Not everyone agrees with how to start playing Hold'em but here are some rules for starting hands. One more thing your position at the table is also very important.

Selecting the right starting hands is one of the keys to being successful at Hold'em.

While one can err in the direction fo being too tight(playing to few hands),most agree that most new Hold'em players err in the opposite direction and play too many hands. In the lover limits, the newcommer will pay a higher penalty for being too loose than being too tight.

So for the novice, one skill the lends inself to fairly easy quantification is the question of determining worthwhile starting hands. What is a very easy method of using simple math to objectively identifying winning hands.

Step one : Add the value of your hole cards using the scale below:

Ace= 16 pts. King = 14 pts. Queen =13 pts. jack = 12 pts. 10 = 11 pts. 9 and below are counted at what they are 9 = 9 pts. and so on down the line.

Step two: If your two cards are a pair add 10 points. to the total.

Step Three: If your two cards are both the same suit, add 4 points. Step Four If your cards are connected (i.e. next to each other in rank as in 10 jack) add 3 points. Step Five if your cards have a one gap (i.e. Queen and a ten) add 2 points. Step Six if your cards have a two gap (king and 10 ) add one point.

Now any hand that totals 30 points is worth playing.

By Limiting yourself to 30 point hands you wil always be playing premium cards. Monte-Carlo type simulations prove that any hand that earns 30 or more poings under this system will win at least 17% of the hands in a ten handed handed game. A random hand will win 10% of the hands soe this ststem gives you a 70% better chance of winning the money. As you get better at playing hold'em you may want to change the system a little and mix up your play if you play with the same people all the time. Now if you would like to start playing for real money Party Poker is my choice. They are the one for the best. If you send me an emil I will get you a $25 bonus on your first deposit. click to send me email