No Limit Hold 'em Poker Starting Hands - GameMaster OnLine
Hand	EP	MP	LP**	Blinds
A-A	R/RR2; call all	R/RR2; call all	R/RR2; call all	R/RR2; call all
K-K	R/RR2; call all	R/RR2; call all	R/RR2; call all	R/RR2; call all
Q-Q	Raise; call RR	Raise; call RR	Raise; call RR	Re-raise MPR, LPR o/w call
J-J	Raise; call RR	Raise; call RR	Raise; call RR	Re-raise LPR o/w call
10-10	Raise; call RR	Raise; call RR	Raise; call RR	Re-raise LPR, o/w call
9-9*	R/Fold to RR	Raise; call RR	Raise; call RR	Call EPR, MPR, LPR
8-8 to 5-5*	Fold	R/Fold to RR	R/Fold to RR	Call MPR, LPR, o/w fold
4-4 to 2-2*	Fold	Fold	R/Fold to RR	Call LPR, o/w fold
A-Ks	R/RR2; call all	R/RR2; call all	R/RR2; call all	R/RR2; call all
A-Ko	Raise; call RR	Raise; call RR	Raise; call RR	Re-raise MPR, LPR o/w call
A-Qs*	R/Fold to RR	Raise; call RR	Raise; call RR	Re-raise MPR, LPR o/w call
A-Qo*	R/Fold to RR	R/Fold to RR	Raise; call RR	Re-raise LPR, o/w call
A-Js*	R/Fold to RR	R/Fold to RR	Raise; call RR	Re-raise LPR, o/w call
A-Jo*	Fold	R/Fold to RR	R/Fold to RR	Call MPR/LPR, o/w fold
A-10s*	Fold	R/Fold to RR	R/Fold to RR	Call MPR/LPR, o/w fold
A-10o*	Fold	R/Fold to RR	R/Fold to RR	Call LPR, o/w fold
K-Qs*	Fold	R/Fold to RR	R/Fold to RR	Call MPR/LPR, o/w fold
K-Qo*	Fold	Fold	R/Fold to RR	Call LPR, o/w fold
K-Js*	Fold	Fold	R/Fold to RR	Call LPR, o/w fold
Q-Js*	Fold	Fold	R/Fold to RR	Call LPR, o/w fold (1)
* = fold if a player before you raises preflop and you're not in the Blinds
R = Raise - Should typically be 3-4x Big Blind
RR = Reraise - Should be at least double the raise
RR2 = Raise a Reraise - Usually want to get all-in
EPR = Early Position Raise
MPR = Middle Position Raise
LPR = Late positon Raise; includes SB if you're BB
**LP = 2-3 players left
(1) If all players limp in, then raise w/Q-Js or higher from the BB
Copyright 2005 GameMaster OnLine, Inc. Permission to copy for personal use is granted.
Revised 2-05

Got it? Good. The first thing you'll notice is that it's not very big and certainly not nearly as complicated as the matrix for Limit Hold 'em. The reason is simple: All of the hands you should play are listed in the first column. If it's not on here, you shouldn't play it, period. No A-5 suited, no K-10 offsuit, no 6-7 of any type; you just don't play hands like that in no-limit Hold 'em, at least as a beginner. Okay, I know I opened a door here by saying "at least as a beginner" and I know you see Fossilman and Gus Hansen and Clonie Gowan playing hands like that, but remember, they're not beginners. This isn't limit Hold 'em where a dumb mistake can cost you a bet or two - this is no-limit Hold 'em where a dumb mistake can cost you your entire stack, be it tournament chips or real $$$. Plus, this matrix is designed to have you open the betting with a raise as often as possible, but seldom just call a raise ahead of you.

For example, look at the hand of A-Qo (remember, "s" is suited and "o" is off suit). If you're in Early Position (see Lesson 11 for the various position designations), you should raise with A-Qo. Now, look at the * (asterisk) next to most of the starting hands, including A-Qo. Down at the bottom, you'll see this note: * = fold if a player before you raises preflop. So, if the UTG were to raise and you're next to play, you fold with A-Qo or any other hand marked with an asterisk. About 90% of the time you'll be either raising or folding. If you've read many books on no-limit Hold 'em, you'll often see the words "raise or fold" and it's good advice. Also note that most of the hands have a "Fold" designation in the Early Position column. It means just that; you don't limp and you certainly don't raise in EP with A-Jo, you simply throw it away. About the only time you'll call in EP is when you have 9-9 to Q-Q and the pot's been raised in front of you. Those hands are just too good to fold, but they're not strong enough to re-raise.

Let's continue with A-Qo. If you're in Middle Position and no one has raised ahead of you, (which would cause you to fold), you'll raise with A-Qo. If one or more players have limped, you'll still raise, but you should raise more than the standard 3 times the big blind, which is why I say, "Raise should be 3-4x Big Blind" in a note at the bottom of the matrix. You'll fold if someone (anyone) re-raises after you. It's tough to do, I know, but it'll be the correct play the vast majority of the time. Oh, sure, you'll get some player who will re-raise with A-10s every now and then, but most of the time you'll lose if you call the re-raise. If you're in Late Position, you should raise with A-Qo, assuming no one has raised in front of you (in which case you'd fold), but call if someone now re-raises you. Because the re-raise might come from an early position limper, you might wonder why you'd call and it all has to do with position. You'll most likely be last to act for the rest of the hand, so it's profitable to see the flop, then make a decision by how others bet it. See how this matrix uses hand strength and position to dictate the play? I'm sure it's not perfect, but I will say it works pretty well if you follow it.

Okay, now let's discuss the hand of A-Qo in the Blinds. You'll notice that I didn't make a distinction between the Small Blind and the Big Blind in the matrix. I did that primarily to keep it simple, but also because in most no-limit cash games the Blinds are a relatively unimportant part of the pot. Admittedly, they can be a factor in tournaments, but we'll discuss that in a later lesson. For now, treat the SB and the BB the same. With A-Q in either Blind, re-raise a Late Position raise, but just call a raise made by a player in any other position. So, if the UTG raises, for example and you have A-Qo in one of the Blinds, just call, assuming it's a 3x to 4x BB raise. If you re-raise a Late Position ("button") raise and that player re-raises again, just call. How do you know to do that? You know because there's not a "RR2" designation on the hand. Looking at the notes on the bottom, you'll see this: RR2 = Raise a Reraise. You'll also see that RR2 applies only to A-A, K-K and A-Ks. So, a re-raise of your raise by a LP player warrants only a call.

Let's say you're in the BB with A-Qo and everyone has limped in. Regardless of their position - early, middle, late or SB - you should raise about the size of the pot, but certainly not less than 3 times the Big Blind bet. If someone subsequently re-raises you, it's just a call because there's no "RR2" next to the hand, remember? If everyone folds to the SB and s/he limps by only completing the bet, then you should raise. If the SB raises, that's a Late Position raise, so you should re-raise. Of course, if you have A-Qo in the SB, it's the same as if you had it in the BB: re-raise a Late Position raise. But if the BB or anyone else re-raises you, then just call, because A-Qo doesn't rate a "RR2" designation.

You can see that there's a (1) next to Q-Js in the Blinds column. That relates to the comment at the bottom. If everyone has limped into the pot, then raise from the SB or BB with Q-Js or higher. "Higher" refers to every hand above it in the left-hand column, which essentially means you'll raise in that situation with any of the playable hands I show on the matrix. This situation will actually occur quite often in cash games because people like to see cheap flops, but you're not going to let that happen, are you? If you get re-raised, just call because Q-Js does not have the RR2 designation.

And that's basically it for now. Just play your hand as shown for the position you're in and you'll soon be holding your own in No-Limit Hold 'Em. (Poor pun, I know.) When in doubt, fold; there'll be another hand coming along soon enough. I'm not trying to turn you into a wimpy player, but folding is the best tactic if you're confused about a hand. In time, you'll begin to feel real comfortable with this matrix and as the $$$ come rolling in, you'll know it's working.

Oops! I almost forgot the ** designation that you'll find next to the LP column up top. In the notes at the bottom, you'll see this: **LP = 2-3 players left. This is a reminder that you must "open up" your game when you get down to 2 or 3 players left. As time goes on, you'll find yourself as one of the last few players in SnGs and, because the Blind bets will be coming around a lot quicker, you cannot sit and wait for premium hands. When that happens, start making all of your plays according to the LP column regardless of the position you're in. In the case of A-Qo, for example, you'd raise and call a re-raise even if you were UTG at the short-handed table. A-Qo isn't a great hand at a full table, but it's not bad when there are only three of you left.

(Source)