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Texas Hold'em Poker Strategy |
Assuming that you know the rules of Texas Hold'em Poker — and don't even consider playing if you don't — the next important step on the road to winning is knowing the right strategy. If you don't know the rules, then learning the rules is always the very first step on the way to mastering the game. Again, assuming that you are not a high-stakes player, the strategy we will discuss here is for a low-limit game of Texas Hold'em. The first thing you should remember is that the strategy for a low-limit game is different than for a high-limit game, though some tips hold true for both types of games.
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A quick review of the basics of the game of Texas Hold'em is the foundation for a good strategy. The terms you should remember are 1) The Flop - the 3 community cards dealt face up in the middle of the table. The Flop is revealed after the first betting round. 2) The Turn - a fourth card turned up in the middle of the table. Revealing the Turn sets off another round of betting. 3) The River - the fifth (final) card, which leads to the final round of betting.
After the River and the betting that follows, players use the 5 cards on the table and their own 2 hole cards to form the best possible combinations. Hands are compared - this is called the Showdown. If you find yourself playing through to the Showdown and frequently losing, you have to player a "tighter" game. This means you have to judge your hands in a more discriminating way and play only the better ones (which will mean you'll be playing fewer hands, as well). Be picky when it comes to your hands - a selective player is a smart player.
For the sake of our strategy, high cards are 10s, face cards, and aces; medium cards are 7s, 8s and 9s; low cards are anything lower than a 6. That being said, the initial 2-card hand every Texas Hold'em player is looking for is a big/high pair. Always stay in the game if you're lucky enough to be holding a pair of high cards. In addition, stay in the game if you're holding an ace and a high card of the same suit or any two picture cards of the same suit. |
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Of course, you have no control over the cards you are dealt. But you do have control over how you play your cards. Knowing when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em is the essential element in Texas Hold'em strategy.
In Texas Hold'em, medium hands include medium pairs, an ace and a high card (not of the same suit), or an ace and a medium card of the same suit. You also want to keep your eyes open for cards of the same suit that are consecutive (which make them potential straights or potential flushes). Low pairs are considered low hands as are consecutive low cards with different suits. If you are dealt cards lower than the combinations mentioned above, cut your losses and fold.
So what do you do when you have any of the above hands? First of all, if you have a high pair or another strong hand, bet big in order to discourage weaker players from staying in - you want them fold even before the Flop. Stay in for the Flop if you have a medium hand. If you have a low pair to begin with, stay in for the Flop but if the Flop doesn't give you 3 of a kind or better, fold after the Flop.
Once you've stayed in after the Flop, you still have to get through the Turn and the River. At this point, factors like position and bankroll also come into play - the stakes are higher and where you are in the betting order matters. Always remember to fold when your hand is weak and to play with confidence if you're holding a strong hand - there is very little in the middle. In Texas Hold'em, a wishy-washy hand and a prayer does not a winner make. Give a strong hand your all and show you weak hands the door. That's the Texas Hold'em strategy that will work in the long run and put real money into your pocket.
For more Texas Hold 'Em Poker information, please see:
Texas Hold 'Em Poker
Texas Hold 'Em Poker Rules and Terms
Texas Hold 'Em Poker History
Tips to Win Texas Hold 'Em Poker
Land-Based vs. Online Texas Hold 'Em Poker
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