Texas Hold'em
Texas Hold'em is a "community card" game, meaning that some cards are dealt face-up in the middle of the table and shared by all the players. Each player has two down cards that are theirs alone, and combines them with the five community cards to make the best possible five-card hand.
Most Hold'Em games get the betting started with one or two "blind bets" to the left of the dealer. These are forced bets that must be made before seeing one's cards.
- Play begins by dealing two cards face down to each player; these are known as "hole cards" or "pocket cards". A round of betting follows.
- The blinds are usually "live", meaning that they may raise themselves when the action gets back around to them.
- Three cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table; this is called the "flop". A round of betting ensues, with action starting on the first blind, immediately to the dealers left.
- Another card is dealt face up (the "turn"), followed by another round of betting, again beginning to the dealer's left.
- Then the final card (the "river") is dealt followed by the final round of betting.
In a structured-limit game, the bets on the turn and river are usually double the size of those before and on the flop.
General Hold'em Strategy:
Hold'em is basically a 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.
Definitions:
HIGH CARDS - 10 and up
MEDIUM CARDS - 9 thru 7
LOW CARDS - 6 or less
SUITED HAND - 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".
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.
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".
The Strongest Starting Hands:
PAIR of HIGH CARDS, ACE and HIGH CARD SUITED, FACES SUITED,
ACE KING
Medium Strength Starting Hands:
FACE TEN SUITED, MEDIUM PAIRS, TWO HIGH CARDS,
ACE and MEDIUM SUITED, MEDIUM SUITED CONNECTORS
(No Gap/One Gap apart in rank)
Other Conditional Starting Hands:
LOW PAIRS, ACE and LOW SUITED, LOW SUITED CONNECTORS
(No Gap/One Gap apart in rank)
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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