When it comes to trying new table games at the casino, poker needs to be on your list! With over 75 million people playing poker in North America alone, its popularity remains strong. Poker is a game of probability, psychology, skill.
Although popular, poker can seem intimidating for many first-time players. While there is a learning curve, and you will have to gain experience from playing, there are some tips that we can share to help first time players feel more comfortable. Here are some tips that you need to remember.
Poker Basics
It’s important for you to do some research before playing poker. Whether by watching a table, seeing what the players are doing and how the game is played or by doing a quick web search, you could learn all about the different poker hands and techniques, but there is no substitute for real experience.
One of the fastest ways to learn the rules of poker is to sit down and play! learning from mistakes and asking other players how they operate at the table, can give some tremendous insight into the decision-making process that poker requires.
Placing Bets
Betting in a 1-2 No-Limit Poker game is simple. The minimum bet is $2 to a maximum of whatever chips you have in front of you. You will see many strategies used by players based off of how many chips they bet.
Protect Your Hand
It is important to always protect your cards. When checking your cards to see what you have, use both hands to shield your cards while slightly lifting the corners off the table.
Poker Hands
There are many poker card games. If you are new to poker, 2 Card Texas Hold’em is the game to start with! The most popular game at The River Cree Resort and Casino is 1-2 No-Limit Hold’em. To win a hand in poker, you are using your 2 cards and the 5 community cards to make the best possible 5 card hand. Here are the 10 Best and 10 Worst Starting Hands in poker:
10 Best Starting Hands
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Ace-Ace
This is the best Hold’em poker hand you can hope to have. It’s the best of the best and will win more than any other hand. Also known as American Airlines, pocket rockets, and bullets.
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King-King
This 2nd-best Hold’em hand is still incredibly strong and will win you a good chunk of change. Two kings or “cowboys” are only dominated by aces.
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Queen-Queen
Two queens or “ladies” is a very good hand. Sure, kings and aces will beat you, but you’ve got the upper hand on jacks and below.
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Ace-King
Ace-king is a strong but tricky hand. It is the strongest of the drawing hands, but the flop needs to work with you to give you a pair of aces or kings for it to really pay off. Suited makes it slightly stronger than unsuited, as you can also make the nut flush much more easily.
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Jack-Jack
A pair of jacks, with 10 people at the table, will win almost 20% of the time. If the flop shows a queen, king, or ace, watch out, but otherwise, it’s smooth sailing.
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Ace-Queen
Ace-queen is the second-best drawing hand and when suited, will win about 20% of the time
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King-Queen
King-queen, especially suited, is a great drawing hand that is afraid of an Ace on the board.
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Ace-Jack
Ace-jack is a great drawing hand. Suited is always better here but unsuited is still playable.
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King-Jack
King-jack, especially in later positions, is a fine hand to play but can be beaten by any of the hands listed above and should be folded to big raises. Statistically, suited will win just under 19% of the time, but unsuited that drops to just 15%.
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Ace-Ten
Ace-ten is still a good hand — you’ve got the ace and can make a straight if the miracle J-Q-K falls on the board. BUT! Be wary of playing it too strong, especially unsuited, as if all you end up with is a pair of aces, you may be outkicked.
10 Worst Starting Hands
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2-7
7-2 off suit is considered the worst hand in Texas Hold’em. They are the lowest two cards you can have that cannot make a straight (there are 4 cards between 2 and 7). Even if they are suited, they will make you a very low flush, and if either pair, it’s an awfully low hand. Known as the “Hammer”
2. 2-8
This is the same basic problem as above. Suited or not, this is a fold’em hold’em hand.
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Tie: 3-8 & 3-7
The 3 makes this hand able to beat the two above it, but with the 3-8 you still can’t make a straight
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2-6
While if the board gives you a miracle flop of 3-4-5, you will have a straight, someone with a 6-7 will have a higher straight. If you get a flush, someone will probably have a higher flush.
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Tie: 2-9, 3-9, & 4-9
The only thing these three hands have going for them over the hands above is the 9. If the 9 pairs, you’ll have a middle pair that could still be beaten by anyone holding pocket 10s, jacks, queens, kings, or aces. No straights can fill the gap between these cards either. Beware.
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2-10
This hand has a legendary quality because Doyle Brunson captured two World Series of Poker Bracelets with it. But it’s not a good hand.
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5-9
Another hand people play because it’s fun, is the old 9 to 5, the “Dolly Parton.” If you’re playing to win, it’s not a good idea to play hands because they have a funny name.
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Tie: 4-7, 4-8, 5-8, 3-6…
All these hands will rarely win, especially unsuited. Toss’em. Just toss’em. Yes, even in the little blind. If you see two low cards in the hole, unless you’re in the big blind and you can see the flop for free, fold.
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Face card + low card, unsuited
One of the most common mistakes beginners make is that when they see any paint (face cards) in their hand, they play it. J-2, Q-3, K-4 or whatever, most of these hands are losers. Most often, these will lose you huge cash when you find the other player has a higher kicker and the winning hand.
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Ace + low card, unsuited
This is another common beginner mistake, playing any ace. Again, it may win occasionally and heads-up it’s a fine hand, but at a table of 4 or more, this hand shouldn’t be played if there’s a raise in front of you. You’re going to be outkicked a lot with Ace-little, and it’s going to feel like a kick in the butt when the other player shows their higher kicker.
Protect Your Hand
It is important to always protect your cards. When checking your cards to see what you have, use both hands to shield your cards while slightly lifting the corners off the table.
Placing Bets
Betting in a 1-2 No-Limit Poker game is simple. The minimum bet is $2 to a maximum of whatever chips you have in front of you. You will see many strategies used by players based off of how many chips they bet.
Don’t Rush It!
Always assume that your opponents are highly skilled, and they know how to play the table. This will give you more time to analyze your own position, and make a decision based on probability rather than an assumption. It is important to not make any action or intention of betting until it is your turn. This way you do not give away the strength of your hand.
Poker is a skilled game that requires observation and practice! Once you’ve learned the basics, it’ll only be a matter of time before you can showcase your talents at the table!
As always, know your limit and stay within it!
For more information, contact River Cree Resort and Casino today!
