Gambling Strategies for Texas Hold'em

This is one of the few casino games where you are playing against  other players instead of playing against the “house.”  The casino makes their money from the “rake” or a portion of the pot that goes to the house in every pot that goes to the flop (when the first three community cards are turned over by the dealer).

Texas Hold'em is all about building your chip stack. You start with some chips and your goal is to take your opponents chips. This is a crucial thing to remember!! The goal is not to win hands, and it's not to get good cards - it's to win chips and reduce the amount of chips you will lose if you are beat and you can’t bluff off your opponent!! Many people, even seemingly good players, fail to grasp this very simple first principle.

Hold’em is very much a feel game where you are playing the people more than the cards.  People who play the cards all the time will be very predictable and easy to beat.  A great player can lay down Aces (the best hole cards in Texas Hold’em) and play 3-5 offsuit shrewdly when he hits a monster flop.  Because of the nature of this game, many players don’t believe the hand has begun until after the flop.  Of course after the flop you get a very good feel for what you have to work with.  The classic showdown in Hold'em is a made hand vs. a drawing hand.  The best drawing hands have around a 35% chance of becoming the "nuts" or the best hand.  A made hand is the hand that is currently leading.  A classic example of this matchup would be a "set" or three of a kind vs. straight draw or a flush draw.

When you are drawing typically you don't want to be betting unless you think you make a bluff at the pot or if you believe that two players will call you and you are getting good odds on your draw.  Everything has to be taken in overall context of the hand.  Did one of your opponents make a large bet before the flop or post-flop?  Is your opponent betting more as the hand progresses or is he betting less as the hand unfolds?  This kind of information is important to recall as the hand progresses.

Texas Hold'em is very complex game with many angles.  The key is to be aggressive especially in No Limit Hold'em where many times the the player who bets first wins the pot because many times no one has any strength to their hand so it becomes difficult to call a large bet with even top pair.  They may feel their kicker is no good or maybe they are up against two pair or a set.  There are times to be more cautious such as when there are four or more players in the hand.  When you are up against three or more opponents, the odds of you winning decline considerably.  Also, don't be too agressive with say J-J or 10-10 if a couple overcards come on the flop.

Remember to:

1)  Be aggressive.  Remember the most aggressive player wins more hands.  Raising or folding are usually better plays than calling.

2)  Know your opponents and their playing style.  Take notes if you are playing online.  If someone is always calling no matter what they are holding, don't bet into these people with the objective of bluffing.  If a super tight player re-raises you, fold your cards.

3)  Mix up your play don't raise the same amount all the time.  Raise it up 4 times the big blind with K-Q on one        hand and then raise it up just 2 times with AA.  When you do this your opponents will have a hard time putting you on a hand.