How can I protect my starting hand better in Texas Hold'em?

Question

Basically, started playing a couple of months ago. Been taking tips/learning from watching it on tv and playing with guys who I live/work with during the week and who have been playing for a long time. I encounter problems when playing guys I know from home who basically throw in their 10 pounds for the fun of it and basically view the whole game as 100% luck which I don't totally believe to be the case. Usually around 6/7 of us who plays and when I get a real good starting hand at least one of them calls me with a crap hand but because of the flop etc ends up beating me. I sorta know when to get out of a hand and that but seriousley getting annoyed when they call me all the time. Found myself pretty much going all in sometimes just so they won't call me and beat me with crap. Any tips guys?

In response to Sleeves. Glad to hear of someone else having same problem!! I'm not a sore loser or anything and I accept that AA or JJ or whatever doesn't guarantee the Pot at the start of a game. I'd like to think I know when to call/raise/fold according to postition and hand plus I make the odd bluff move but these guys are ridiculous sometimes. If you noticed previousley Sleeves I posted question about the correct way to act in a pot...person after dealer when community cards are dealt? Well, my mates play it the way I described!! Not only am I playing a pack of callers but they introduce these rules too...apparently if gives them more chance to bluff and they didn't like the other a.k.a Proper way!! Ah well, hopefully by taking on some tips and learning from mistakes I'll start winning a few games!!

Answer 1

You need to learn to get away from hands after the flop.

If you are unwilling to play against 1 or 2 other players with the best pre-flop hand, maybe you should be playing a different game.

Answer 2

All the advice given is good advice, however its more advice for playing people who value their money, and will fold to a large raise pre-flop with a bad hand.

However that said you should play the odds, if you have a pair of A's pre flop against one opponent with a random hand you are around a 60%-70% favourite. That means that 7 out of 10 hands you will win the hand, therefore you should be raising pre-flop. if you put in 5 times the big blind and then bet out the same on each turn you will have put in 20 times the blind by the end. if you lose this 3 times you will lose 60 times the big blind from those hands but when you win the other 7 you win 140 so overall you will be 80 up (according to statistics). This is the only real way to win over time. you have to be patient and lose some hands and not let it get to you. Bad beats happen, you have to think long term.

Another good idea is to write down what your friends do in certain positions...do they chase flushed & striaghts?, do they call the the river with middle pair? Do they slow play a monster hand? you should also keep an account of how much you win/lose so you can keep track of how you are doing. Over time you may suger coat how well you are doing, make sure you find out which games are profitable and which are sucking up your money , then use your notes to work out why this is happening and adapt to the game.

Im currently writing about the games I am playing on my blog, check it out for more adivce on how I play and the way the hands have turned out :)

Answer 3

I know exactly where your coming form I play with a group of people every weekend who do the exact same thing they will call raises pre-flop with stupid hands just because and it makes me mad but I just hope that my raise gets enough people out of the way so only one or two call because, I'm not trying to sound arrogant but I'm better then most of them, so I feel that if they miss the flop I can out play them. But there are nights where I lose a lot of money by going all in with the best hand and getting beat by people calling with hands that should have been an easy fold. The only advice I can give is to switch up your play and try playing some kinda of bad hands just like them and raise a lot when you have a good hand so you can at least get it down to 1 on 1 and then if you develop your skill at the game, you will just have to hope that in the long run your skill will defeat there luck and from my experience this is true cause I do win more then I lose.

Answer 4

I understand completely. I also play with a group of people that get together to have fun. The way people say to play is to bet the pot or even more to get people out of the way, but this is not true when playing people that know the rules but don't study the game. See, to them it is all about luck. They feel lucky on that hand and it does not matter what they have. I have busted out on many tables before I got the grasp of this. I now play differently. First, notice if they are acting according to traditional poker thinking. Then you can play them differently. You already know how to play those that "know how to play" The way I play the others is only play Nut hands or if it reasonably cheap to see another card that might give you the Nuts. They can and will call you with anything. Work this to your advantage.

Answer 5

I'd bet it out pre-flop, or on the flop. Make your opponents pay to see the flop or turn, especially if you have a high pocket pair, or pair a high card with decent kicker on the flop.

In general, bet or raise with your strong hands and check or fold if your hand is weak or becomes weak. Try not to just call, as habitual callers are not winners in the long run.

And of course, only play in a game you can afford and feel comfortable buying in for. That way, you can focus on being an aggressive, and hopefully winning, player.

Answer 6

You need to learn to get away from hands after the flop.

If you are unwilling to play against 1 or 2 other players with the best pre-flop hand, maybe you should be playing a different game.

Answer 7

A lot if it depends on your position. If you're in an early position and have a good hand, I would match the pot, that way the price is high enough to keep people with crap from calling and sucking out on you. If they do call with crap, then sooner or later they are going to bust out. There is the element of chance, all you can do is get your money in with the best hand and hope it holds. Good luck

Answer 8

basically the only thing you can do to protect a starting hand is raise preflop,it doesn't mean that if you get called by a weak hand that you will neccesarily win it just means that they will pay more if they have a weak hand and if you outplay them on the flops you will make alot of money from them when they are callin your crazy raises on pocket aces with crappy hands.this is just my amateur opinion though.if you know any good poker players ask them for tips and watch how they play.good luck and hopefully you'll win some in the near future.

Answer 9

Go with your gut feeling, you know when you have a good hand, don't go for there crap and play the game and you will be better off. Why don't you raise them in the beginning when you know your hand is good and it will throw them off, I've one that. They already can read you and thats why they do that to you. Don't show them any facial features. Don't play when your hand is not looking that good, fold.

Answer 10

Only play premium cards pre-flop. And when you do play them, come in 4 a raise. If you have skill you should be able to outplay them after the flop in a situation that is favorable.