No-Limit Hold’em Tournament Starting Hands for Newbies

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The following is a list of suggested No-Limit Hold’em Tournament starting hands for newbies.
They are based on the supposition that your table has fairly good players and it is not the final table or thereabouts.

Standard raise = 2 to 4 times the amount of the big blind.
Call means call the minimum bet only(1x the Big blind).


F=Fold
C=Call
L=Limp
R=Raise
RR=Reraise
% refers to percentage of hands

1 Call in front of you

AA, KK, QQ=Raise(R) 90% of time/Call(C) 10% of time (R=3x to 5x BigBlind(BB))

JJ,TT=R90%/C10% (R=4x to 5x BB)

99=R50%/C50%

55-22=Call on Button

88-66=C

AKs,AKo= R

AQs=R, AQo=C

AJs, AJo=C

ATs=C, ATo=Fold (F)

A9-A2=F

KQs=Call, KQo=F

KJs=C if bettor is weak, otherwise fold KJ

Suited Connectors (not mentioned above)= 3 or more callers in front  C, less than 3=F

3 Calls or more in front of you (you’re on button)

AA, KK, QQ, JJ,TT=R 4x to 5x BB

99-22=C and hope to flop set

AKso=R

AQs=R, AQo=C

AJso-ATso=C

Axs=C Axo=F

Suited Connectors=C

Unsuited Connectors down to 5,4=C, 4,3 & 3,2= F

KJso=C

KT etc.=F
Nobody shows strength in front of you

AA, KK, QQ=R 80 % of time 3x-4x BB from early and middle table position & 2x BB from late. Limp(L) 20% of time.

JJ,TT,99=                 Early: 70%R & 30%L (R=4x-5x BB)
Mid.: 100%R (R=3x-5x BB)
Late: 75%R & 25%L (R=3x-5x BB)

88,77,66=                 Early: 20%R & 80%L
Mid.: 88=R, 77 & 66=L
Late: 75%R & 25%L

55,44,33,22= Early: F
Mid.: 55&44=L, 33 & 22=F
Late: 55&44=R, 33 & 22=L (weak blinds=R55-22)

AKso,AQso= Early: 75%R & 25%L (R=3x-5x BB)
                                (caution if you get action and flop doesn’t hit you)
Mid.: 85%R & 15%L
Late: 85%R & 15%L

AJs,ATs=                 Early: 50%R & 50%L
Mid.: 75%R & 25%L
Late: Strong Raise



A9s,A8s=                 Early: 50%R & 50%L (weak table & little preflop action, if not fold)
Mid.: 50%R & 50%L
Late: 80%R & 20%L

A9o,A8o=                 Early: F
Mid.: F
Late: 90%R & 10%L

A7 & lower= on Button: R
1 b4 Button: A7 & A6=R, A5,4,3=F
late: A7s=50%R & 50%L, the rest only blind stealing or fold

KQso, KJso, QJso= Early: KQs=50%R & 50%L, KQo=50%R & 50%F (weak table & little preflop action, if not fold) KJso,QJso=F
Mid.: 50%R & 50%F
Late: steal blinds only, else fold

Suited Connectors=     Under Gun(UG) & UG+1=15%R/85%F
Early: JTs=L, F the rest
Mid.: JTs=50%R & 50%L,T9s=15%R & 85%L, F the rest
Late: JTs,T9s=R, 89s,78s=L, F the rest

Misc. Hands= Late: KTs, K9s,QTs= 50%R & 50%F (R=3x BB)

On button=KTso, K9so,Qtso,Q9so,J9s= R=3x BB

You’re  Small Blind attacking Big Blind

50%R & 50%L (R=5x BB) with:
1. any pair
2. Ax, Kx, Qx down to Q5
3. JTs & J9s

1 Raise of 3x BB or greater(not allins) in front of you

AA,KK=                 85%RR(reraise)/15%C
QQ= 70%RR/30%C
JJ,TT= 20%RR/80%C
99,88,77=                 C
66-22=                 F
AKso= C
AQs= C
F everything else

Raise and Reraise In Front of You

AA=RRR
KK=RRR (with caution)
QQ=C
F everything else
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