Texas holdem - what's considered a decent preflop?

Question

I usually need to see J or better. If I have a J, I need to see a 9 or better. If I have a Q, I need to see an 8 or better. If I have a K or A, I'm usually in to see the flop. If I have two royals, I usually raise. Is this a good rule of thumb? Of course that may be adjusted according to positions, stack, etc. What are your opinions.

Answer 1

A: Only raise with a pocket pair 10 or better.

B: With two royal cards, I'd only bet/raise if they are suited.

C: If you have a straight draw suited, check or bluff.

Anything like 8-3 or worse you most likely want to fold unless you can check.

NEVER LIMP IN if you only have two off-suit number cards that are not part of the same straight.

Answer 2

ok to the guy who said 77 and 88 belong in the top ten. uhhh i recognize that, that is phil hellmuths list. thats garbage heres a list of hands that have +EV expected value (in the extreme long run). Play these only and you will prosper. (best to worst)

AA

any amount

KK

upto 4 rasies  

QQ

AK s

JJ

upto 3 raises

AQ s  

AK

TT

upto 2 raises

AJ s  

KQ s  

99

AT s  

AQ  

call upto one raise

KJ s  

88

QJ s

KT s

A9 s

AJ  

QT s  

KQ

77

JT s

A8 s  

make a raise in unraises pot or fold to raise

K9 s  

AT  

A5 s

A7s

KJ  

66

T9 s

A4 s

Q9 s

J9 s

QJ

A6 s

55

A3 s

K8 s

KT

98 s

T8 s  

K7 s

A2 s

87 s  

44

33

22

limp in and re evaluate on the flop

Answer 3

It's all situational, but I will say raising with any two "royals", as you put it, will get you in trouble long term.  Consistently raising preflop with KJ, for instance, will be a sure fire way to empty your bank roll.  I generally raise preflop with AK, sometimes AQ, I usually just call or fold with AJ or worse.  I like to see cheap flops with small pocket pairs (9's or lower) and suited connectors.  Again, it's all situational, if I feel I have a read on a player(s) I may raise with 34off if I feel I can take it down.

Answer 4

Here are my top ten hold'em hands preflop.

AA

KK

QQ

AK

JJ

1010

99

88

AQ

77

You need some show down value if you raise.

Answer 5

A decent preflop hand has more to do with position and action than what you hold.  Your rule of thumb is going to get you busted quite a bit with decent players.  I see more rookie players get busted overplaying A rags (9 or less) than any other hand.  And don't raise with two royals unless paired or suited.  These are nothing more than drawing hands, unless paired, and should be pitched if you miss the flop in the face of aggression.  As a general rule, you can split how you play into hands that you play cheap and hands that you raise with or call a raise with, all preflop of course and assuming a 9 player table.

Cheap hands:

1) All pocket pairs

2) Two "royals"

3) Suited connectors (like 9 and 8 of spades).

Raise hands:

1) Pocket JJ through AA

2) AQ-AK and KQ, especially if suited.

Situationally, other hands are ok.  But A rags is a rookie hand (I see more people get busted playing garbage like A8 and losing the batlle of kickers when the Ace pairs, but someone else has AJ) and K rags is ridiculous.  Q8 is ridiculously bad, too.  .

Answer 6

Online, you're just as well playing with any **** cause you're guaranteed to have top pair, and get outdrawn by some wanker with 7-2 off suit.

Answer 7

it depends on the pre flop on where i am at and how the players are playing ...for me to go in if i am raised and i am not the BB or SB i need to have a pocket pair or suited connectors..

if i am SB any thing decent with paint or A or connectors or suited..if i am BB i dont even look at my cards if they just limp in  ..if i am raised  i will call with what i stated before.