This chart will show you the minimum hands needed to make a play depending upon your position, working backward from the "button" (acting dealer for this hand) to the Big Blind. The options you have are usually to raise or reraise, call or fold, just as I show in my other charts. What I want to stress is that this chart is appropriate for limit Hold 'em games and, like most of my others, will make you appear as a "tight" player, which may or may not suit your style of play. If you want to be looser in nature, the chart can easily accommodate you with some simple modifications, as you'll see.
While I think it's important for anyone to play within some sort of comfort zone (why bet your hard-earned $$$ if you're uncomfortable?), the fact is that we have to loosen up our play as the number of opponents decreases. A hand of 5-5 may not be all that strong in a game with 10 players, but head-to-head with someone it will often be the winner, if it's played aggressively. And that's not something I can teach you - at least not in this lesson - how to get a feel for the "texture" of the game you're in; whether to lay back or be out there firing at every pot. Whatever your choice, this chart will at least let you know if your play is fundamentally sound.
So, take a look at it and I'll see you down below for a thorough discussion when you're ready.
| Minimum Pocket Pairs for Limit Hold 'em Poker | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Player Position | Reraise/Raise | Call all raises | Call 1 bet only |
| 0 (the button) | K-K/10-10 | 8-8 | 2-2 |
| 1 | K-K/10-10 | 8-8 | 3-3 |
| 2 | K-K/10-10 | 8-8 | 4-4 |
| 3 | K-K/J-J | 9-9 | 5-5 |
| 4 | K-K/J-J | 9-9 | 6-6 |
| 5 | K-K/J-J | 9-9 | 7-7 |
| 6 | K-K/Q-Q | 10-10 | 8-8 |
| 7 (UTG) | K-K/Q-Q | J-J | 9-9 |
| Small Blind | (See SB chart) | ||
| Big Blind | (See BB chart) | ||
(Source: GameMaster)
