One idea that can’t be overemphasized is to throw away the second-best high hands. The only possible exception is when you have a two-card low as well.
If you have a high pair and think you might be up against a bigger pair, throw your hand away.
If a king raises, discard two queens. If there are several overcards left to act, throw your big pair away.
Another time that big pairs can be costly is when several players with low cards showing have already entered the pot.
You don’t want to play against a low hand that has half the pot locked up and also has a draw at the high side.
This is likely to happen when many low cards stay in. In addition, if someone catches an ace, you might not have the highest pair anymore.
Thus big pairs are only marginally playable against a lot of low cards calling. Also, if an ace raises, you should throw your high pair away, even if there is a reasonable chance that the raiser has a low hand.
You would like to play two kings heads up against a player with a nine through a queen up. If you are heads up against someone with a deuce through an eight showing, that’s still good but not as good as the other situation.
You don’t mind playing two kings against two opponents, as long as neither has an ace up. In most other spots, high pairs can be tricky to play.
Advanced players can sometimes still play these hands, and limping in from a late position is an option to see what happens on fourth street.
But if you lack experience, throwing high pairs away in other situations may save you a lot of bets. If you are trying to determine whether to play a big pair and the situation is close, here are some things to consider:
- Is your hand live?
- Do you have a two straight and/or a two flush?
- Do you have a chance to make a low hand – that is, do you have a small card for a kicker?
But even a yes answer to all three questions does not necessarily mean that you should play.
Category No.7: Three high cards to a consecutive straight flush. As long as your cards are live, these are some of the better starting hands.
You can play these hands against several low hands, and you can take cards off. When you catch blanks, you usually can go to fifth street or sixth street – unless there is a great deal of jamming – as long as your opponents boards do not look too threatening.
Even though you may get jammed, especially if some of the hands that you are up against look scary, three high cards to a straight flush does show a profit.
Sometimes when you are dealt one of these hands, your intuition will tell you not to get involved. But rest assured that they are worth playing as long as most of your cards are live.
Categories No.8 and No.9: Small pairs with an ace kicker and small pairs with a low kicker.
Although both of these poker hands are extremely dangerous, having an ace kicker is preferable to having a small kicker. You frequently can see another card with a small pair and an ace kicker, as long as it does not cost more than a bet.
If you occasionally play these hands, keep in mind that they are very marginal. A small pair with a small kicker becomes worth playing only when it appears that no one has a strong hand.
Moreover, you would prefer that the side card to your pair be a straight flush card. For example, have more possibilities, especially if a low flush card comes.
and
In this situation, you might make a lock for low and punish one or more high hands if you get lucky and also make a flush. Most online poker players will play small-pair, small-kicker Starting Hands.
They are hard to throw away because they look good. However, you shouldn’t play these hands unless the situation appears advantageous.
It is also slightly better for your pair to be at least sixes, because it is less likely that an opponent going for low will “accidentally” make a pair and beat you.
However, if one of your opponents has a high pair, whether your pair is sixes or something smaller won’t matter. If you think you are up against a big pair, throw your hand away for a raise, especially if several players are already in the pot.
But if you can get in for just a limp, you might want to take a card off. Keep in mind that you prefer to play this hand heads up against a player whose upcard is lower than the rank of your pair.
Also, if you do play one of these hands, you would prefer that your opponent’s cards are not completely live and that your cards are very live. (See seven card stud For advanced Players for a fuller explanation of this concept.)
This is because your biggest value on fourth street is to make trips, a pair and a three straight, or a pair and three to a low flush. Your hand gains added value when it is more difficult for other players to improve.
When you play one of these holdings, remember that it’s the type of hand that requires you to see fourth street cheaply.
You usually will not play these hands in raised pots and in pots where there are scare cards behind in raised pots and in pots where there are scare cards behind you. For example, when the low card brings it in and there are other low cards or aces behind you, throw small pairs away.
Category No.10: The razz hands. A hand like is the type of hand that mediocre players lose a lot of money with. Notice that this hand not only is rough but also has neither straight nor flush potential.
Hands like the 2 
6 
7 
frequently should be discarded, especially for a raise in very high ante games and particularly when thee is a high and another low out. This hand has very little equity, and it theoretically will lose money on all rounds of betting.
Even if you find yourself low on fourth street and the other low players have busted out, you frequently will still have trouble making the correct play and betting decisions on the later streets.
Three unrelated low cards, whether played heads up or multiway, are big trouble, and the fair to intermediate players constantly get stuck with these hands.
If your razz hand is a little better than the example given, it becomes playable as long as it does not cost too much (no more than one full bet) and your cards are live. For example, if your hand is you usually can play for one bet but not for two. However, if the cards you need to catch are dead, don’t play for even one bet.
Introduction / Starting Hands / Three of a Kind Wired / Disguising Your Hand / Ante Stealing / Getting Reraised on a Semi-Steal / When an Ace Raises / When the Bring – In Raises / Afterthought
