Yes, I am starting out pretty basic, this is, after all, one of the first things every player learns. Who doesn't know what hand beats what? Every one probably knows this by heart, but, don't overlook this information.So how am I going to help your game with this seemingly innocuous information?
One question, What are the ranks of the hands in poker? Yes, say them to yourself without reading what follows.
This is just a blurb so you don't start reading the hand rankings.
When you are done with your ranking, go ahead and read on.
Top to bottom rank and description
Royal Flush = Ten to Ace in the same suit
Straight Flush = Five running cards of the same suit
Four of a Kind = All four of the same rank cards
Full House = Three of a Kind with a Pair
Flush = Five cards of the Same suit
Straight = Five running cards
Three of a Kind = three cards same rank
Two Pair = two cards one rank with two cards of another rank
One pair = two cards one rank
High Card = top ranking card
Pretty simple, common knowledge, Yes? Absolutely! But, where did you start? I am willing to bet you started with high card. If you didn't, I bet you started with a pair and left out the worthless high card hand. I call this bottom-up reading. Don't worry, there is nothing wrong with that. This isn't a lesson in the psychology of optimists vs. pessimists, winners vs. losers, etc. However, changing your thought process, and really looking at the ranks of some of the hands you play may just help you keep some of those chips.
I am going to win a second bet with you now. The last time you played, I bet you were surprised to lose a decent amount of chips on two pair. Maybe even lost those chips to a better two pair, not trips, nor a runner-runner suck-out, nor the horrible river straight or flush.
All you could do was take it as you typed "nh" into the chat box, bite your lip and curse the dealer under your breath for not giving you one of your four remaining outs.
Let me set up one more example, this time I'm only betting those of you who have been playing for less than two years, or only play one or two tourneys a week.
You're in a tourney, with a moderate stack, about half way through. You get a pair of Aces (maybe kings) and make a healthy raise. You get a caller, and the flop comes up with middle cards (rainbow or flushed, doesn't matter). You then either raise or check-raise all-in and lose all of those chips to a straight, flush, two pair, whatever.
I am not putting these examples up for lessons in playing styles, position, pot odds, or anything other than your mind set when you placed those chips in the pot. Time to win another bet.
I bet you thought you weren't going to lose those chips, even though you were already saying "no ace" or "no hearts" to yourself. Again, don't worry, we've all done it.
My point to all of this? Almost every player knows the rank of the hands, but only the best can relate it to every hand they play. It just takes time, due diligence, well measured discipline, and this little trick of evaluating from top down instead of bottom-up.
Think of the "calling station" players we all meet (and more than likely have been in the past). This is the best (actually worst) example of the bottom-up evaluators. They play the 7-2 and catch two pair. They're thinking of how good their two pair is, rather than noticing the Jack that will catch them when that Ace drops on the turn for a solid starters AJ.
Now to take this information and move your game up a notch. My first suggestion, paste the hand rankings up next your monitor (or make a small pocket card for your live game) and the next time you are involved in a hand that makes you pause, look at that card. Is your hand at the bottom of that card? Makes it pretty obvious, huh?
Sure, someone might be bluffing, but that's not part of today's' lesson. And the moment you start thinking that, you will look at the flop and make that bottom-up misread. You'll start running possible hands; top pair, pocket pair, no straight (yet), no flush (yet); "my K5 two pair is golden". Only to have your opponent drop pocket kings on you for trips and take your chips.
My last bet for you. Once you start reading hands from top rank down, you will make better reads on other players (especially online).
Why? Once you start recognizing the best possible hands, the actions of the players will tend to reveal their hands to you more easily. You will recognize that the top pair is trying to bet off the flush draw. You'll see that the trip Aces are trying to entice a call.Yes, you'll still have to learn more about style and strategy, but this is essential learning for the rookies, and probably a step up in the game for the rest of us.
Try it out, and if you want to take it one step further, here's the list that is stuck on my monitor, with a few questions I ask myself from time to time to help get that dead cold read...
Royal Flush, Who limped in with the King of clubs and a2 kicker?
Straight Flush, You got the bottom of it, does he have the top?
Four of a Kind, Is he bluffing, or did his deuces just go magic on your aces?
Full House, Sure, my sevens over tens are nice, has he got tens over sevens?
Flush, TJ suited is nice, but A5 suited kicks your butt
Straight, Filled the king high, does he have the ace high?
Three of a Kind, Are my pocket 5's good against pocket 6's?
Two Pair, What raise, just call, see what he does at the river
Pair, Am I in kicker trouble here?
High Card, I only have an ace, let's check it down
If he mucked it, he had it, NICE READ!!
It may seem timid, but again, this isn't about the bluff or betting strategy, this is all about recognizing hands. Best of luck to you at the tables, now that you don't need as much of it!