Marginal Hands of Poker

Marginal Hands Are Like Pretty Women

Marginal hands are a curse Marginal hand are like pretty women in scanty costumes, standing on street corners, they have no last names, and they suck your money away. They promise you much and deliver little. They look great, but lack substance. They are seductive and cute, yet they devour your bankroll. Now you are warned! You play with them at your own risk in Australia poker.
Marginal hands and Women with no last names can offer some entertainment, if you understand them and know how to control them. There is one major difference. The girls will cost you. Careful play on marginal hands can make you some money.

They Are Legion

In any poker game, the number of marginal hands is only exceeded the number of trash hands. I categorize hands into only three groupings: premium, marginal and junk. Junk hands are no problem, and quite often premium hands play themselves. It is the damn marginal hands that cause the problems. However, it is those same damn hands that offer monetary remuneration if we can learn to play them to our advantage. It isn’t easy, but those marginal hands can be a source of profit for us. A word of caution: These hands have to be played very carefully. Again, those hands are legion. With skill and caution, those hands can show a profit for us.

Skill And Caution

The absolute key to playing a marginal hand is position. Since it is taboo to call a raise with a marginal hand, you must be almost positive that there will be a minimal charge to enter the pot. Why is it taboo to call a raise with a marginal hand? Just ask yourself the question, "Why enter a risk situation where you are not the favorite?" That is real money you are putting on the line. It is better to give the money to your church or charity and get a receipt that is tax: deductible than to waste it on a marginal hand. A marginal hand, by definition, is a draw hand. You must improve it to win in most situations. If you have a huge draw hand, that is not a marginal hand. A huge draw hand might even be the favorite. That is when you put in a raise. So position is the fundamental principle in calling with a marginal hand.
A marginal hand in a Seven Card Stud game would be J¥-4¥-S¥. That hand has marginal value, especially if more than two other hearts are exposed. The hand's value is further reduced if either the ace of hearts or king of hearts is exposed. These exposed card decrease your chances of improving to a flush or a better flush. (You have observed that quite often when one person has a flush, one or more flushes are also present.) If you are in a very late position, you can call with that hand. If you catch a heart on Fourth Street, especially a big heart, you now have a good hand.

Caution And Aggression

Now is the time for a combination of pugnacity and caution, a strange combination. You want to bet your hand and get paid off when you make it, however, you must be aware that someone can beat your flush. Be very, very alert to a higher flush possibility and for someone to catch a full house.