If you are someone who has just got their feet dipped into the world of Texas Hold’em, here are some texas holdem strategies for beginners that you must help you to get started. A part of you, however, may be somewhat mad if you are feeling stuck in the game and unable to get past through your bluffs and All-ins. It’s only natural that you wish to do everything you possibly can to beat those wise guys to the punch. This is what we’re here for today, to turn the tables in your favour and help you make some good ol’ money!
So, without wasting another moment, let’s discuss some cool tips and tricks that you can use at the felts as a part of your Texas Hold’em strategy. These are some of the best Poker tips for Texas Hold’em that will help you get past the rookie phase and level up your game to that of an experienced player.
They shall help you understand the nuances of the game better. For instance, you will learn which hands you should play, how to approach different types of players and what kind of betting strategies you need to implement to extract maximum value out of your hands.
Let’s roll!
For Beginners, Figure Out Which Hands to Play
If you want your rivals at the table to take you seriously, you must begin by limiting the number of hands you play. To know better, we recommend you check out our starting hands chart to know which hands you can play confidently and aggressively. The thumb rule of Texas Hold’em strategy practiced by experts is to play premium and strong hands aggressively from position.
You should raise pre-flop and continue to bet post flop with hands such as Pocket Aces and Pocket Kings so as to narrow the number of opponents by applying constant pressure. Doing so increases your chances of winning against your opponents significantly.
Build a Solid Table Image
As a poker player, it’s so important to create a formidable image in front of your opponents. For starters, be selective with your starting hands. Play only strong hands such as Higher Pocket Pairs or high-ranking suited connectors that have the potential to improve post flop.
When you act tight and aggressive, you can also find the opportunity to bluff occasionally without getting caught.
Gradually, as players begin to perceive you as a tight-aggressive player (TAG), you can expand your range of starting hands and play more hands such as AK, AQ, AJ, KQ, KJ non-suited and so on. Play these hands from late positions such as Cut-off and the Button to gain more information about your opponents and act accordingly.
You May Ask Now, Wouldn’t You Become Predictable?
Well, yes. If you stick to one specific style of play for multiple hands in succession, you become predictable for your opponents. They’ll figure out your strategy eventually and play you back accordingly. So, then, what is the right Texas Hold’em strategy?
The right Texas Hold’em strategy is to keep switching gears as the game demands from time to time. When you feel certain that your opponents have bought the tight table image you have kept up for a while, feel free to let a little loose and be aggressive with even decent hands like middle pairs and suited connectors.
The aim here is to manipulate your opponents by adapting your style of play according to the perception of your opponents about you. As the table dynamics keep changing, you must vary your strategy accordingly.
How Do You Adapt Your Play Style?
Here are some of the best poker tips for Texas Hold’em, you need to try to keep up with the table dynamics and consequently, evolve to be an intimidating player for your opponents to deal with.
Slow Play
Switch between aggressive and passive style of play. You can choose to be aggressive with your strong hands mostly but can also slow play your monster hand to gain maximum pot value. Slow play especially works best against predictable opponents, when you know you have the best hand. When you underplay, your opponents are often induced or tempted to bet more in the hand.
Vary Your Starting Hands
Don’t play the same kind of hands from the same positions. Mix it up with both stronger and weaker hands and play them from different positions to keep your opponents guessing. That said, be cautious and play more hands from late positions and fewer hands from early positions.
Size Your Bets Strategically
Bet sizing is crucial when you play poker. It’s a key part of your Texas Hold’em strategy. You need to size your bets according to the table situation. Doing so will make it difficult for your opponents to read your game.
Avoid using the same bet size for different types of hands. Mix up your bet sizing to make it harder for opponents to read the strength of your hand. For instance, don’t always bet large with strong hands and small with weaker hands. Do consider factors such as your hand strength, board texture, the type of players you face and the position you’re in, to size your bets accordingly.
Check out the stack size of the other players in the pot and apply pressure to steal pots from opponents who are short stacked. Notice if your opponent reacts differently to certain bets, and then act accordingly. If they consistently fold to large bets, raise even more if you want them to fold.
Mix Up Your Bluffs
When you wish to bluff your way to victory, size your bets strategically to avoid getting caught. That said, you must time your bluffs well to make them work and use them sparingly. Here are a couple of scenarios when you can use bluffing techniques to win in Texas Hold’em Poker.
Scenario 1:
Early Position Bluff
Suppose you have been carrying a tight aggressive image so far, and you are in early position and the board is dry,
Your bluffing technique should ideally be to raise the pre-flop and then make a continuation bet of equal size to appear as if you’ve hit the flop. A consistent story suggests strength and confidence in your bets. If you use position to your advantage, you are most likely to win the hand.
Scenario 2:
Late Position Bluff
There are several limpers on the button on a coordinated board. In such a scenario, you must bet larger than pot size to price out draws. Exploit any weakness you notice in your opponents and capitalize on their passiveness to make them fold. You can also choose to over-bet sometimes to induce specific reactions from your opponents
Discipline During Showdown
Professionals in Poker refrain from limping all the way to showdown. Without a strong hand to bet or draw on, it is futile to limp to the river. Doing so can cost you heavily when you reveal your cards during showdown. You end up not only losing money but also showing your cards to your opponents and revealing your strategy.
They can use this information to exploit your strategy in future.
Showdown Discipline
To keep your opponents guessing from figuring out your strategy, you must make thoughtful decisions during the final phase of the hand, i.e. showdown. Avoid revealing your cards unnecessarily during showdown especially when you’re making a big play. Fold when the odds are against you and let your opponents wonder about the strength of your hand.
When you carry a weak hand, showdown discipline involves you minimizing your losses by not overcommitting to the pot. This may include making disciplined folds if you face strong opposition.
Keep Calm and Play On
You may have heard this one before, but Poker is inherently a mind sport. Keeping your emotions in check shall prevent you from taking impulsive decisions and making costly errors. Maintaining a calm attitude shall make it all the more difficult for your opponents to read your game.
Last Few Words
It’s all about mixing things up if you wish to step up your game to the level of a professional. Don’t be predictable, switch between playing tight and aggressive. Get creative with your starting hands, bet sizes, and throw in some well-timed bluffs. The idea behind it is to learn to adapt as the game unfolds, keeping your opponents guessing.
Show some discipline during showdowns to keep your cards private, and most importantly, keep your cool. Poker’s a journey, not a sprint, so we say you enjoy the ride, learn from each hand, and soon enough, you’ll be playing like a seasoned pro at the tables.
See you at the felts!
