The game of Texas Hold ‘Em Poker rewards skillful play. There is some element of chance, but if you know the poker rules, a good player will win most of the time against bad players. Understanding your position, keeping an eye on other players’ moves, knowing when and why to fold a hand, and learning how to reduce the number of players in the game are some of the key Texas Hold’Em strategies to master.
Understand the value of your hand
In Texas Holdem, the best hand is the one that has the lowest combined value of all your cards. That value is called the strength of your hand and is listed next to each card on the table. For example, a K-Q combination has a total value of 12, which means that K and Q could be used as any card in the deck. A player holding a pair of Queens would have a total value of 12, as well. The strength of your hand can affect how you play certain hands and how you bet. If a low pair is strong against a high pair, you would bet on the lower pair in order to go low. This strategy is known as “odds play.” With the value of your hand in mind, you can play more aggressively, or use your knowledge of the strength of the other cards to decide when to fold.
Understand position
Do you recall how I mentioned earlier that some hands perform better with two or three players than they do with nine? Well, if enough players fold before the flop, a nine-person table could quickly get smaller. Consider a scenario in which you are the dealer and the small blind and big blind is to your left. You find yourself at a three-person table where neither of the other two has placed a bet if everyone else folds and you do. It’s worth calling the blinds or even betting above them to see the flop or win the hand outright if you still have that A6 off-suit in your hand. On the other hand, if you’re to the left of the big blind and must decide whether to call first before the flop, be aware that if you don’t raise, you might find yourself in a hand with eight players. Your average cards aren’t doing you much good in that case.
After the flop, there is a lot of power in placing your bet first. Therefore, if there aren’t many players and you know you’ll lead the betting post-flop, you can take a calculated risk and raise your bet in the knowledge that nobody has probably hit the cards they wanted, and even if you don’t have anything, there’s a good chance everyone will fold to you. If not, you can check another card and leave; you would have lost some money, but the risk was worthwhile.
Bluff Intelligently
Poker card games are a great way to practice your social skills and learn about different people. However, Texas Holdem is a game where every hand is a competition and you will find it challenging to remain calm and polite during the competition. While it is important to be friendly, it is also good to show some competitiveness when playing. This is where bluffing comes in. Bluffing is the best way to show off your hand in a way that makes it seem that you are actually betting. However, remember that you are not betting anything and you are merely trying to confuse your opponent. If they think you really bet, they might make a mistake that gives you a better chance at winning.
Make your bluffs look just like legitimate bets
If you are planning to bluff, it is a good idea to go along with it. This will make it seem like you genuinely bet on the hand you are bluffing on. You can do this by making small bets on the hands that you are bluffing on. This will help your opponent think that you bet something big, and will give you an advantage in the outcome of the hand. For example, if you have A-K, you can bet $1 on the (non-existent) A-K hand and $2 on the K-Q hand. Your opponent might either call or raise the A if he thinks you have the A.
Know when to fold
It is possible that you hold the best hand in the game, but it is unlikely that your opponent holds a hand that is even close to as good as yours. Knowing when to fold and when to push is a good skill to have in all poker games. In Texas Holdem, you want to bet only when you have a strong hand and are certain to win. If you have a decent hand but are not 100% certain that you will win, leave the cards alone. You will have a much better chance of winning if you know when to fold than if you push on a losing hand.
Conclusion
Texas Holdem is a strategic game that requires a level of patience and concentration. It is important to remain calm, and not let yourself get too excited or stressed out by the game. If you can learn how to play Texas Holdem with these strategies in mind, you will be well on your way to winning more often. Want to learn more about Texas Holdem Strategies? Stay tuned for the second part.