Losing? Here's Why.

Even though you can consistently win at poker by learning to play well, 19 of 20 players lose money in the long run. Many players, even at medium-stake games, make basic mistakes that cost big money. If you don't consistently win at poker, chances are great that you make the same mistakes.

Playing too many hands

You can win at poker with any starting hand. You can win. But with many starting hands, you won't win consistently enough to make up for the times you lose with that same starting hand.

In Texas Hold'em, your starting hand is the two secret cards you receive at the beginning of each hand (the "pocket").

Different authors recommend different starting hands.

I'll post a few book reviews with great advice for starting hands in a few days. For now, here's my personal list of starting hands that should be pretty safe to play most of the time.

AA, KK, QQ, AKs, AK, AQs, AQ, AJs, TT, 99, 88

T stands for ten. "s" as in AKs means that the two cards are suited (have the same suit, e.g. both hearts or both spades).

All things being equal, you should win in the long run if you restrict yourself to that set of starting hands, play against players that have lower standards for starting hands, and play reasonably well after the flop (which is the subject of future blogs).

You can win more, and play more hands, using more advanced starting hand strategies that take other factors into account such as position (see below). My favorite book for starting hand strategy is Internet Texas Hold'em by Matthew Hilger (it's also great for offline games).

I'm playing online poker as I write this post using the starting hands in that book. So far I have tripled the money I sat down with.

Playing out of position

It matters quite a bit how far to the left of the dealer (or dealer button) you sit in a hand. The person just to the left of the dealer is first to act. Simply put, if you are first to act, you have to decide what you will do before anyone else decides what they will do. On the other hand, if you are last to act, you can see what everyone else did before you (call, raise, fold) before you make up your mind what you want to do.

Only play the very best starting hands from early position.

Going too far with your cards

"Fit or fold" is a lesson that cost me quite a bit of money. Learn it now, and save yourself the expensive lesson.

Simply put, if the flop doesn't fit the cards you hold in your pocket, fold your hand. For example, K-Q is a good starting hand. However, if the flop comes A-A-J and there's lots of betting before it gets to you, chances are you are already beaten. The betting tells you someone likely has an ace for three of a kind, or maybe even A-J for a full house. Fold your good starting cards and wait for a better hand.