Minimum Number of Hands to Play to be Profitable?

[candy_licker]

I have a question,

What is the minimum number of hands to play in a ring game? I want to play super tight, super aggressive big bet poker, but I seem to be doing this all wrong.

I need hands I can play in a $2/$5 no limit. It seems whatever hand I play, it seems to always be dominated.

I currently play about 40 hands, and it says I see the flop 38% of the time.

I am losing like this by being dominated all the time, I flop a straight with Q9, and someone flops a bigger straight with AQ board KJT.

What is the minimum amount of flop percentage, how often should I see the flop. What is the smallest number of hands I can play?

Like now I play all pairs, but someone said that is a mistake, I pay J9s, Q9s, K9s, someone says that is a mistake.

What is the minimum number if hands to play to be profitable at No Limit Texas Hold Em. I know just waiting for AA, KK, QQ or AK the blinds will make you a looser and the rake.

Please any information or direction will be greatly appreciated.

[j0sh1ngU]

u cant set a limit or cards u play. just play cards that give u good profitable big time hands. flush draws straight draws etc.

[scrawnybob]

hi

this is an interesting OP with alot of important points to discuss and comment on (hopefully I can address most of them)

What is the minimum number of hands to play in a ring game? I want to play super tight, super aggressive big bet poker, but I seem to be doing this all wrong.

you then go on to say that you playing

I currently play about 40 hands, and it says I see the flop 38% of the time.

seeing 38% of the flop is NOT playing TAG tight aggressive poker - thats fairly loose

from badbeatornot.com (another one of my sites) - Best Starting Poker Hands

now thats not to say playing 38% is necessarily wrong but some of the hands you've said you are playing are very marginal hands Q9 etc ... and these are NOT hands to be playing "big bet poker"

you rightly point out ...

What is the minimum number if hands to play to be profitable at No Limit Texas Hold Em. I know just waiting for AA, KK, QQ or AK the blinds will make you a looser and the rake.

but there is a very big difference between only playing 4-5 hands and having a range of 40 hands

I would strongly suggest you find a middle ground and play the hands accordingly ...

ie. you should play big bet aggressive preflop poker with say the top 10-12 hands

but aim to play small pot, speculative poker with the remaining 10-28 hands ... these can and will pay off over time if played correctly

but if you overplay them either preflop or over aggressively on an unfriendly flop ... you will literally hemorage cash

you must must must play within the improving potential of a hand and that means preflop 9Q suited is worth nothing until the flop helps you greatly ... and even then you will likely be up against marginal underdogs with the odds to improve

you should aim to control the hand but pushing hard with a hand like this where you might be a 60/40 favourite is a recipe for disaster ... you need to keep the pots smaller BUT maintain control of the hand

bear in mind if you have been trying to get a player to fold with a 1x pot or 2x pot bet (and then you get called and / or beat) you are betting over the odds to try and close the hand down ... this is seen as TAG /but it isnt ... its risking too many chip for a hand that is too marginal

instead try to take the hand down with a 1/2 or 2/3rd pot bet - this may allow borderline limping but it also means for the same number of chips you can do this on twice the hands for the same chips

this is the only way you can justify seeing all those extra hands

position is absolutely CRUCIAL with widening your opening hand selection - you must rule out all but the best hands in early position (at least starting out)

your 40 hand range should only be applied on mid / late & late position

otherwise you are just giving away chips

thats all for now but this topic is one of the most important for profitable poker ...

think about your position and the other players styles to give you starting hand ranges for each hand ... not a blanket requirement for a game as a whole

cheers scrawnybob

[CGTB]

I'm agree with scrawnybob 38% of flop is LAG and maybe too LAG (in full ring)
If you want to play tight you have to choose table with eight to ten players, and for a very TAG the percentage is neer 8-10%.

But playing 40 hands doesn't meen nothing, to have a idea, you can play well and loose about 10k hands.. 40 hands IS NOTHING
If you have a question on any hand post it on the forum we'll try to help you as we can

[mramirez]

my key to winning is to play my cards and dont bet unless i think im leading in the hand