Tournament Strategies
After receiving pocket cards, you are immediately faced with a choice: play your cards and either raise or call the blinds, or fold.
Practice Matters
Generally speaking, in a six- or seven-handed game, if you should
Generally speaking, in a six- or seven-handed game, if you should happen to be one of the first three players under the gun, you should not open the pot regardless of how good a hand you hold. If you possess a good hand, there is no sense in committing yourself that early. If you possess an excellent hand, there's no reason in playing it from the opener's unfavorable position. In Straight Draw Poker, unlike basic Draw Poker, there is little hope that all players will fold or drop out—some player nearly always opens.
In the end game positions, to open you need a pair of aces or better in
In the end game positions, to open you need a pair of aces or better in an eight-handed game, a pair of kings or better in a seven-handed game, a pair of queens or better in a six-handed game, and a pair of jacks in a five-handed game. If you are the last player to act, regardless of the number of players, open on a pair of tens or better.