The Best Hand before The Flop
Your hand strength should be set right after the flop. If you do not have the best hand or lots of outs to draw the best hand by the time the dealer rolls the flop then get out of the game. In Texas Holdem if you peek at your hole cards when they are first dealt and you have Ace/Ace then raise. If any one raises you, then raise them back. You are sitting with the best possible hand, right at that moment. While Ace/Ace is a terrific hand to start out with things can go down hill fast, so you want to raise to eliminate other players and increase your odds of winning. Raising or reraising at this time will also give you information about the other players hands. It is quite possible that someone else also has Ace/Ace. If so, the worst thing that can happen to you is that you will split the pot with him. Unless, of course, he has the Ace of diamonds and four more diamonds come out in the Flop and the Turn or worst yet, the River. Hey. It's poker. Anything can happen.
Always be very wary on the flop if it includes a King, Queen, Jack, or Ten. It might be someone the nut straight. Be very careful if you see three of any suit, or even two of any suit in the flop. It may give you a flush draw. Worse yet someone else may have a flush or the draw to one.
Copyright texasispoker dot com - All Rights Reserved
