Early Position Starting Hands

[Rbower]

At almost every table I play I am one of the tightest if the not the tightest player, but I’m not sure if I really play tight enough. I’ve read many starting hand charts and it seems to be pretty accepted that pairs of 77 and higher, AKo, AKs, AQo, AQs, AJs and KQs are playable in early position.

What do you think of playing the following hands in early position? Some books say yes and some say no. In this example use a typical 8-16 or 10-20 limit hold ‘em game. Here are the gray area hands:

A10s, KJs, K10s, QJs, Q10s, J10s, AJo and KQo

[MitchL]

You are way too tight. All your gray area hands are profitable in any of the games you play in and I open raise every one of them and many of them that are not suited.

[thirddan]

your starting hand reqs from all positions will vary greatly with the table conditions you are at...give us more info...

[Rbower]

OK, how about at a loose 8-16 table, with 4-5 people seeing most of the flops.

[donking]

[ QUOTE ]
OK, how about at a loose 8-16 table, with 4-5 people seeing most of the flops.

[/ QUOTE ]

For that table, play them all.

[Pisan]

Play loose win big

[pikkupossu]

i'll open for a raise with all of those hands you listed

except QJs i'll limp and QTs, i'll limp. however i've been known to raise those also, i just personally dont like them as much.

i'll limp raise JTs. cause everyone says its the best drawing hand.

[Senor Choppy]

You're starting hands from EP have very little impact on how tight you are overall. If you're talking about VPIP, yours is probably too low due to stealing too little from LP and not defending your blinds enough.

[Rbower]

What is VPIP and LP? If I'm first into a pot I always raise from any position in an attempt to steal the blinds. If someone is in steal position I do consider that when I'm defending.

[thirddan]

VPIP = voluntarily put money into the pot
LP = late position

in the game you describe with 4/5 players to the flop that is passive like most games you are missing profitable limping situations or making unprofitable raises in early if you are never limping first in...at a more aggro table or a table with a maniac you have to become much tighter and open limping is likely wrong...

in a loose/passive game im normally open limping UTG w/ all pairs, JTs, QTs, QJs, maybe A9s...