Tip #48 - Don't play every starting hand

One of the most fundamental mistakes in poker is playing too many starting hands. While it might be tempting to play every hand hoping to catch good flops, this strategy is a guaranteed way to lose money in the long run. Successful poker requires disciplined hand selection based on position and game conditions.

Problems with playing too many hands:

• Getting into difficult post-flop situations
• Playing from out of position too often
• Bleeding chips with marginal holdings
• Making second-best hands
• Becoming predictable to observant opponents

Factors in hand selection:

• Your position at the table
• Stack sizes (yours and opponents')
• Opponent types and tendencies
• Previous action in the hand
• Tournament stage or cash game dynamics

Guidelines for starting hands:

• Play tighter in early position
• Value high cards and pairs more than speculative hands
• Consider playability post-flop
• Adjust selection based on table conditions
• Fold marginal hands from bad positions

As Doyle Brunson wrote in "Super System," "The money saved by not playing marginal hands is just as valuable as money won from playing good ones." Remember that every hand you fold incorrectly costs you a small amount, but every hand you play incorrectly can cost you your entire stack.