In "Play poker like the pros" by phil Hellmuth, he lists his top ten starting hands which are


AA
KK
QQ
AK
JJ
10-10
9-9
8-8
and QQ
7-7



Since Ive gotten his book, I have been only playing those top ten starting hands, unless im in a blind...It has worked out very well...I was curious if anyone else has tried a similiar strategy...

If i am in the small or big bling I will play a smaller pocket pair and hope for a set. Most times the set doesn't come but if you play it right when it does come, it is payday

yes A-Q

There has been a lot of talk about this sort of stuff on PF over the past several months.

Essentially to play ABC poker and you should do well.

I agree with Deme that it'll be a little more difficult to succeed with this strat when you move up. But that's not for a while so if it works, don't worry about changing it much until it doesn't work anymore .

Regarding Marm's comment about 22 being better than ak when HU... I don't think that really matters. I mean sure AK is a slight dog HU vs 22. But 22 is either a slight fav or a huge dog vs A LOT of hands, and AK is only a huge dog to 2 hands, and it's way ahead of aq/aj type hands and is only a slight dog vs all the other pps.

Cheers,

Mike

PS. In my PT both AK and 22 are in the green. But ak has won more and wins more per hand than 22 (which I pretty much just play for set value)

if you show some hands where you play great starting hands, it opens up the bluff game..you will be able to bluff more if you miss a draw and make other people fold ebcause they know you play tight, with good cards..

Originally Posted by bonchkid

Im starting to muck22-66 a lot more preflop

I am as well. In early position at a non-tight table I usually fold. If its tight I can raise and try to take the pot down preflop. In late position I will limp sometime because the odds of a raise are slim.

Phil's book was the first one I read, followed close by Cloutier's PL and NL book.

I started playing SnGs after I read them and I did something like, Top-Ten hands from any position, top 15 from late position. Once we got down to 6 handed or the blinds started being a problem, I added the majority play hands.

This system really worked well on the party poker SnGs, and I made quite a bit of money. It was boring as hell, but it worked.

If you are playing loose limit games, you are probably leaving a lot of money on the table, and I would recommend getting Small Stakes Holdem by Ed Miller.

If you are playing NL, add the top 15 hands if there are already a few limpers in the pot, and the majority play hands if you are a late position opener - and come in for a raise.

Phil has the best advice I have ever read on playing A-x suited.
"if you are playing ace-x suited, and only flop an ace, try not to lose too much"

I wouldn't play A-x suited with a kicker below ten very often unless I was on the button, our could get in cheap with a lot of callers hoping to hit a flush draw, or two pair.