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Home  POKER ARTICLES tex holdem basics
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Friday, 10 September 2010 |
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| Texas
Holdem Poker - Hold'em Poker Rules and Winning
Strategy Tips |
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Pokersyte
Friends: |
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The basic Texas Holdem
strategy and Hold'em strategy tips shown here are those generally agreed
to and recommended by the experts on limit Holdem poker. The poker rules
for Texas holdem vary from other hold'em games in that the players are
dealt only two cards, and can play either both, one, or no cards from
their two downcards to make the highest ranking final hand.
An understanding of
these playing strategy basics is needed for all levels of competitive
play, however. . . solid intermediate, and expert poker normally requires
study of the more advanced game tactics and many hours of actual casino
or online playing experience. If you are serious about taking your holdem
game to
the next level, Turbo
Poker by Wilson Software is a "Bullet Bob" tested and highly
recommended software series for both holdem ring games and tournament
play ( see the Turbo ad at the bottom of the page).
Turbo Poker doesn't make expert play automatic, but if you are willing
to work a little, the tools are here.
. . . While you are at the Turbo store, check the Holdem books and tapes
by Brunson, Sklansky, Malmuth, Krieger, Lederer, and others. The more
of this stuff you can absorb, the better holdem player you will be. |
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Holdem
Poker Rules |
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Highest
hand wins || Players may use one, both or neither
of their hole cards to make their highest hand ||
Ace plays both high and low for straights || Three
raise limit per round || Cards speak |
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Card
Distribution and Betting Procedure |
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Example:
$2/$4 Hold'em with a double blind.
At casino Hold'em tables, a round plastic marker called the dealer "button"
is placed in front of the player who would be dealing if a house dealer
were not provided. The button is moved one seat clockwise after each game
and the card distribution and betting starts to the left of that position.
Each player is dealt two cards face down. Then, a total of five community
cards are dealt face up in the center of the table in three betting segments
(3-1-1). After all the cards are dealt the players make the best hand that
they can by combining either one, both, or neither of their two hole cards
with five community cards. Using the illustration above, a player holding
a king and a ten would end up with two pair, kings over tens with an ace.
With this board, that player's two pair would be vulnerable to higher two
pairs, trips, straights and flushes. |
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.
. . The betting procedure goes like this: (1.)
Before each player is dealt two down cards, the player at the immediate left
of the button, called the "Small Blind" is forced to bet $1 (half
the minimum bet). Then the player to his left and two seats to the left of the
button, called the"Big Blind", is forced to bet $2. Each player is
then dealt a two card hand. Then the player at the left of the big blind is
first to act and he must either call the big blind's $2 bet, raise, or fold
his hand. Continuing in turn clockwise, all the players around the table either
call, raise or fold. When the |
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betting
gets back around to the small blind, he or she can fold and lose only the half
minimum bet of $1 placed earlier, call the amount necessary to get up to the
betting level or raise $2 if there is a raise left. The big blind is then the
last to act before any cards are turned up in the middle. The blinds are played
in the first round only( 2.)
The dealer turns three cards up in the center of the table. This is the "Flop".
As always, the player at the left of the button is first to act. There are no
more forced bets and the players can all check around if they want to. Bets
right after the flop are at the $2 minimum bet level. (3.)
Now comes the "Turn" card with more betting that now goes to the $4
level (4.)
Finally the last, or "River" card is turned up. The last $4 betting
round takes place. The players still in the contest reveal their hole cards
and the highest hand wins the pot. |
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Hold'em Strategy |
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General
Hold'em Strategy:
Hold'em
is basically HIGH card game. The players holding two good high cards have the
best chance at the best hand or a draw to the best hand after the flop. Only
play strong hands, that will stand a raise or multiple raises, from early betting
positions. Play medium strength and other playable hands from the later positions
if you have a good chance of seeing the flop at a reasonable price. Play strong
high hands MOST of the time, and play them very aggressively. Take all the raises
you can get. If you don't thin out the competition, you reduce your chances
of winning. Plus, your aggressive play before the flop can add credibility to
any strong play you might want to use on the next round if a garbage flop falls
and you want to try a steal. Be ready to fold your high pair if you get a lot
of action with a threatening flop. |
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Definitions:
HIGH CARDS - A thru 10 (Aces, Faces and Tens)
MEDIUM CARDS - 9 thru 7
LOW CARDS - 6 thru 2
SUITED PLAYER HAND (S) - Both cards of the same suit.
SET - Three of a kind with two of the three in your hand. (One in your
hand and two on the board is "trips".)
NUT HAND - An unbeatable hand. Sometimes called a "lock".
FLOP, TURN. RIVER - The community cards in the order of distribution.
See top illustration.
FAST PLAY - Bet, raise and re-raise to get as many other players out
as possible.
SLOW PLAY - Just check or call along to keep other players in the game
to increase the pot odds.
CHECK-FOLD - Check when you can and fold if you are bet into. Gladly
accept all free cards offered. |
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Here's
a Great Tip
from "Bullet Bob"!
You can
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Starting
Holdem Hands:
The starting hands shown here are in general power order
groups with names that are easy to remember. More precise power ratings of each
of the individual hands is available on the "Best of the Net" page,
under "Texas Hold'em". |
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The
Strongest Starting Hands:
PAIR of HIGH CARDS - AA, KK, QQ, JJ, 1010
ACE and HIGH CARD SUITED - AK(S), AQ(S), AJ(S), A10(S)
FACES SUITED - KQ(S), KJ(S), QJ(S)
ACE KING - AK |
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Medium
Strength Starting Hands:
FACE
TEN SUITED - K10(S), Q10(S), J10(S)
MEDIUM PAIRS - 99, 88, 77
TWO
HIGH CARDS - AQ, AJ, A10 (ace king ranks higher, above),
KQ down to J10
ACE and MEDIUM SUITED - A9(S), A8(S), A7(S)
MEDIUM SUITED CONNECTORS (No Gap/One Gap) - J9(S), 109(S), 108(S),
98(S), 97(S) down to 75(S) |
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Other
Conditional Starting Hands:
LOW PAIRS -
66, 55, 44, 33, 22
ACE and LOW SUITED - A6(S), A5(S), A4(S), A3(S), A2(S)
LOW SUITED CONNECTORS (No Gap/One Gap) - 65(S), 64(S), 54(S,) 53(S)
(lowest) |
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Strategy
Tips:
Fast play high pairs and very strong hands before the
flop. This puts more money in the early pot and encourages weak and garbage
hands to fold that could get a lucky flop and beat you.
Don't draw to the low end or both ends of a straight. If a 9 8 7 flops,
you want to be playing the J 10 and not the 6 5 or the 10 6. (The low part is
commonly called the "ignorant" end of the straight.)
Unconnected
Medium and Low Cards are Usually Unplayable. This includes suited cards
that can't flop a straight. Both ends of
a straight such as 9 5 fall into this very weak catagory.
Play starting low pairs cautiously. 66 down to 22. Usually not from an
early seat and from the late positions, only when the price is right. If you
don't flop a set or quads you should usually fold.
Play aggressively when you have a two way draw after the flop. If you
can make a straight AND a flush or trips etc., usually bet/raise your hand.
Bet an Ace or two high overcards after a garbage flop (a three suit "rainbow"
with unconnected medium and low cards). Usually fold if someone raises.
Watch out for uniform flops, like 8 7 6, they can easily turn into straights
that can overtake your high pair or other good hand.
Check the raisers chips. Players that are close to all-in often rush
the betting just to get all their chips in a sink-or-swim last hand.
Beware of Suited Flops that can make a completed flush. In this case,
you should usually hold the nut in that suit, or have trips or two pair that
can fill up..
Get caught bluffing once in a while. It is a way to vary your play and
not be too predictable. You win pots that you don't deserve when your bluff
works. You lose a few chips when it doesn't work but it will get you calls from
weaker hands down the line when you have a strong hand and need the action.
Study
your opponents, especially when you are not playing hands and can pay careful
attention. Do they find more hands to play than they fold? Do they bluff? Can
they be bluffed? Do they have any "tells" (give away mannerisms) that
disclose information about their hands etc. |
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IMPORTANT:
More Holdem Stats, Articles, and Strategy Information
has been selected and compiled from online Poker Magazines and over a hundred
other Poker content web sites. . I think you will find this very useful. Go
to the Texas Hold'em
section in Pokersyte's BEST Of The NET page. |
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