In this article, we will run through three playing styles, and the types of hands you should play according to your style.

The Conservative Player - This player plays the fewest hands out of all players. If playing conservatively, you should be folding at least 80% of your hands before the flop. In an effort to save money, this player will even fold mediocre hands on small blind. Likewise, if raised as big blind, the player will once again fold with a weak hand. If choosing this strategy, which is generally more useful in limit poker, you should follow the jack-10 split rule. This rule dictates that you should play only these hands:

Ace, Ace
King, King
Queen, Queen
Jack, Jack
10, 10
Ace, King
Ace, Queen
Ace, Jack
Ace, 10
King, Queen
King, Jack
King, 10
Queen, Jack
Queen, 10
Jack, 10
And lastly, an ace or king with any other card if suited.

It should also be noted that this conservative model is only useful and efficient for players with very strict self-control. The strategy depends on making scores only where possible and saving money everywhere else. This means you should only stay in hands you have a large percentage chance of winning from the flop. For instance, if you have ace, king, and the flop comes 2, 6, jack, you should fold if any betting occurs. Depending on the skill level of your opponents, it is also possible that they will catch on to your conservative style and will quickly fold whenever you bet, believing that you have "the nuts" (the best possible hand). If this trend develops, it allows you to get away with the occasional bluff. However, conservative players usually never bluff and caution should be used as other players may in fact be holding the nuts.

The Semi-Conservative Player - This player can be commonly found in loose limit games, and most no limit games. This strategy is most useful in no limit games where you can force players out with large bets on hands like top pair or two pair right after the flop, thus eliminating players on draws. There is nothing worse than checking to keep players in the hand, and then getting beaten by a straight that is completed on the turn or river. For this playing style, all face cards are fair game. Play any face card regardless of the kicker, and when you bet, bet aggressively. At the flop, hands like top pair and two pair are quite strong so don't be afraid to reraise if you have a good kicker or two pair. Your opponent, if holding top pair, will likely fold when reraised, or reluctantly call, thus confirming your read on them, but of course, be careful for acting if there are flush or straight draws. However, if they seem reluctant to call, bet big after the turn and they will probably fold unless they caught their trips or two pair. The semi-conservative aspect of this playing style involves maintaining self-control when you are on draws. If you have a good chip count, go ahead and call very small bets, but be weary of how fast this can add up. Always fold draw hands if others bet large amounts. More than 2% of your chip count can be used as a good cut-off amount.

The Loose Canon - This player is the annoying jerk who rivers you in limit games, and catches low two pairs or trips in no limit games and beats your top pair with a reraise. Its the guy who plays almost every hand and depends greatly on luck. Also note that this player bluffs a lot, so if you are up against him, try to catch him in a bad bluff; this may keep him in line for a couple hands at least. However, this playing style can hardly be recommended as a steady way to play poker. The only situation in which it is truly useful is when playing against novices. And I do mean novices, players who can barely remember what hand is higher than another and quickly gets scared and folds anytime a big bet comes at them. The bottom line is that this strategy can be profitable with some short run luck, but for sustainable long run profit, a more conservative style is both safer and more efficient.

© 2005 - Varoujan Arman (AcesHigh, site moderator). All rights reserved.

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Remember to throw them in the minute they can't win.