When to Play Marginal Hands in Texas Holdem
Among the earliest lesions that you will learn in Texas Holdem is that you should never play with too many hands. This is certainly true, but Poker being the unpredictable game that it is, you should always be on the lookout for the times when playing more hands will be more profitable.
Among these instances will include your position in the game. For example, if you are the last to act for the current hand, a good Texas Holdem strategy would be to play more hands. Why? Because being on the button, you will have had the chance to appraise the holdings of all the other players on the table.
If most fold ors limp, the odds are they got weak hands. If you are holding JT or small pocket pairs, your Texas Holdem strategy should be to make a big raise and take the pot on the spot. With pocket pairs, you have the additional bonus of having something solid to take to the flop in case someone calls.
However, it should be noted that this technique that not work well when you are in the middle position, because of the prospect of getting a re raise behind you.
The other time to expand your Texas Holdem hand is when the table is full of rocks. These players are like tight aggressive players, the exception being that they will only play with the premiums and will simply not take risks with any other hand.
Given the fact that big hands only come so often, you can take more chances. Raise them, and they will fold easily. Another plus when playing against rocks is that the moment they raise, you know that they have the monster hands, so you can safely fold, knowing they are not bluffing.
This Texas Holdem strategy will also work when you want to try and alter your table image. If you have been playing tight and losing out on a lot of action, then you should play more hands. Take a couple of J9s and K8s to the showdown, and your opponents will remember this. The next time you hold the nuts and bet, they will call and even raise you.
What makes Texas Holdem so appealing is that there are so many ways that you can play and win. Playing with marginal hands is "against the rules" but you can win with this strategy and approach. Winning, of course, is what it boils down to in the end, so use this strategies when the opportunity is there.

