It may not seem like it, but Texas Hold’em starts with three “P”s. The words are Power, Position, Patience. Understanding these three and utilizing them to the fullest will see you winning more long term. When a player sticks around and plays too many hands, they are making the biggest mistake they can in Texas Hold’em, regardless if it is the No Limit, Pot Limit or Limit version. That is an example of NOT using patience. And while it make seem like patience to “stick it out” with an unimpressive, unimproved hand, hoping to hit lucky cards on the turn and the river (the last two of five community cards), it is actually the opposite. The patience comes in throwing away all but the playable hands, and waiting through sometimes hours of bad hands for the good ones.

As for position, that refers to where you are in relation to the dealer button, the plastic disk that indicates who is the dealer for the turn. The dealer goes last, which is the most powerful spot because it allows that player to go last, acting with the most information. If you are in an early position, sitting the left of the dealer spot, you need stronger hands to stay in than in later position.

Now, as to the Power P. Top hands, like pocket aces or king and ace, are powerful. Position is powerful. Large chip stacks are powerful, and naturally good skills are powerful. The more of these you have going for you at one time, the more powerful you are in that hand, and the more aggressively you should act. And, of course, the reverse is true.

Remember, Patience means waiting for the good hands, no matter how long it takes. Position means the better your position he more creative your good hand can be. Power means acting when events are in your favor, and folding and retreating when things are not.