pros hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars in prizes.
Does this mean that you should ignore the advice on the top ten best starting hands? No, never. While these courageous souls have battled it out with these hands, it does not mean that you or other poker professional should move all in with these medium strength pocket cards.
As mentioned, these professional players have the courage and the guts to play at a tournament poker table. They have trained and have patiently waited for their chance to develop the knowledge and the courage to know when to fold and when to move all in.
Especially for novice poker players, playing it tight is always the best. Follow the rules, follow a certain strategy that fits your poker experience and when you are sure you can play it as aggressive as the poker professionals on television, only then will you be allowed to play and bet your hard-earned money with medium strength poker hands.
Your position is important. The experience of your opponent is important. Your reputation at the table is important.
Finally, if you have more money you can afford to lose, then you can play it loose and ignore the advice on the best starting hands.
Without enough playing experience and a respectable reputation at the table, it is going to be an uphill climb to win in poker tournaments.
The best way is always to learn playing in many levels of the game. Learn to know when to fold and when to move forward. Keep the learning in your mind as you play your game. Never forget that while poker is a game of skills and strategy, some ounce of luck is still necessary.
Hail to the poker pros that have the heart, patience and experience to be great poker players. You surely want the same. You can start by playing poker ice on facebook. Read the tutorials at pokerice.co.uk and also try to look for a mentor. These things will help you become a good poker player. Later on, you may also learn to become a poker player on tournaments.
