Poker Launch - Texas Hold 'em Basic Strategy

Texas Hold 'em Basic Strategy

Sun, 12 Dec 2004 03:39:22 -0500

Poker strategy is highly complex — an aspiring player would be wise to buy a book on poker strategy before playing in a casino. Nevertheless, some of the basic factors that influence good play can easily be explained. One of the most significant considerations is the number of players at the table: in a large game with 8 or 9 other opponents, you need to have a strong hand to win the pot, so you should fold most hands before seeing the flop. In a smaller, "short-handed" game you can afford to play more hands, since you are facing fewer opponents. (In fact, if you fold too often, you will be penalised because you are paying the blinds so often.) Other important factors include:

The style of play of your opponents: how often they raise, how inclined they are to call, and so on. This falls into two general categories: "tight/loose" and "passive/aggressive". Each player (and each game) can be characterised based on these two dimensions. A tight player plays premium hands, has high standards for calling raises, and reraises more often than cold-calling (calling a raise without raising); conversely, a loose player often limps in (calls without raising) and cold-calls more often than is correct. A passive player frequently checks and calls or checks and folds after the flop and does not push the betting with an advantage; conversely, an aggressive player often raises for a variety of reasons after the flop with an advantage. In general, tight/aggressive players have developed the best style of play and should be avoided, while loose/passive players have developed a weak style of play and should be attacked when vulnerable.

Texas Hold 'em Pre-flop Strategy

Sun, 12 Dec 2004 03:39:11 -0500

Top ten starting hands, in descending order: AA; KK; QQ; AK suited; AQ
suited; JJ; KQ suited; AJ suited; KJ suited; AK. (The last four hands are
closer in value than the first six, and so the order is not as rigid amongst
them.)
High Pocket Pairs: Pairs from Aces (AA) to Tens (TT) are always a good
starting hand. They often begin as the best hand and hold up. They also have
the opportunity to complete high flushes and straights, and they show a large
profit when they "flop a set" (hit a third card of the same rank on the flop,
to make three-of-a-kind).
Middle Pocket Pairs: Without improvement, a middle or small pocket pair is
a weak hand in a full game. Its value increases as the number of players
decreases. The usual strategy is to try to see the flop cheaply with a hand
like this --- if you flop a set, you now have a very strong hand. If you miss
the flop, you should usually fold. Since the odds of flopping a set are about

Texas Hold 'em After the Flop Strategy

Sun, 12 Dec 2004 03:39:30 -0500

Drawing hands, such as 4-card flush or straight draws, are some of the
most difficult hands to play. There really is no simple accurate advice. You
must always take into account your position, the previous action, the texture
of the board, the style of play of your opponents, and the size of the pot.
If you don't have at least a drawing hand or a pair after the flop, it is
almost always correct to fold. The sole exception to this might occur if you
find yourself heads-up (2 players) or with 2 opponents and you have an
opportunity to bluff. Even in this case, some kind of draw is good, because
then you can semi-bluff.
If the flop goes against your high pairs, and if there is a
coordinated board, i.e. possible flush or straight draws, it is often
correct to fold, especially is there is heavy betting. Marginal hands with
little drawing potential do not play well if there is a lot of action.
When you hit a flush or straight, be aware of the possibilities of other

Texas Hold 'em Traps

Sun, 12 Dec 2004 03:39:03 -0500

A trap is a move that causes others to bet into a "monster" hand.
The first, and a very common trap is the check-raise. The check-raise is
move in which a player has a strong hand, but checks it to let someone else
bet, and then comes "over the top" by raising them. This causes the opposing
players to feel "pot committed".
The next popular trap is when a player feels "pot commited". This is when
s/he has put a sufficient amount of money into the pot, and doesn't want to
fold a hand that they usually know they cannot win because of the money in the
pot. This is very common with new players, and is a very bad habit to have.
TIP Fold a hand as soon as you know you cannot win with it.