Learning how to select hands

[renisundernet]

Hello cardschat people

Wishing you good luck at community games.
I want to discuss anything related to sme breakthrough on how to select hands you want to enter with. Not just based on looking every now and then at a flop and loosing chips uneccessarily. Please support me, while I am still learning based on ICM (still learning that also) but also a viewpoint on not just I HAVE SOME PREMIUM HANDS AND THEREFORE I ENTER.

 

[dannystanks]

I base my hand selection generally on my position, my chip stack size (how many big blinds do I have?) what phase of the tournament am I at, beginning, middle stages, bubble stages, and what type of opponent is in the hand or who I am up against. Also the action that has happened before it gets to me, was there 5 limps, one limp, an open, a raise, re-raises, or if it’s been checked to me. This is what I think about while the cards are being dealt to me. Hope this helps.

 

[ROYALROAD]

In short, as you continue to play, you will optimize your game by adding or removing situations in which you need to play. That's what's important.

 

[sandy358]

Hello cardschat people

Wishing you good luck at community games.
I want to discuss anything related to sme breakthrough on how to select hands you want to enter with. Not just based on looking every now and then at a flop and loosing chips uneccessarily. Please support me, while I am still learning based on ICM (still learning that also) but also a viewpoint on not just I HAVE SOME PREMIUM HANDS AND THEREFORE I ENTER.

Let the preflop ranges be your guide. Also take notes of how other players play at the table and make adjustments if the deviate. Also ICM affects your preflop ranges too, but for that you need to know the standard ranges pretty well.

I guess using the preflop solvers is the key, but as a broke gal I can't afford one so I don't really have much experience with those. I kinda from time to time use equilab and some basic calculations to come up with general exploitative/ICM strategies manually, but it's not totally not as good or effective.

 

[renisundernet]

Let the preflop ranges be your guide. Also take notes of how other players play at the table and make adjustments if the deviate. Also ICM affects your preflop ranges too, but for that you need to know the standard ranges pretty well.

I guess using the preflop solvers is the key, but as a broke gal I can't afford one so I don't really have much experience with those. I kinda from time to time use equilab and some basic calculations to come up with general exploitative/ICM strategies manually, but it's not totally not as good or effective.

Its good enough as I am at a similar stage learning step by step. Thank you for the advice and gl to you!

 

[Rmi]

The ICM only counts for the final table or if there are less than 2 tables left. It didn't make sense before. Although I think you're on the right track

 

[sandy358]

The ICM only counts for the final table or if there are less than 2 tables left. It didn't make sense before. Although I think you're on the right track

Umm, akshually, ICM also counts on payout jumps, at the bubble and near the bubble in general☝️🤓

 

[Mig32]

When I first started, I used to play hands mainly based on raw strength — premiums like AA, KK, AK, and a few suited connectors. But over time I learned that hand selection goes way beyond just the cards. It’s about position, stack depth, table dynamics, player tendencies, and your overall strategy in that phase of the tournament.

For example, a hand like AJo on the button is totally different from the same hand under the gun. And mid-suited connectors might be perfect in deep stack early stages but terrible short-stacked in a turbo game.

Also, ICM considerations are key when the money bubble approaches — sometimes folding even good hands is the best move when survival has higher EV than risk.

So yes — learning hand selection is not just about charts, but about context. Keep studying, reviewing hands, and asking these kinds of questions. You're on the right track!

 

[eetenor]

Hello cardschat people

Wishing you good luck at community games.
I want to discuss anything related to sme breakthrough on how to select hands you want to enter with. Not just based on looking every now and then at a flop and loosing chips uneccessarily. Please support me, while I am still learning based on ICM (still learning that also) but also a viewpoint on not just I HAVE SOME PREMIUM HANDS AND THEREFORE I ENTER

I have 2 pieces of great advice for you regarding hand selection

1 get the free version of GTO Wizard

2 Do #1--- do not wait-do not think I do not play high enough etc etc etc just do #1