Do you play only the premium hands or are there exceptions?

I wrote this stuff on another post but I wanted to ask everyone if they only play premium starting hands or if they have exceptions. Some of my biggest hands came when I was the big blind and no one raised me.
When I first started playing I only played the premium hands, like AA23, AAKK or AK23. But I found that I wasn’t playing many hands at all, so I got a little looser and looser and next thing I know I’m chasing after hands all over the place. What makes it much worse is when I fold top set because to board has paired or three connected cards come and see someone take high with two pair! Then it makes me call things I shouldn’t because I think I’m playing with idiots.

Do you strictly play only the premium starting hands or are there exceptions?

[gergery]

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I wrote this stuff on another post but I wanted to ask everyone if they only play premium starting hands or if they have exceptions. Some of my biggest hands came when I was the big blind and no one raised me.
When I first started playing I only played the premium hands, like AA23, AAKK or AK23. But I found that I wasn’t playing many hands at all, so I got a little looser and looser and next thing I know I’m chasing after hands all over the place. What makes it much worse is when I fold top set because to board has paired or three connected cards come and see someone take high with two pair! Then it makes me call things I shouldn’t because I think I’m playing with idiots.

Do you strictly play only the premium starting hands or are there exceptions?

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It depends. In general, yes.

[Ribbo]

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What makes it much worse is when I fold top set because to board has paired

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Quote of the Year! /images/graemlins/grin.gif

[HopeydaFish]

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What makes it much worse is when I fold top set because to board has paired

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Quote of the Year! /images/graemlins/grin.gif

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LOL...this jumped out at me too. The OP can play at my table anytime. /images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I made a mistake in the way I wrote that. Sorry. I meant that if the board paired and I have one of the pair to make a set, but I'm fold because of the boat. You know what I meant. My bad.

[Buzz]

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Do you strictly play only the premium starting hands

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No. Of course not.

But I do think it's wise to exercise some discretion. I'd advise anyone beginning this game, at least the limit variety, to play very tightly in the beginning - and then loosen up gradually as you gain experience.

Spend your time observing your opponents when you're out of a hand. Try to figure out how they're playing and why they're playing that way. The better you learn to do that, the better you'll be able to cope with these opponents when you become involved in a hand with them. It's not easy - or at least it doesn't seem easy to me because individuals don't play every hand or position the same - but I think you'll discover patterns in opponent play. I do the same thing when I'm playing Texas hold 'em - or any poker game.

Just my opinion.

Buzz

[Ribbo]

The secret is not to play just the premium hands, but only to play hands that can make the nuts.
A5 is not a good hand preflop as it can never make the nuts.
234 means A56 is the nuts. A5 suited however, I would play in a pot limit game, but I wouldn't be playing it for the low draw particularily.
So long as you pick hands that never draw to the idiot end of straights, or to non nut flush draws, then you will rarely find yourself a huge underdog. The secret to a happy life of omaha.8 is to always have outs. If you can pick hands that can always scoop if they hit, you will be fine.

[Ironman]

kwhit3,

Keep in mind there are different ways of playing.

When you are at a casino (correct me if I'm wrong Buzz, I believe you play in the 3/6 game live) there is a need to change things up. Buzz might see the same group of guys and play against people many times. Or the same 8 guys will be playing at the table for the entire 4 hours. If Buzz only played the premium hands, he would never get action when he hit a really strong hand.

When I play online I frequently will have turnover at my table and so the players don't get that same solid read on me and as a result, can sit back, wait for the premium hands and they will still call my raises.

When I'm playing live, I find that I need to be tricky from time to time.

Dave

Thank you all for your tremendous help and information.

I found this in another thread and I'm interested in your opinion.

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Crunching some numbers, it seems that in a typical game of about 40 hands per hour, seeing only about 20% of the flops, and going to the showdown only 30% of the time ...

The tight player will only play about 8 hands an hour, and of that only see 2-3 showdowns.

So a beginner should really only see a showdown about once every 20-30 minutes of play. This really puts into perspective the sort of game I should be playing right now.


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Do you agree with this? Thanks.

[Worrots]

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I meant that if the board paired and I have one of the pair to make a set,

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What you've described is trips. A set is when you have the pair in your own cards, not out on the board. Not to be a nitpick -- the distinction is important as the response to your original post should show.

[Ironman]

It's really darn close. In my experience the games I play in average about 50 to 55 hands per hour.

But it is essentially the same thing.

Dave