| Texas
Hold'em Poker - Holdem Poker
Rules, Strategy and How to Play Tips |
The
basic Texas Holdem game rules,strategy and how to play Hold'em
tips shown here are those that are generally agreed to and recommended
by the experts on limit Holdem poker. The rules for Texas Holdem
vary from most other Hold'em type games in that the players are
dealt only two cards, and can play either both, one, or no cards
from their two downcards to make the highest ranking final hand.
An understanding
of these playing strategy basics is needed for all levels of
competitive play, however. . . solid intermediate, and expert
poker usually requires extensive research of the more advanced
game tactics and plenty of hours of actual casino and online
playing experience.
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Limit
Holdem Poker - 2 to 10 Players, Rules
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| Highest
hand wins || Players may use one,
both or neither of their hole cards to make their highest hand || Ace
plays both high and low for straights || Three
raise limit per round || Cards speak |
Card
Distribution and Betting Procedure
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Example:
$2/$4 Hold'em with a double blind.
At casino Hold'em tables, a round plastic marker called the dealer "button" is
placed in front of the player who would be dealing if a house dealer
were not provided. The button is moved one seat clockwise after each
game and the card distribution and betting starts to the left of
that position. Each player is dealt two cards face down. Then, a
total of five community cards are dealt face up in the center of
the table in three betting segments (3-1-1). After all the cards
are dealt the players make the best hand that they can by combining
either one, both, or neither of their two hole cards with five community
cards. Using the illustration above, a player holding a king and
a ten would end up with two pair, kings over tens with an ace. With
this board, that player's two pair would be vulnerable to higher
two pairs, trips, straights and flushes. |
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. . The betting procedure goes like this: (1.) Before
each player is dealt two down cards, the player at the immediate
left of the button, called the "Small Blind" is forced
to bet $1 (half the minimum bet). Then the player to his left
and two seats to the left of the button, called the"Big
Blind", is forced to bet $2. Each player is then dealt a
two card hand. Then the player at the left of the big blind is
first to act and he must either call the big blind's $2 bet,
raise, or fold his hand. Continuing in turn clockwise, all the
players around the table either call, raise or fold. When the betting
gets back around to the small blind, he or she can fold and lose
only the half minimum bet of $1 placed earlier, call the amount
necessary to get up to the betting level or raise $2 if there
is a raise left. The big blind is then the last to act before
any cards are turned up in the middle. The blinds are played
in the first round only( 2.) The
dealer turns three cards up in the center of the table. This
is the "Flop". As always, the player at the left of
the button is first to act. There are no more forced bets and
the players can all check around if they want to. Bets right
after the flop are at the $2 minimum bet level. (3.) Now
comes the "Turn" card with more betting that now goes
to the $4 level (4.) Finally
the last, or "River" card is turned up. The last $4
betting round takes place. The players still in the contest reveal
their hole cards and the highest hand wins the pot. |
How
to Play Hold'em
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General
Hold'em Strategy:
Hold'em
is basically 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 - A thru 10 (Aces, Faces and Tens)
MEDIUM CARDS - 9 thru 7
LOW CARDS - 6 thru 2
SUITED PLAYER HAND (S) - 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".
FLOP, TURN. RIVER - The community cards in the
order of distribution. See top illustration.
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 - AA, KK, QQ, JJ, 1010
ACE and HIGH CARD SUITED - AK(S), AQ(S), AJ(S), A10(S)
FACES SUITED - KQ(S), KJ(S), QJ(S)
ACE KING - AK |
Medium
Strength Starting Hands:
FACE TEN SUITED -
K10(S), Q10(S), J10(S)
MEDIUM PAIRS - 99, 88, 77
TWO HIGH CARDS - AQ, AJ, A10 (ace king ranks higher,
above), KQ down to J10
ACE and MEDIUM SUITED - A9(S), A8(S), A7(S)
MEDIUM SUITED CONNECTORS (No Gap/One Gap) -
J9(S), 109(S), 108(S), 98(S), 97(S) down to 75(S) |
Other
Conditional Starting Hands:
LOW PAIRS - 66,
55, 44, 33, 22
ACE and LOW SUITED - A6(S), A5(S), A4(S), A3(S),
A2(S)
LOW SUITED CONNECTORS (No Gap/One Gap) - 65(S), 64(S),
54(S,) 53(S) (lowest) |
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. |
Have
fun and GOOD LUCK!
"Bullet
Bob" Maxwell
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