Posts Tagged ‘Texas Hold’em’

Adjusting Your Holdem Strategy for Omaha

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

More and more Texas Holdem players are giving Omaha a try. However, if you are thinking of switching to Omaha don’t be fooled by the similarities in the two games – the strategy for Omaha is actually quite different than the strategy for Texas Holdem. Read on to learn more.

For starters, In Texas Holdem it is important to make big bets before the flop when you have good cards, like pocket aces or kings. The purpose of betting big pre-flop is to knock out other players so that you can narrow the table down to only one or two others. However, in Omaha big pairs don’t mean much if you don’t have the other cards to back them up. For this reason, many Holdem players find that they hurt themselves by making big bets too early, only to find that their pocket aces or kings aren’t such great hands. Play more cautiously in Omaha near the beginning of the game and only start betting big once more cards are dealt and you see where you stand.

In Omaha you will also have to adjust the way that you play after the flop. You need to find the right combination of passive and aggressive play. For instance, too many players play too passively when they’ve got a straight after the flop because they think another player may get a flush. If you play this way you’ll never win. Betting a little bigger may knock other players out of the hand before they have the opportunity to get a flush, securing your spot as the winner.

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To Raise of Not to Raise?

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

In the game of poker, particularly in the game of Texas Hold’em, it is easy to know when to raise. You should raise when you have a great starting hand (such as A-A, K-K, Q-Q, A-K or A-Q) or when you want your opponents to think you have a great starting hand. However, knowing when to call another player’s raise is a different story entirely.

There are a lot of very tight players who will fold when another player raises in nearly every situation. However, when you do this you can lose an awful lot of money. After all, when you fold you are losing all the chips you have already put in the pot. For this reason, it is important to know when to match another player’s raise and when to leave the game.

When you play with the same opponents for a period of time you get used to the way that they play. You can start to understand which players are probably bluffing and which only raise when they actually have a very strong hand. This can help you decide when to raise and when to fold. However, if you are playing with a new player you may want to fold the first time they raise if you don’t have a strong hand. However, if you see that this player continues to make raise after raise then you know that they are most likely bluffing and can begin calling when they raise.

It takes practice to figure out your opponents. However, once you do you can easily determine when to call and when to raise.

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Continuation Betting in Texas Hold’em Poker

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

In a game of Texas Hold’em poker one of the best strategies is continuation betting. If you aren’t familiar with continuation betting it’s an easy skill to learn. Put simply, a continuation bet is a bet that you make on the flop if you raised pre-flop. It is also known as a “c-bet.” This bet can be made whether or not your hand was improved by the flop and is a great way to get other players to fold. It is a great bluffing skill, as well as a way to show the other players that your hand is good when it really is.

It is important to note, however, that the c-bet should not be used carelessly. If you had a good hand pre-flop that was not improved by the flop card then you should not c-bet if you are in a game against a very aggressive player. Aggressive players are likely to call your bet, lessening the chances of you winning the hand. However, if you are playing against tight players the c-bet is a good way to get these players to fold, leaving you to win the pot regardless of what cards you have in your hand.

You should also avoid the continuation bet if another player called or re-raised your raise during the pre-flop. This could indicate that that player also has a strong hand and could beat you in the end.

You can practice continuation betting with a free poker game online, or a low-limit game.

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Required Reading for Poker Players

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

A good buddy of mine just started getting serious about poker and has been looking for ways to maximize his skills. The other day he asked me to recommend a few good books about poker strategy and I thought I’d share a few of my favorites with you as well.

I play mostly Texas Hold’em so, for me, Lee Jones’ Winning Low-Limit Hold’em is a veritable bible. Jones’ book is the most popular reference on the game of low limit Hold’em and gives players a solid foundation in the tools and techniques that can help you win. Winning Low-Limit Hold’em starts out with an introduction to the fundamentals of the game, and to poker odds. Following chapters go on to explain how to play in each round of the game. Finally, Jones covers everything from bluffing to tournament play to rakes and more.

If you’ve already mastered all the techniques in Jones’ book or enjoy playing for higher limits than I recommend Hold’em Poker for Advanced Players by David Sklansky. Sklansky is one of the foremost writers in the poker industry and his book is considered one of the best about Hold’em strategy.

Also from David Sklansky, The Theory of Poker is a must read. This book covers everything from bluffing to slow playing, the value of deception, how position affects your play and other theories about the game of poker. Start out with these three books and you’ll be well on your way to massive improvement in your poker play.

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Texas Hold’em Slang

Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

If you’re new to the game of Texas Hold’em then you have, without a doubt, heard slang and nicknames being thrown around. If you aren’t hip to the lingo than you can feel like other players are speaking a foreign language when they talk about “the nuts” and say things like “I’ve got hockey sticks”. I’ve put together the following glossary to help you lean basic Texas Hold’em slang, so you won’t feel out at your next poker night.

The following are other names for specific cards:

Ace – Bullet or Rocket

King – Cowboy

Queen – Lady, Cowgirl, Girl

Jack – Jackal, Knave, Hook, Johnny

10 – Dime

9 – Nina Ross

8 – Snowman

7 – Hockey Stick, Candy Cane, Walking Stick

5 – Nickel

4 – Sailboat, Sail

3 – Crab, Trey

2 – Deuce, Duck, Quacker

Double Aces – American Airlines, Pocket Rockets, Bullets

You will also hear the following terms thrown around quite frequently at the Texas Hold’em table:

The Nuts – The best hole cards at any point during the game

Bad Beat – When a hand that is a favorite to win loses

Hole Cards – The two cards that you are dealt

Kicker – The high card in your hand that may not be used in your hand but may be used to break a tie

Sandbagging – Playing a strong hand slowly or passively in an attempt to bluff a so-so hand

Under the Gun – The player seated directly to the left of the big blind

Commit these slang terms to memory and you’ll be talking like a pro in your next Hold’em game.

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Switching it Up or There’s More to Life Than Texas Hold’em

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

These days Texas Hold’em is viewed by many poker players, online and off, as the end-all be-all of poker variations. It is the primary game in most poker tournaments, it is featured in films and television shows. In the world of poker, Texas Hold’em is clearly King.

Texas Hold’em was the first game I played, as that was the game of choice at poker night with my buddies. But when I started playing poker online I thought I’d try a change. After all, it can start to get old playing the same game time after time. If you want to switch to the only slightly less popular Omaha Hi-Lo, Caribbean Stud, 5-Card Poker, something more rare like Crazy Pineapple or another poker variation it will take a little work, but its good to put a little variety in your life.

The first thing you should do when switching to a different poker variation is study up on the rules and strategy. Having a comprehensive understanding of a game’s rules and strategy is the key to success. Remember that strategy varies from poker game to poker game. A starting hand that is great in Texas Hold’em may be only so-so or not good at all in another poker variation.

When you are ready to play, consider dropping down a few levels in the stakes department, or even try a free game. When starting out with a new game you’ll have to work your way back up to the top.

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Avoiding Common Mistakes in Hold’em

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

In the game of Texas Hold’em there are several mistakes that beginners frequently make. I can admit that I used to make these mistakes myself. However, now that I’ve learned to avoid them my game has improved infinitely.

1. The Golden Pair

It’s a known fact that A-A, K-K and Q-Q are outstanding starting hands in Hold’em. However, it is important to note that if the flop, turn and river don’t come up in your favor your hand is just a pair. Too many players make the mistake of pushing ahead, raising again and again, sure that their big pair is going to win them the hand.
Keep your eyes open and assess the situation. For instance, if the community cards include 3, 4 and 6 it’s possible (and even likely) that one of your opponents has a 2-7 or 3-7 straight or two pairs, both of which will take out your pair. Don’t be overconfident-be cautious.

2. The Bluff

Feigning confidence as you raise on a so-so hand may get your opponents to fold a few times. But making bluffing your primary strategy will get you nowhere fast. Too many beginning players use bluffing as a primary strategy. Take my advice-study up on odds. It will get you a heck of a lot further.

3. Predictability: Friend or Foe?

Always fold, call and raise on the same hands and your opponents will read you like an open book. Avoid predictability-mix up your methods and keep your opponents guessing. On he other hand, look for predictable behavior in the other players to help you with your own strategy.

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