Limit Hold-Em (On Line)
  
  One of the questions that I am most often asked is, "What do I need in my pocket to call the flop?". A good and valid question.    
 

The simple answer is:

  • K, 9 off suit
  • any running suited cards that include a 7 or higher
  • any suited paint (face card or ace)
  • any pair (the exceptions to the pocket pair are generally better dealt with after the flop)

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These are the only combinations of pocket cards that you should call the blind with, to see the flop! If the blind is raised before you, you should tighten up these rules to:

  • K, 9 off suit
  • any running suited cards that include a 9 or higher
  • any suited paint (face card or ace)
  • any pair higher than 8
    
  There is no instance where it is profitable for you to rise the blind! If you are the big blind then you should check according to the first table and call a single raise according to the second table. If the blind is re-raised, you should call accordingly, but remember, it is always better to fold a hand that might become a winner rather than chase a losing hand!    
  The game that you should be constantly playing with yourself is this; What is the possible best hand represented by the cards on the board and how bad is my hand in relation to that.    
  The odds that someone at the table will make a better hand than you goes up as the number of players increases!    
 
OK, Now it's time to go on to What to do on the turn.
    
       
 
Required Reading
    
  As always I advocate a complete education. Some of the best books that I've found on Poker are: Caro's Fundamental Secrets of Winning Poker and The Body Language of Poker: Mike Caro's Book of Tells.