Texas Hold em Strategy


There are many variations of poker and almost all of them are particularly popular in online casinos today. Of particular popularity is the variety referred to as Texas Hold 'Em where there are 5 community cards that every player can use to make combinations with their respective 2 hidden cards. By far, more people play Texas Hold 'Em online than any other style. If you would like to make money by playing poker, Texas is one variety with which you should be familiar.

Value of Card Combinations

Regardless of which styles of poker you play, the general rules are essentially the same. The first thing that you need to know before forming a legitimate strategy is the various combinations of cards and their rank within the game. The combinations (presented from highest value to lowest value) are presented here:

Royal Flush: The cards between the 10 and the Ace. The cards must contain the same symbol (Diamond, Heart, Club, Spade).

Straight Flush: Five cards in a row. The cards must be contain the same symbol (Diamond, Heart, Club, Spade).

4 of a Kind: Four of the same numerical type (5 for example).

Full House: 3 cards of one numerical type and another 2 of a different type.

Flush: 5 cards that carry the same suit (diamond, spade, club, heart)

Straight: 5 cards in a row that do not have to be the same suit.

3 of a Kind: 3 cards of the same numerical type (Jack for example)

2 Pairs: 2 pairs of 2 same card types (4,4 - Q,Q for example)

Pair: 2 cards of one numerical type (King for example)

Betting Your Money

Another universal way of playing each style of poker is the betting system. Before each hand, all players must place an initial bet that was agreed upon before the game. For example, each players must place $10 from their chip pile into the middle of the table before beginning each hand. Once you have made your initial bet, actual play can begin with the person to the left of the dealer going first. If you are this player, you have several options:

Check: This means that you do not want to place a bet on the value of your hand. Bet: You think that your hand is a winning one (or want everyone else to think so) and thus place a bet of your choice into the circle.

Fold: You may decide to quit playing and surrender your hand to prevent the losing of any more money. Never fold unless there is a bet on the table that you must match.

If you are not the player to the left of the dealer, you have a few more options depending on the play of the other players:

Raise: If someone has placed a bet on the value of their hand, you may match this bet and place an additional bet of your own on top of it. For example, if another player has bet $20 on their hand and it is your turn to match, you may match the $20 and raise the bet by $15 for a total bet of $35.

Fold: It is sometimes a wise move to fold if you do not believe that your hand will be better than everyone else's. You must wait until your turn to fold. If you placed a bet and another player's raise caused you to fold, you do not get your original bet back.

Play will continue around the table until the limit is reached or all players are satisfied with the money placed on their hands. When the rest of the process associated with the poker style being played is complete, any remaining players must reveal their hands and the hand that contains the highest combination value wins the money placed in the middle.

Tips on Making Bets

Never Bet Too Much Too Soon: If you have an excellent hand right from the beginning, your job is to act like you do not to encourage other players to make bets. When you are satisfied with the money in the middle (called the pot), you may make a much more substantial bet to begin scaring remaining players away. Players will often fold in fear of losing without knowing that their hand was the superior one.

Know When to Quit: Even if you have a lot of money invested in a pot, you should not make foolish bet matches if you do not have at least one combination of cards. Sometimes people are not lying about their hand and will be happy to make you pay for doing so. You can always make a comeback if you have some chips left.

Weak Checks Expose Weak Hands: Never bet a large sum of money on an initial hand and then back off when more cards become available (especially true in Texas Hold 'Em) unless that is your intention. You may use this strategy to make other players think that your hand got weaker even though its strength was unchanged or grew. If you are bluffing (the poker term for deceiving), do not back off or you may broadcast your hand to the rest of the table.

Be Patient: Wait to play until you get some decent cards. If you have the option to fold without investing any additional money (or no money in some varieties), take the opportunity and save your money for playing valuable hands. It is much better to sit back and wait for good cards than to constantly bluff your way into money. The longer you sit back and wait for good cards, the more likely people will be to believe that you are not bluffing when you finally do so.

Play Your Opponent's Hands: Not only must you play your own cards, but you must play the hands that your opponents play. Pay attention to how people react when they get certain cards. Try your best to remember how people bet when they had a pair, two pairs, etc. They may bet the same way depending on their hand. If this is the case, you may be able to predict their cards to some degree.

For the Texas Hold'Em Fans

Below are some two card sets that you may receive and their value to your ultimate hand:

Pair: This one can be tricky. Do not be afraid to fold a pair of any kind if a single higher card appears in the first 3 community cards. A player with one Ace can beat your two Kings easily is there is an Ace in the middle.

3,9: Unless they are suited, this set is worthless. Fold it if you have not invested any money. If you do get a chance to see some cards (if you are already the big blind), make your decision from there.

Suited: Try to hold these cards until you can see the first three. A flush is very possible and ranks rather high on the value list. If the first 3 cards include at least 2 cards of the same suit as your 2, you should stay in for the long run.

Suited, Numerically Ordered: Very valuable. You have a chance of making almost every type of combination available. Make your decision to keep playing based on the first 3 cards but stay in until then.

Numerical: Straights are common but are only just above 3 of a kind combinations. You may decide to fold these cards if they are not of Jack or higher value.