Texas Hold ‘em Basic Tips and Strategies

If you are an avid poker player, or even someone who follows up on poker and passing or knows someone who is interested in poker at all, you have probably heard of Texas Hold 'em poker. Whether you are a new player or simply looking for some new strategies to take to the table, here are a few basic tips to keep you playing:

Mind Your Starting Hand

Perhaps the most important part of playing a good Texas Hold 'em game is deciding when to play and when to fold at the beginning of the game. This deciding factor will set you up for either winning or losing the round at the very start. Biding your time and waiting for a good hand to play may seem time-consuming and possibly even costly if you're playing the game with a high-stakes small and big blinds; however, deciding when to strategically play and when to fold will define whether you are successfully able to play throughout the game and stay alive or be knocked out early. This is especially true if you are in an earlier position and are forced to make a decision whether or not to raise, call or fold right away after the deal.

The reason why the early position is especially important in deciding these matters is due to the fact that early positions have the power to place bets first and set the tone for the rest of the table. If you make a raise at the beginning of the game then all other players after you must also make a raise in order to stay in the game. By raising without having a strong hand, you run a high risk of some other player with a strong hand deciding to stay in the game and challenge you. Conversely, if you're one of the last players to make a call on whether or not to raise or continue playing and you have a weaker hand, it's much safer to assume that all of the players currently playing may have less than desirable hands if no action has taken place; therefore. you can be safer with a wider range of cards to begin with.

For players needing to make a decision earlier on, feel free to make a raise or call if you have a high pair or close cards that are suited as you are at a greater chance of having a high hand on the table as the game progresses. This can give you a high pair or even a straight, flush or straight flush if you anticipate the cards carefully. Conversely, if you're in a later position and you have an ace high or some other suited close cards (such as Kings and tens, Queens and tens, Jacks and tens and the like), and no one else has made a raise, feel free to make a call as you may have a chance of pulling a good hand (or at least a good foundation for one) out of the flop. If an earlier player has made a raise and you do not have a good hand then it would be in your best interest to not play these cards. Simply fold and wait for the next hand, as it is not in your best interest to keep playing at this particular time.

Do Not Worry About the Blinds

Most players make the mistake of wanting to meet their blind if another player calls it or raises it slightly, even if they have a marginal or poor hand. Do not fall for this, as there is no point in wasting additional money by running the risk of playing a poor hand for whatever amount may have been given up in the blind. Hold on to your cash and wait for a stronger hand that has a higher chance of winning to come later on and you'll be more than able to make back any losses you may incur by not playing blinds.

Mind the Flop

If you made it this far, get ready to pay attention to what cards come on the flop. These next three cards make up approximately 71% of your hand as you will only have the chance at two additional cards to come later on. If after the flop, you still have nothing or do not feel like you have a chance at a strong hand then feel free to fold before you lose more money. You can gauge this by watching the table and seeing which players call, raise or check. Checks typically mean weaker hands, while calls or raises indicate more confidence. If you do not feel comfortable with your hand, do not risk losing additional money for nothing, simply fold and move on.

If you are ready to go to the level, then click now and learn some advanced Texas Hold ‘em tips and strategies.