Phil Hellmuth

[gtycoon]

Although Phil Hellmuth is know as the "poker brat", he still showed me how much starting hands make a difference in the book "Play Poker Like the Pros". He put allot of emphasis on which hands are the "top ten starting hands".

I personally like these as my ten
AA
KK
QQ
Aks
JJ
AK
10 10
AQs
99
AQ

I know a pair has an advantage over Ak or AQ, but 88 doest look too good on
a board of 10 Q K.

I have to look up Phils top 10 and post it. Please post your top ten nl holdem hands.

[jdrury12]

Very good read, that book is. Here are my top ten hands.

1. Aces
Kings
Queens
Ace/King- I like it here because you are allowed to show strong preflop strength that could move an opponent off tens or jacks even when you miss a flop
Jacks
Tens
Nines
Ace/Queen- never a fan, really. When you raise, your likely called with a hand dominating you
Eights
Ace/Jack Suited... not super strong but very playable.

[young_mack]

AQ is a killer and you'll get beat most times. Never raise with AQ unless you're shorthanded or are extremely desperate, in which case you should push all-in. AK is my all time favorate hand and i always raise with ease from any position. With pocket AA and KK, i usually play them aggresive but i don't want to get ppl off the hand completely. I try and get the most money i can. QQ is a nice hand but you dont want to raise with it just because a A or K on the board has you dominated.

[xmen]

I think position plays a part in the smaller hands I'll play. I like a small pair on the button. Ultimately you can make your 22 appear to be AA AK KK with a nice raise.

I even like 56 suited with a nice pre-flop raise, because if you flop something to make your hand, your opponents will think you missed. If you miss on the flop and A K J come, your opponent might think you hit something based on your raise.

[young_mack]

Originally Posted by xmen

I even like 56 suited with a nice pre-flop raise, because if you flop something to make your hand, your opponents will think you missed. If you miss on the flop and A K J come, your opponent might think you hit something based on your raise.

I love playing small suited connecters for this exact reason! It messes with people especially if you've been playing only premium hands before.

[ILovePoker]

A starting hand for Phil Hellmuth and Gus Hansen can be very different. Phil Hellmuth likes to trap people. Every time I watch him play he talks about setting people up. He'll throw a fit when he takes a beat and then tell the person he's going to set him up and trap him.

Gus meanwhile will play with absolutely any cards sometimes and play extremely well. It just depends on your poker ability on how you make your starting hands appear to your opponents.

[young_mack]

Exactly! your opponent only knows what you let them know by your actions.

[ILovePoker]

I think that's what happens to Phil Hellmuth. He tends to play a certain way that a lot of the pros are used to. They know his tendencies and can use that to counter his play. Gus Hansen is just all over the place you have no clue where he is most of the time.

[ILovePoker]

This is a classic Phil Hellmuth blowup...

YouTube - Great Poker Moment! Very Funny! Watch

It is funny how Phil has his blowups when he takes a bad beat. Funny stuff!