The following text is supposed to be used as starting hand guidelines for both no limit and pot limit. Please observe that this text is no absolute truth but more of a starting point. The main purpose is to give you an idea of what hands to play in what position.

We have chosen to divide the text into the different positions around the table. Early position is the two seats after the blinds. Middle position is the next three chairs. Late position is the last three chairs.

In no limit raising to win the blinds is not that important. This is because the blinds are so small in comparison to the final pot. Limping first in on the button can be completely ok.

One last thing. When you play no limit you should sometimes mix up your play raising or calling with hands that you usually play in a different way (If you intend to call then raise if you intend to raise then call). Thus you don’t give away your hand by always playing the same way. For instance you might raise with hands you would normally call with maybe 10 – 20 % of the time.

(By raising we mean raising between 3-6 times the big blind.)
 
 

Early position

If no one has raised you can call (limp) with any pair, suited connectors down to 3,4s and any suited ace (i.e. A5s). Sometimes you should also call with one gap suited connectors (i.e. 79s)
If no one has raised raise with AA-QQ and AK (suited or not suited).   

If someone has raised call with AK, AQ and QQ – 99. Reraise a raise with AA and KK. Reraising and calling raises should be done with just about the same cards from any position. This is due to the “GAP” concept. When calling or reraising a raise use the same starting hands no matter what your position is.

If the pot has been raised and reraised only play AA and KK. Moving all in here is not such a bad move. This is valid for any position so if the pot has been raised twice, look out!

Middle position

In middle position you can play a few more hands. You can now call with any one gap suited connectors down to 53s. You should also start raising with hands JJ, AQ and two suited cards jacks or higher.

(Reraising and calling raises see early position.)

Late position

In late position play approximately the same hands as in middle position. If someone has called in front of you please feel free to call with two gapped suited connectors as well (i.e. 59s). You can also raise with TT and sometimes 99 in this position.

(Reraising and calling raises see early position)
 

Blinds

From the blinds you should play approximately the same way as from middle position. The blinds are such a small part of the pot so it’s usually not important to defend the blinds as it is in limit. If your raising you should also raise a bit more. You will be in the worst position the rest of the hand so you might as well take a chance to minimize the opposition.
 
 

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