Tips for Playing Average Poker Hands...
When you're flopped average poker hands (like the ones below) you need to seriously consider your options, only experienced players should consider playing these hands, you need to have a good read on the players at table and your table position becomes crucial. The best position on any poker table is the last player to act. As the last player you'll get to see how all the other players are going to bet, before you have to make a decision.
To win with these hands you need help from the board and ideally you want only one or two other players in the hand with you. If three or more players call or raise then seriously considered folding - you don't want to become pot committed on a average hand.
When you find yourself with a potential straight – you still technically have nothing and will be betting on the turn and or river going your way – if it doesn't you could lose big if you’ve been aggressive with your bets and raises. In the example above you would still need to turn a '9' or turn both a King and an Ace to make a straight out of this hand. Ideally you need to see two more cards cheap or free.
You hold a pocket pair but a pair of a different rank flops e.g. you hold 10’s and 7’s after flop – consider that your opponents may hold the third 7 or a K. Your hand can improve after the turn and river as you might catch another 10 to give you a full house, which should hold up. Unless an opponent holds the pocket cards of K-7!
You hold a pair but the flop produces an over card e.g. you hold 8’s but J, 7, 5 flop – consider your opponent holds a Jack. Only bet if small number of players left in the pot and think about folding if you are raised.
This hands are very much a 'coin toss' - you could win as easily as you could lose. If you can stay in these hands without committing too many chips it may be worth taking them to a showdown - alternatively a confident raise may push many players off these hands. But if your are hit with a big raise common sense dictates you should fold'em.
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