by: Eric Madsen

We all know that A-A is the best starting hand in Texas Hold'em, and 7-2 is the worst. But between these extremes of riches and rags lies a vast gray area of poker hands that may or may not be played.

You'll play A-A for sure, right? And K-K, too. Q-Q? Probably? JJ? Still going for it!

This means that you are committed to your big p ocket pairs. What about pockets 10's or 9's? Where do you stop being committed?

In Texas Hold'em, different hands do different things.

Big Pocket Pairs

You're probably going to play these hands no matter what. In general, if you have big pocket pairs, raise! This will drive out players and make your hand a surer winner.

Medium Pocket Pairs

These are pairs that need help from the flop because without help, someone else's hand is bound to be better than yours. For instance, if you have 88, and the flop is A-K-T, you have to figure you're beat.

A medium pocket pair is a drawing hand. They're really not going anywhere for you unless you hit a set on the flop, and that proposition, in Texas Hold'em, is 7.5-1 against.

Little Pocket Pairs

You are bound to lose with a little pocket pair. Don't wait around to see the flop unless you can do so without bidding.

Do yourself a favor and err on the side of tightness. The hand you don't play is a hand you can't lose.