Texas Holdem Poker Beginner Strategy

The betting order in Texas Hold’em depends on what stage of a hand you’re at. The order changes from pre-flop to post-flop and is different in heads-up play as opposed to a hand involving three or more players. Dec 14, 2008 $1/$2 game; beginner player is dealt pocket aces in the big blind. One player limps, a second player raises to $10 and everyone folds to the beginner; the beginner moves all-in for $145. There is $15 in the pot, and he just raised to $145. It is almost never a good idea to raise over 9.5 times the pot. Learn poker for beginners. Although Texas Hold'em poker is quite a simple game to pick up, it is also one of the most technically skilled of all the poker variants. Here is your chance to start your journey from beginner level towards mastery with our poker for dummies strategy articles.

Texas Hold’em poker is everywhere these days — on TV, online, and in clubs and casinos. Before you sit down to a game of Texas Hold ’em, make sure you’re in good shape to be successful — take care of non-poker issues and check your physical, mental, and financial status. During the game, you need to understand basic odds and playable hands, as well as how to bluff successfully and follow proper poker etiquette. Texas Hold ‘Em also has its own abbreviations for online play.

Playable Texas Hold’em Hands

Texas Hold’em is a game of strategy, like any poker game, but where you’re sitting in relation to the action becomes part of your strategy when playing Hold’em. If you bet early, you generally need better cards than you do if you’re one of the blinds. The following table offers sound advice on what hands are playable when you’re sitting in different positions.

Questions to Ask Yourself before You Play Texas Hold’em

Whether you’re playing Texas Hold’em for fun or money — make that whether you’re playing for high stakes or low stakes — make sure you’re in a position mentally, physically, and financially to enjoy the game and make the most of your chances. Ask yourself these questions before you sit down to a game:

  • What is the purpose of my playing this session? Whether it’s to learn more, win money, or just hang with friends for a good time, make sure you know why you’re there and that you’re doing everything you can to accomplish that goal.

  • If I were to play an opponent who’s exactly the same as a well-rested, un-stressed version of me, would that person have an advantage? If the answer is “yes,” hold off on playing until you’re in a better psychological and physical state.

  • Can my bankroll handle this level of play? If not, play a lower level.

  • Are there any distractions in my life that I need to get rid of before I play? Pay your rent, walk your dog, call your significant other — whatever it is, get it out of your head so you can focus.

  • Do I know if the house I’m playing in has any bonuses for players such as bad beat jackpots, high hands, free food and/or drinks for players, or freeroll tournaments? If not, ask a floorperson before you start playing and find out about the details of how you can qualify.

  • Is there an aggressive person at the table I’ll be playing at? If so, try to get yourself seated to his left so you see the raises before your action and not after.

  • What do I know about the people sitting at the table? Whatever it is, use it to your advantage.

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Rough Odds for Texas Hold’em

Playing poker is about playing the odds. The following list gives the odds for outcomes in Texas Hold’em hands. When you realize how heavily the odds are stacked against you, you may want to rethink going all-in before the flop with two suited cards. Use the odds to your advantage:

  • 1 percent (1-in-100): Percentage of time that no player holds an Ace or a King at a table in a 10-handed game

  • 1 percent (1-in-100): Percentage of time that if you hold two suited cards, you’ll flop a flush

  • 6 percent (about 1-in-20): Percentage of time that five community cards will give pocket suited cards a flush

  • 6 percent (about 1-in-20): Percentage of time that you’ll be dealt a pocket pair

  • 8 percent (about 1-in-12): Percentage of time that you’ll hit at least trips after having a pair on the flop

  • 12 percent (about 1-in-8): Percentage of time that you’ll flop trips if holding a pocket pair

  • 12 percent (about 1-in-8): Percentage of time that two more cards will flop in the same suit as a suited pocket pair

  • 19 percent (about 1-in-5): Percentage of time that the five community cards will at least trip your pocket pair

  • 32 percent (about 1-in-3): Percentage of time that you’ll pair one of your cards on the flop (with no pocket pair)

  • 33 percent (about 1-in-3): Percentage of time that you’ll make a full house or better after having trips on the flop

  • 35 percent (about 1-in-3): Percentage of time that you’ll make a flush on the turn or river if you have four cards to a flush after the flop

Texas Hold’em Bluffing Tips

What makes any poker game exciting, and Texas Hold’em is certainly no exception, is that players can bluff at any point. Sometimes half the fun of a game is seeing whether you can successfully bluff an opponent out of some money. But, even as you’re misleading your opponents, make sure you bluff in the right circumstances. Heed these bluffing tips:

  • Only bluff where it makes a difference to your standing — either in a tournament or to your stack of chips.

  • Be careful bluffing someone considerably worse than you are. He may call just to see what you have, or on some probabilistically low draw when he already has you beaten anyway.

  • Bluff in situations where the board hints at the great hand you do not have: straights and flushes being hinted at by the board, the turn of an Ace, and so on.

  • Don’t try to bluff players who only play the most solid of hands if they’re still in the pot.

  • Don’t bluff people who are extremely likely to call.

  • Do bluff the timid or people who are likely to fold.

  • Remember that it’s easier to bluff in No-Limit than Limit because the bets (both implied and real) are bigger.

Poker Etiquette for Texas Hold’em

The etiquette tips in the following list apply to Texas Hold’em and to any other poker game. Sure, you can have fun while you play poker, but you can have all the fun you want without being impolite to the other players or the dealer. Basic poker etiquette includes these tips:

  • Always play in turn.

  • Be aware of when it’s your turn to post the blinds and do so promptly.

  • Any time there is a discrepancy at the table, talk to the dealer — not the other players — about it. If you’re not able to get satisfaction from the dealer, ask for a floorperson. Talking with other players about the problem you perceive may generate ill will among people who have no authority in the situation in the first place.

  • Place your bets in front of you. Do not splash them into the pot.

  • Do not show your hand to other players at the table while a hand is in progress.

  • Tell the dealer when you intend to raise. In No-Limit, gather the amount that you’re going to raise and either announce the total, or move it all forward with one motion. This prevents being called on a “string raise.”

  • Don’t forget to tip your dealer. Dealers work for minimum wage and rely on tips for their livelihood.

Online Poker Abbreviations for Texas Hold’em

Playing online poker in general, and Texas Hold’em in particular, is a very popular pastime. When you’re online, you may encounter abbreviations specific to the world of poker. To understand what other players are saying, get familiar with these online abbreviations:

AbbreviationWhat It MeansAbbreviationWhat It Means
86To remove or banne1Anyone
brbBe right backnhNice hand
gc/ncSlightly sarcastic phrase meaning good catch/nice catchggGood game
lolLaughing out loudglGood luck
nlNo-LimittyThank you
n1Nice one🙂Smiley face (view sideways)

If you just started playing Texas Holdem Poker, it’s essential to first understand the game and stick to the following strategies.

Try playing only the best starting hands.

As a beginner, the only poker hands that you should play are K-K, J-J, A-A, Q-Q, 9-9, 10-10, 8-8, A-Qs, A-Ks, K-Qs. Here “s” indicates that the cards are the same suit, i.e., both clubs or both diamonds.

As a beginner, you will not know all the tricks of the trade, and therefore it’s better to just limit the mentioned poker hands. If you get any other hand in poker, it’s better to fold.

Fold – if you do not have any of the best starting hands

Bet or raise – if you get one of the best starting hands

Fold – if the hand does not improve after the flop

Raise – if your hand in poker improved after the flop

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Fold – the hand did not improve after the turn and the river

Raise – if your hand improves after turning and the river

The newcomer strategy for Texas Holds em Poker will help you learn poker and win quick money.

Interim Strategy Texas Hold Em Poker

If you passed the novice stage, then in the intermediate stage, as a player at Texas Holdem Poker, you can add a few more hands to your arsenal from the hands of Texas Hold Em Poker: KQ, A-10, K-Js, AQ, AK, 5, 6-6, 3-3, 7-7, 4-4, 2-2.

Here s indicates suitable, for example. King of clubs and Jack clubs. You already have several recommendations on the poker hand from the beginner’s stage.

Fold – if you do not have any of the best starting hands

Texas Holdem Poker Beginner Strategy Free

Bet or raise – if you get one of the best starting hands

Fold – if the hand does not improve after the flop

Raise – if your hand in poker improved after the flop

Fold – the hand did not improve after the turn and the river

Raise – if your hand improves after turning and the river

Advanced Texas Hold Em Poker Strategy

Texas Holdem Poker Beginner Strategy

At the advanced stage, you can use “suited connectors.” These connectors include cards such as nine hearts and ten hearts. Playing with suitable connectors will help you try to get a straight, flush or even a straight flush.

When playing suited connectors you can call two bets, but no more. If you are calling more bets, you need to play too many hands.

The Texas Hold Em Poker strategy also includes “Theft of blinds.” In this strategy, the button or dealer expects that both the small blind and the big blind fold.

When they do, the button can win the blinds. This is possible in a difficult game when many players fold before the flop.

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