Starting hands for no-limit tournaments can be derived, like in any other poker game, from implied odds. A starting hand has an implied value and from this we can derive if it can be played or not (from a certain position). AA has the highest implied value of all starting hands and can therefore always be played. 72 is on the other hand a very bad hand which requires an (enormous) help from the flop to create any poker hand of value. This hand (72) has almost no implied value (or rather negative) rendering it unplayable. 78 suited can however be played should certain favorable conditions appear (i.e. a large pot can be won). If the pot is large this will compensates for the times the flop does not help your hand. Playing 78 suited can often be profitable when there are many involved in the hand thus hopefully building a large pot (and compensating for the rather low implied odds).       

For more information on implied odds please see our Texas Holdém school here.

When it comes to starting hands for no-limit tournaments we suggest that you use the starting hands under no-limit Texas Holdém in our other poker school which you will find here. Tournament play is very much like any cash game so therefore the same principles for starting hands apply. (These starting hands are naturally only a recommendation on what starting hands to play. Please observe that you should not play more than these starting hands since might quickly render “chipless” or out of the tournament.)

Other than what we previously written there are few additional things to consider when choosing starting hands for no-limit Tournaments. If the blinds increase at short intervals (like in turbo tournaments) it is important a few more starting hands and at the same time try to maximize the size of each pot (raising a lot). When blinds have become large they will influence both your game play and the choice of starting hands. This change in strategy is explained in the chapter Zone play. If the game is tight (few players see the flop) you should avoid playing small pairs and small suited connectors. With few players seeing the flop these hands will not have the implied odds they need (i.e. the pot isn´t large enough). At the same time be aware that high cards go up in value and therefore can be played to a greater extent. If the pot is often raised pre flop than you might make a small raise with a hand you normally would just call with. Doing this will hopefully avoid being raised by a player sitting behind you.

For more information about starting hands see also the next chapter Strategy.

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