<---Back To Poker Articles Menu

Why the First 2 Cards are Important.

Essentially this should help you see that any 2 cards can win, BUT, the better cards will win on the flop more often. To flop a good hand is hard enough, if you do flop one, you want it to be strong. I have flopped a two pair of 5 2 in the blinds only to get hit by some one who has 2 pair of face cards or hit trips. It is real hard to lay it down on the flop and you usually want to protect that small 2 pair with a big bet. It was a flop of 2 5 Q with 2 suited cards and someone also paired their Q, you are holding a troubled hand my poker reader. That person eventually got a 2nd card for 2 pair and their 2 pair was better than mine. Onto the numbers:

A pocket pair flopping:

4 of a Kind .245 % - Full House .980 % - 3 of a Kind 10.77 % - 2 Pair 16.16 %

1 Pair 71.84 %

Suited Connector AKs

Straight Flush .005 % - 4 of a Kind .010 % - Full House .092 % - Flush .837 %

Straight .321 % - 3 of a Kind 1.57 % - 2 Pair 4.04 % - 1 Pair 40.40 %

So these are 2 types of the most common starting hands a person will play. You see that flopping a pair will happen the most, especially if you already hold that wired pair. What do you want that pair to be, a pair of 5's or holding AQs having one of those pair up? Having that strong kicker is so important and this is one of the 2 reasons. Because you are trying to flop at least top pair and if you flop 2 pair then you have a real strong 2 pair. The numbers change according to what your high cards are.

 

The most common hands that win are 2 pair 31% of the time then a pair at 27% and 3 of a kind at 12%. The straight, flush and full house all win about 9% of the time. So this is the real reason strong starting hands are essential, if you are going to win on a pair or 2 pair they have to be high cards. They need to have that good kicker if you have just one pair at a showdown. If you have that better kicker then you will win more times than the average

loose player. In tight and most typical games the kicker is more important, against a loose player it is essential.

Finally, why starting with a strong hand is essential is that most important axiom of poker. It is not about winning pots, it is about winning money. I would rather keep throwing hands away pre-flop and on the flop for an hour or two and then get that killer hand that wins me an opponents bankroll then win a series of small pots. If you are just winning a lot of small pots then you are probably seeing too many flops and those small pots eventually all get put back into the pot when you call to see the flops.

The accepted flop percentage for a player to see at a full table is between 15% and 25% depending on table dynamics and the player's individual players. I vary my play throughout a session so I play tight at the beginning to see who is doing what and how I can take advantage of it. Later, I will loosen up, take advantage of my tight image and try to steal a few pots until I get called on it. After that your opponent will not know what type of a hand you have. This works best if you had been stealing some pots and then someone calls you on it but you actually have a hand to show them down with. It is an excellent meta-strategy. After that big showdown most players will be weary about challenging you and you may be able to steal pots again, but your opponents will also have better than average hands if they play back.