Learn Texas Holdem

Some of the most exciting no-limit Texas hold'em poker hands come when a player has decided to enter the pot with an unusual hand and it hits. This can often result in a bewildered opponent pushing in all his poker chips with a hand he is sure is good, but which is soundly defeated. Masters of playing these unusual hands for a profit include players like World Poker Tour champions Gus Hansen and Daniel Negreanu and 2003 World Series of Poker runner-up Sammy Farha. These players know how to employ these hands for maximum effect. However, they also know that playing these unusual hands incorrectly can lead to disaster.

Are You Ready to Play Unusual Hands in No-Limit Hold'em?

As with most endeavors, you should know the rules before you break them. If you have a good understanding of what the premium hands are and why you should play them, of what the trouble hands are and why you should avoid them, and are able to implement a successful strategy (if not a favored or maximally profitable one) using these concepts, you may be ready to branch out to some more unusual poker hands.

What Constitutes an Unusual Poker Hand?

An unusual poker hand is one where, if it hits, other players are unlikely to expect it. A8 offsuit is not an unusual poker hand, it is a trouble hand. 68 offsuit is an unusual hand. In fact, any hand with an ace in it is more likely to be a trouble hand than an unusual hand.

How Can You Play Unusual Poker Hands for Maximum Effectiveness in No-Limit Hold'em?

There are different styles of using unusual hands to good effect in no-limit hold'em. A player like Negreanu is more likely to see many flops with crazy hands and release them immediately if he doesn't hit them hard. His value comes in being able to play these hands to extract maximum value when they hit and getting away cheaply when they miss. A Gus Hansen is more likely to be committed to winning the pot whether he hits or not. He may come in raising with a 62, and bet or raise with it on subsequent streets no matter what comes. The one thing that is for sure is that playing these hands passively, check-calling all the way no matter what happens, is not an effective way to play these hands.

Remember that the effectiveness of unusual hands is mitigated by your ability to sniff out when these hands are in great danger and when they can be played for a profit. If you are the type of player who can't release if you catch any piece of the flop, you should probably stick to premium hands. On the other hand, if you find yourself able to win many hands on pure aggression regardless of the cards, you should definitely be playing some unusual holdings.