Texas Holdem is a easy variation of poker. It is easy if you follow the basics that is. Remember one thing though, I cannot tell you what to do in every situation that you might land in but these are the basics that you can built your own game on.
The basic principle of Holdem is to understand that small pairs and suited cards are purely their to take you down. Loose players will for example play with a Qc and 3c at many occasions. However the smaller cards tends to pull you into a devastating game where you just keep on losing and loosing. You need to understand that although with luck you can win a pot with these hands the odds are that you will loose more often than you would win.
Never play with any card if it is 7 and below. Simply through those cards in and wait for a better hand. If you're blind or small blind, don't through good money after the bad money and simply fold. Now that this is behind us what should you do with other hands?
It is familiar to all of us that A;A is the best starting pair and 7;2 the worst starting in texas holdem poker. But what about those hands in between? Well already said that a hand with any card smaller than 7 is out and BAD. But those in between allows us to play with different strategies.
BIG Pocket Pairs (A;A - J;J)
Although there are time that a J;J should be thrown away. The majority of the time you will play these hands. The biggest rule though when playing them is to chase away the bottom feeders, therefore you need to raise and keep raising until the bottom feeders ar all gone. If you don't do this, you might have loose player beet your pocket aces with a bottom feeder flush and we don't want that do we?
MEDIUM Pocket Pairs (10;10 - 8;8)
These cards can be the evil ones and can often lead you into a trap. Especially if the flop are all cards higher than yours. For example. You have a pocket 9;9 and the flop comes K;J;10 you are already beat! The more players there are at the table the better the odds that you will loose this hand. All they need is a same card in their hand and you are finished. But these are often the hands that will get the opponents with A;K out in the open and take the better size pot. However be aware of the dangers and play it safe with your eyes wide open.
BIG Pocket Pairs (A;A - J;J)
Although there are time that a J;J should be thrown away. The majority of the time you will play these hands. The biggest rule though when playing them is to chase away the bottom feeders, therefore you need to raise and keep raising until the bottom feeders ar all gone. If you don't do this, you might have loose player beet your pocket aces with a bottom feeder flush and we don't want that do we?
High non pairs un-suited(A;K - A;8)
Now these hands have a flavor of it's own. These are very powerful hands and can often take the pot with a pair. In this case though you would like to have the benefit of the position you are playing at. the later the position the more you benefit. If you are at 1st position you would rather not play a A;J or a A;10, those hands you would much rather prefer to have a later position.
Medium non pairs un-suited(K;Q - J;10)
These hands are much more trickier to play and many K;Q and Q;J hands falls pray to A kicker hands. Most of time you first want to see the flop before playing these hands. But if the flop didn't offer any securities it is most probable allot better just to fold these hands. Pre-flop you should reconsider playing these hands if there is a raise. Just take note these hands are not always playable, be very careful.
Suited hands
Suited hands are particularly useful in a game where pairs are raising the pot. Just remember that the strength of a suited hand lies in the particular possibility of a flush or straight flush. The higher the cards in your hand the better the possibility of you taking the pot.
As said before holdem requires discipline! Lots of discipline! But you need to also manage your money correctly. Don't play big games with small money, else the averages game will definitely see you as a spectator very soon. |
