Texas Hold-em can be a lot of fun. Please always play with the intention of having fun and leave the heavy gambling to the pros. Many lives have been destroyed because of addiction to gambling.
Texas hold 'em (or simply hold 'em or holdem) is the most popular of the community card poker games. It is the most popular poker variant played in casinos in the western United States, and its no-limit form is used in the main event of the World Series of Poker (abbreviated WSOP), widely recognized as the world championship of the game.
The game of Texas Hold'em is all about hands. Listed below are the ten Texas Hold'em hands you will see when you start to play the game.
Texas Hold'em Hand - The Royal Straight Flush
The royal flush is the highest ranking poker hand in Texas Hold'em. This hand is also the rarest, even if you play often. The royal flush is similar to a hole-in-one-swing when you're playing golf.
The royal flush Texas Hold'em hand is composed of five cards and all are of the same suit. What makes this hand different from all the other straights and flushes is that the royal flush is composed of all the face cards (Ace, King, Queen, and Jack) and a 10.
Texas Hold'em Hand - The Straight Flush
Next in ranking to the royal flush is the straight flush Texas Hold'em hand. This hand also occurs rarely and is made of up of five cards. The straight flush Texas Hold'em hand is of the same suit and numbered in series values. An example of this type of Texas Hold'em hand is a 6/7/8/9/10 or an A/2/3/4/5. An Ace may play both the lowest card and the highest in hand ranking.
Texas Hold'em Hand - The Four of a Kind
Sometimes called "quads," this type of Texas Hold'em hand is comprised of four kinds of the same face value. For example, a K/K/K/K is a four of a kind.
Texas Hold'em Hand - The Full House
The full house Texas Hold'em hand may also be referred to as the "full boat" or "boat." This hand has three cards of the same value and a pair. The full house Texas Hold'em hand occurs fairly often and to find out who wins, the three cards are used as the determining factor. The hand that has the higher three of a kind value wins.
Texas Hold'em Hand - The Flush
The flush Texas Hold'em hand is any five cards of the same suit.
Texas Hold'em Hand - The Straight
A straight is composed of five cards. To be considered a straight, your Texas Hold'em hand must be ranked in succession.
Texas Hold'em Hand - Three of a Kind
Three of kind is a Texas Hold'em hand of three cards with the same face value. If you are holding a pair in your pocket and you hit one on the flop, your hand is called a "set." However, if the flop shows a pair and you have one card in your pocket, your hand is called "three of a kind."
Texas Hold'em Hand - Two Pair
The two pair is a type of Texas Hold'em hand composed of two pairs. To determine the better hand, the one with the highest pair wins.
Texas Hold'em Hand - One Pair
The one pair occurs when you have two cards of the same value in your best hand. This Texas Hold'em hand is the commonest and the one you will be winning the most. A "kicker" is used when there is more than one player with a one pair. The one with the highest kicker wins.
Texas Hold'em Hand - High Card
The high card is a non pair Texas Hold'em hand. You can win with a high card if no other player makes any of the above combination.
Play for fun and have fun playing
## End of Article
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Thursday, October 18, 2007
The Rules of Texas Holdem Poker
What is Texas Hold'em: Texas hold 'em (or simply hold 'em or holdem) is the most popular of the community card poker games. It is the most popular poker variant played in casinos in the western United States, and its no-limit form is used in the main event of the World Series of Poker (abbreviated WSOP), widely recognized as the world championship of the game.
Considered as the most popular poker games, Texas Hold'em is the version of poker that you see played in TV tournaments and casinos. To start playing this game, there are a few basic Texas Hold'em poker rules to follow. Below are a compilation of these Texas Hold'em poker rules that will help you learn the game.
Texas Hold'em Poker Rule 1 - Shuffle, Deal, Blinds
As a Texas Hold'em poker rule, the dealer is determined using a plastic disc marked with a "d" or "dealer". This is called the "dealer button" and is moved in a clockwise manner, starting to the left of the first dealer. In this way, each player takes his turn as the dealer.
Texas Hold'em poker rule no. 1 dictates that the dealer will shuffle a standard 52-card deck and start dealing two cards to each player. In standard Texas Hold'em poker rules, the starting pot is determined by the initial bets placed in by two players sitting to the left of the dealer. These bets are called "blinds."
Texas Hold'em Poker Rule 2 - Betting
After the blinds are posted, Texas Hold'em poker rule no. 2 allows the players to start the first round of betting. According to standard Texas Hold'em poker rules, the player sitting next to the one who posted the second blind will place the first bet. The other players can then call, raise, or fold when their turn comes.
Texas Hold'em Poker Rule 3 - Flop and Check
Texas Hold'em poker rule no. 3 allows the dealer to "burn" (discard) the top card in the deck when the first betting round is over. In standard Texas Hold'em poker rules, this is the stage where the dealer will turn over three community cards at the center of the table. These cards are called the "flop" and are used by the players to make up their hands. At this stage, Texas Hold'em poker rules allow a player to take a "check" or pass and place no bet.
Texas Hold'em Poker Rule 4 - Turn and River
After the second betting round, the dealer will burn the top card and reveal the fourth community card. Texas Hold'em poker rules call this card the "turn." Another round of betting follows and after which, the dealer will once again burn the top card and turn over the fifth and last community card, called the "river." Standard Texas Hold'em poker rules also calls this card the "fifth street."
Texas Hold'em Poker Rule 5 - Showdown
After the river, the players will now use any 5-card combination from the seven cards revealed to them - the five community cards and their 2 pocket cards. According to the Texas Hold'em poker rules, the player who made the last bet or the player who made the last raise will show his hand first. The player with the best hand wins the game.
Know your limit and play within it...
## End of Article
Considered as the most popular poker games, Texas Hold'em is the version of poker that you see played in TV tournaments and casinos. To start playing this game, there are a few basic Texas Hold'em poker rules to follow. Below are a compilation of these Texas Hold'em poker rules that will help you learn the game.
Texas Hold'em Poker Rule 1 - Shuffle, Deal, Blinds
As a Texas Hold'em poker rule, the dealer is determined using a plastic disc marked with a "d" or "dealer". This is called the "dealer button" and is moved in a clockwise manner, starting to the left of the first dealer. In this way, each player takes his turn as the dealer.
Texas Hold'em poker rule no. 1 dictates that the dealer will shuffle a standard 52-card deck and start dealing two cards to each player. In standard Texas Hold'em poker rules, the starting pot is determined by the initial bets placed in by two players sitting to the left of the dealer. These bets are called "blinds."
Texas Hold'em Poker Rule 2 - Betting
After the blinds are posted, Texas Hold'em poker rule no. 2 allows the players to start the first round of betting. According to standard Texas Hold'em poker rules, the player sitting next to the one who posted the second blind will place the first bet. The other players can then call, raise, or fold when their turn comes.
Texas Hold'em Poker Rule 3 - Flop and Check
Texas Hold'em poker rule no. 3 allows the dealer to "burn" (discard) the top card in the deck when the first betting round is over. In standard Texas Hold'em poker rules, this is the stage where the dealer will turn over three community cards at the center of the table. These cards are called the "flop" and are used by the players to make up their hands. At this stage, Texas Hold'em poker rules allow a player to take a "check" or pass and place no bet.
Texas Hold'em Poker Rule 4 - Turn and River
After the second betting round, the dealer will burn the top card and reveal the fourth community card. Texas Hold'em poker rules call this card the "turn." Another round of betting follows and after which, the dealer will once again burn the top card and turn over the fifth and last community card, called the "river." Standard Texas Hold'em poker rules also calls this card the "fifth street."
Texas Hold'em Poker Rule 5 - Showdown
After the river, the players will now use any 5-card combination from the seven cards revealed to them - the five community cards and their 2 pocket cards. According to the Texas Hold'em poker rules, the player who made the last bet or the player who made the last raise will show his hand first. The player with the best hand wins the game.
Know your limit and play within it...
## End of Article
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Texas Holdem Blinds Explained
When you play Texas Hold'em, it is likely that you will meet a lot of terms that are unfamiliar to you, especially if you're new to poker. One of the most likely Texas Hold'em terms you'll meet is the blinds. So what are blinds?
Texas Hold'em Blinds - A Definition
The Texas Hold'em blinds are forced bets that are initially posted at pre-flop. The blinds are placed before the pocket cards are dealt. The reason why Texas Hold'em blinds got their name is that you do not have a choice whether you want to post your money in before you see your cards.
What is the purpose of Texas Hold'em blinds?
The game features Texas Hold'em blinds to ensure action or game play. Without these forced bets, it is most likely that everyone would wait for pocket Aces all day.
The earlier versions of the game centered on the idea of players playing for the posted blind money in the pot. Today, that idea no longer applies when way more money can be won by betting, especially in low limit games. However, the Texas Hold'em blinds still serve their purpose, even when limits are higher.
How do Texas Hold'em blinds work?
The amount of the Texas Hold'em blinds depend on the betting structure adopted. The Texas Hold'em blinds are usually more popular in structured limit games. In this structure, such as the $2/$4 or $3/$6 limit hold'em, the blinds are comprised of two bets made - the small and the big blind.
The Texas Hold'em blinds start to the left of the dealer. So the flow would go as follows: dealer button, small blind, and then big blind.
The small Texas Hold'em Blind
The small Texas Hold'em blind is the first forced bet made at pre-flop. Usually, the small Texas Hold'em blind is equal to half of the lowest limit structure. So if for instance, you are playing for $2/$4, then the small blind would be $1. Another example is if you're playing a game with the limit of $3/$6. The small blind in this type of limit game is $1 or $2.
The big Texas Hold'em Blind
The big Texas Hold'em blind is the forced bet posted by the player sitting next to the small Texas Hold'em blind. The amount of the big Texas Hold'em blind is equivalent to the lowest limit structure of the game. For example, if you are playing the $2/4$ limit game, your big blind is $2. However, if you play $15/$30, you post $15 as your big blind.
Playing from the Texas Hold'em blinds?
When playing from the Texas Hold'em blinds, you run the risk of losing money fairly easy. This is especially true in a low limit or high limit game. For instance, when you have a marginal hand in middle position, your natural reaction would be to just call it. Then someone raises but that would be pretty easy to let go and save yourself the trouble. It's difficult however when you are in the big Texas Hold'em blind and the money is in the pot and someone raises. Your odds to call grow greater and you end up paying some guys good hand offs.
Simple warning about gambling: Know your limit and play within it...
## End of Article
Texas Hold'em Blinds - A Definition
The Texas Hold'em blinds are forced bets that are initially posted at pre-flop. The blinds are placed before the pocket cards are dealt. The reason why Texas Hold'em blinds got their name is that you do not have a choice whether you want to post your money in before you see your cards.
What is the purpose of Texas Hold'em blinds?
The game features Texas Hold'em blinds to ensure action or game play. Without these forced bets, it is most likely that everyone would wait for pocket Aces all day.
The earlier versions of the game centered on the idea of players playing for the posted blind money in the pot. Today, that idea no longer applies when way more money can be won by betting, especially in low limit games. However, the Texas Hold'em blinds still serve their purpose, even when limits are higher.
How do Texas Hold'em blinds work?
The amount of the Texas Hold'em blinds depend on the betting structure adopted. The Texas Hold'em blinds are usually more popular in structured limit games. In this structure, such as the $2/$4 or $3/$6 limit hold'em, the blinds are comprised of two bets made - the small and the big blind.
The Texas Hold'em blinds start to the left of the dealer. So the flow would go as follows: dealer button, small blind, and then big blind.
The small Texas Hold'em Blind
The small Texas Hold'em blind is the first forced bet made at pre-flop. Usually, the small Texas Hold'em blind is equal to half of the lowest limit structure. So if for instance, you are playing for $2/$4, then the small blind would be $1. Another example is if you're playing a game with the limit of $3/$6. The small blind in this type of limit game is $1 or $2.
The big Texas Hold'em Blind
The big Texas Hold'em blind is the forced bet posted by the player sitting next to the small Texas Hold'em blind. The amount of the big Texas Hold'em blind is equivalent to the lowest limit structure of the game. For example, if you are playing the $2/4$ limit game, your big blind is $2. However, if you play $15/$30, you post $15 as your big blind.
Playing from the Texas Hold'em blinds?
When playing from the Texas Hold'em blinds, you run the risk of losing money fairly easy. This is especially true in a low limit or high limit game. For instance, when you have a marginal hand in middle position, your natural reaction would be to just call it. Then someone raises but that would be pretty easy to let go and save yourself the trouble. It's difficult however when you are in the big Texas Hold'em blind and the money is in the pot and someone raises. Your odds to call grow greater and you end up paying some guys good hand offs.
Simple warning about gambling: Know your limit and play within it...
## End of Article
The Texas Holdem Hand Ranking
Poker Hands Rankings / Probability of Poker Hands
The following poker hands ranking are from lowest to highest. In addition, each poker hands probability in five cards is shown. Realize that the poker hands probability will be higher in Texas Holdem since there is a total of seven cards.
High Card, e.g., Ad Td 8s 6s 3h, 50% probability or 1 to 1
A high card hand is any hand which doesn’t meet any of the hands below. If no one has a pair or better, the player with the highest card wins. If there is a tie for the highest card then the second highest card would be the tie breaker and so forth.
Pair, e.g. Ad As Kc Th 5s, 42% probability or 1.4 to 1
A pair is two matching cards with three distinct cards. If two players have the same pair then the highest card wins.
Two Pair, e.g. Ad As Kc Kd 5s, 5% probability or 20 to 1
Two distinct pairs with a single kicker. If two opponents hold the same two pair then the highest kicker card wins.
Three of a Kind, e.g. Ad As Ah Kc 5s, 2% probability or 46 to 1
Three cards of the same rank with two kicker cards that do not match.
Straight Ad Kc Qd Jh Ts, .4% probability or 254 to 1
A straight is 5 cards in order when all five cards are not the same suit (otherwise it would be a straight flush). An ace may be played high or low.
Flush Ad Td 8d 5d 3d, .2% probability or 508 to 1
A flush is five cards of the same suit.
Full House Ad As Ah Kc Kd, .1% probability or 693 to 1
A full house is three of a kind and a pair.
Four of a Kind Ad As Ah Ac Kc, .02% probability or 4164 to 1
Four cards of the same rank.
Straight Flush Ad Kd Qd Jd Td, .001% probability or 64,973 to 1
A straight flush is five cards in order of the same suit. When the straight is ace higher it is better know as the Royal Flush.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Texas Holdem Poker Probability
What is a probability: a measure of how likely it is that some event will occur; a number expressing the ratio of favorable cases to the whole number of cases possible; "the probability that an unbiased coin will fall with the head up is 0.5"
What is Texas Hold'em: Texas hold 'em (or simply hold 'em or holdem) is the most popular of the community card poker games. It is the most popular poker variant played in casinos in the western United States, and its no-limit form is used in the main event of the World Series of Poker (abbreviated WSOP), widely recognized as the world championship of the game.
Pros and amateurs alike agree that Texas Hold'em is a relatively easy game to learn but difficult to master. Texas Hold'em poker is a complex game of wits, cunning, strategies, and mathematics. To do well in a Texas Hold'em game, there are so many factors to consider. One of these factors is the Texas Hold'em probability.
What is Texas Hold'em probability?
Texas Hold'em probability is a huge factor of the game. Texas Hold'em probability is determined through the odds that players use in determining their actions. The odds of finishing a flush or a straight, of making a hand from the flop, of getting an overcard - all these are important Texas Hold'em probability factors that can either make or break your game. Texas Hold'em probability will give the statistical knowledge necessary to help you determine whether you ought to bet, call, or fold.
Some terms relating to Texas Hold'em probability
Out is one of the commonest terms you will encounter when talking about Texas Hold'em probability. Out refers to the cards in the deck that will help make your hand. For instance, you have four hearts on the turn. The number of outs you have left is 9.
The second term that you will encounter in Texas Hold'em probability is pot odds. Pots odds are your chances of making a hand based on the current size of the pot and your next call. Say, the stakes in the pot amounts to $200 and you only have a $10 bet coming at you. By using the concept of Texas Hold'em probability, you know that if you hit your flush, your pot odds are good.
The third term in Texas Hold'em probability is bet odds. This refers to the odds you get if you assess the number of players who make a call against a raise. If your hand odds are 1 to 5 and you know that all your opponents are looking to call your bet, then it means that your bet odds are good.
The fourth and final terms you will encounter in Texas Hold'em probability is implied odds. This term refers to the odds you have if you assume how the betting round will turn out. Implied odds in Texas Hold'em probability requires experience in poker to do correctly.
The Basic Concept of Texas Hold'em Probability
In calculating Texas Hold'em probability, the commonest concepts you use are outs and pot odds. Basically, Texas Hold'em probability is simple division. Use the number of outs you have as your numerator. Your denominator will be the number of cards left that you haven't seen yet. So at the start (pre-flop), you will be dividing your outs with 50. After the flop, it will only be 47 and down to 46 after the turn.
One last word on probability...If you don't play for fun you will PROBABLY lose your shirt so...Know your limit and play within it...
## End of Article
What is Texas Hold'em: Texas hold 'em (or simply hold 'em or holdem) is the most popular of the community card poker games. It is the most popular poker variant played in casinos in the western United States, and its no-limit form is used in the main event of the World Series of Poker (abbreviated WSOP), widely recognized as the world championship of the game.
Pros and amateurs alike agree that Texas Hold'em is a relatively easy game to learn but difficult to master. Texas Hold'em poker is a complex game of wits, cunning, strategies, and mathematics. To do well in a Texas Hold'em game, there are so many factors to consider. One of these factors is the Texas Hold'em probability.
What is Texas Hold'em probability?
Texas Hold'em probability is a huge factor of the game. Texas Hold'em probability is determined through the odds that players use in determining their actions. The odds of finishing a flush or a straight, of making a hand from the flop, of getting an overcard - all these are important Texas Hold'em probability factors that can either make or break your game. Texas Hold'em probability will give the statistical knowledge necessary to help you determine whether you ought to bet, call, or fold.
Some terms relating to Texas Hold'em probability
Out is one of the commonest terms you will encounter when talking about Texas Hold'em probability. Out refers to the cards in the deck that will help make your hand. For instance, you have four hearts on the turn. The number of outs you have left is 9.
The second term that you will encounter in Texas Hold'em probability is pot odds. Pots odds are your chances of making a hand based on the current size of the pot and your next call. Say, the stakes in the pot amounts to $200 and you only have a $10 bet coming at you. By using the concept of Texas Hold'em probability, you know that if you hit your flush, your pot odds are good.
The third term in Texas Hold'em probability is bet odds. This refers to the odds you get if you assess the number of players who make a call against a raise. If your hand odds are 1 to 5 and you know that all your opponents are looking to call your bet, then it means that your bet odds are good.
The fourth and final terms you will encounter in Texas Hold'em probability is implied odds. This term refers to the odds you have if you assume how the betting round will turn out. Implied odds in Texas Hold'em probability requires experience in poker to do correctly.
The Basic Concept of Texas Hold'em Probability
In calculating Texas Hold'em probability, the commonest concepts you use are outs and pot odds. Basically, Texas Hold'em probability is simple division. Use the number of outs you have as your numerator. Your denominator will be the number of cards left that you haven't seen yet. So at the start (pre-flop), you will be dividing your outs with 50. After the flop, it will only be 47 and down to 46 after the turn.
One last word on probability...If you don't play for fun you will PROBABLY lose your shirt so...Know your limit and play within it...
## End of Article
Saturday, October 13, 2007
How To Push Flush Draws Out In Texas Hold Em
The game of Poker, especially Texas Hold Em, is a very difficult game to say the least. There are so many ways of getting beat, even when you're a favorite going to the flop. But some of those ways can be prevented, at least in most poker games. I'm referring to getting beat with a flush when your pocket A's were the best hand even after the flop. But how can we do that?
First of all, flush draws seem to be evident on about every other hand, or at least every third. Its one of the easiest draws that any poker player immediately sees when he has it. For instance, an inside straight draw is sometimes overlooked, even by professionals because you have to actually analyze the numbers, not the colors. But flush draws are spotted by even the newest players simply because of the colors. Because of this, you have to protect your hand when you suspect someone is on a flush draws.
So how do you get these guys off of their flush draws? Simple. Don't give them the odds to call. This means you have to raise pre-flop, and after the flop if you suspect your opponent is on a flush draw. One of the easiest ways to determine if someone is chasing a flush draw is to analyze the flop and watch how your opponent bets when you raise (after the flop). First, if there are two cards of the same suit on the flop, and there are more then two players in the hand (not including yourself), someone is probably on a flush draw. Secondly, when you raise (and you MUST raise), watch how the person calls. If there is an immediate call, pretty much without delay or hesitation, they are probably on a flush draw. The reason this is "usually" true is because, when a person has two diamonds in their hand and the flop has two diamonds, there is no thinking needed. Its obvious; you need a diamond to make your flush. If the person didn't have two diamonds, and say had top pair or some type of straight draw, they would have to look at the board for a moment and analyze it to see if it merits a call, thus delaying their decision. This is why professionals usually wait a moment before every bet or check. They don't want to give away any tells at all.
So how much do you bet to get a person off of their flush draw in poker? Well, first understand that when someone has a flush draw after the flop, they have roughly a 36% chance of making their hand by the river. This is because there are 9 more diamonds in the deck (assuming its a diamond draw). Although there are a few ways of determining this percentage, I personally like Phil Gorden's 4-2 method. It works like this: Determine your outs, and simply multiply it by 4 for the turn card. After the turn, determine your outs again, and multiply it by 2. So, if you have 9 outs before the turn, take 9 x 4, and you'll get 36, or a 36% chance. After the turn, if you don't hit your flush, take 9 x 2, and you get an 18% chance of catching a diamond (note: These percentages aren't 100% accurate, but they're so close that I prefer this method to make quick decisions at the table.
So, getting back to your bet. If you believe they are on a flush draw after the flop, then you must remove their odds to call. In essence, you're forcing them to have to call a bet that is "more" then 36%. So lets say the pot contains $100 before you bet, and its just you and them. If you only bet $50 (bringing the pot to $150), of course all he has to call is $50 to win $150. That means he's getting 3 to 1 odds (3 for $150 compared to his 1 $50), which means he only has to bet 33% of the pot. And because he has a 36% chance of catching his card, he is correct in calling. The theory is the same after the turn. If he misses the turn, he now has an 18% chance of catching it. You have to force him to bet more then 18% of the pot after the turn. Now whether he calls or not is a different story. Mathematically he's making a mistake when makes these calls when you've eliminated his odds. And in the long run, and over several hands, he will lose and you will win.
## End of Article
First of all, flush draws seem to be evident on about every other hand, or at least every third. Its one of the easiest draws that any poker player immediately sees when he has it. For instance, an inside straight draw is sometimes overlooked, even by professionals because you have to actually analyze the numbers, not the colors. But flush draws are spotted by even the newest players simply because of the colors. Because of this, you have to protect your hand when you suspect someone is on a flush draws.
So how do you get these guys off of their flush draws? Simple. Don't give them the odds to call. This means you have to raise pre-flop, and after the flop if you suspect your opponent is on a flush draw. One of the easiest ways to determine if someone is chasing a flush draw is to analyze the flop and watch how your opponent bets when you raise (after the flop). First, if there are two cards of the same suit on the flop, and there are more then two players in the hand (not including yourself), someone is probably on a flush draw. Secondly, when you raise (and you MUST raise), watch how the person calls. If there is an immediate call, pretty much without delay or hesitation, they are probably on a flush draw. The reason this is "usually" true is because, when a person has two diamonds in their hand and the flop has two diamonds, there is no thinking needed. Its obvious; you need a diamond to make your flush. If the person didn't have two diamonds, and say had top pair or some type of straight draw, they would have to look at the board for a moment and analyze it to see if it merits a call, thus delaying their decision. This is why professionals usually wait a moment before every bet or check. They don't want to give away any tells at all.
So how much do you bet to get a person off of their flush draw in poker? Well, first understand that when someone has a flush draw after the flop, they have roughly a 36% chance of making their hand by the river. This is because there are 9 more diamonds in the deck (assuming its a diamond draw). Although there are a few ways of determining this percentage, I personally like Phil Gorden's 4-2 method. It works like this: Determine your outs, and simply multiply it by 4 for the turn card. After the turn, determine your outs again, and multiply it by 2. So, if you have 9 outs before the turn, take 9 x 4, and you'll get 36, or a 36% chance. After the turn, if you don't hit your flush, take 9 x 2, and you get an 18% chance of catching a diamond (note: These percentages aren't 100% accurate, but they're so close that I prefer this method to make quick decisions at the table.
So, getting back to your bet. If you believe they are on a flush draw after the flop, then you must remove their odds to call. In essence, you're forcing them to have to call a bet that is "more" then 36%. So lets say the pot contains $100 before you bet, and its just you and them. If you only bet $50 (bringing the pot to $150), of course all he has to call is $50 to win $150. That means he's getting 3 to 1 odds (3 for $150 compared to his 1 $50), which means he only has to bet 33% of the pot. And because he has a 36% chance of catching his card, he is correct in calling. The theory is the same after the turn. If he misses the turn, he now has an 18% chance of catching it. You have to force him to bet more then 18% of the pot after the turn. Now whether he calls or not is a different story. Mathematically he's making a mistake when makes these calls when you've eliminated his odds. And in the long run, and over several hands, he will lose and you will win.
## End of Article
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Texas Holdem Image And Personality
Your texas holdem image is represented by your personality. Every poker player has a personality that can make or break them at a poker game. Your texas holdem image is a crucial part of playing texas holdem. Before I started writing this the section of identifying your holdem image and your opponents, I read an article that I've found really interesting that relates to this topic of table image.
A book author and professional holdem player was playing texas holdem at the Mirage in Las Vegas. A player left his table and a man wearing shorts and a Hawaiian shirt filled the seat. The poker author explains, "I immediately pegged this guy for another tourist. After the tourist sat down, he was telling stories and joking with the dealer and some of the other players. He didn't seem to have a care in the world as he sat there talking and playing." Everyone at the table perceived this character's texas holdem image as a weak opponent, but this care-free tourist was winning with his very tight and aggressive style of play.
As the poker author left the table and went to the cashier to cash out, he bumped into his Hawaiian shirt, dressed friend and introduced himself. He explains, "I asked him where he was from and to my surprise he said he lived in Las Vegas. I mentioned that he looked like a tourist. 'I know,' he said. 'Why would I want anyone at the table to think I'm a local?'"
Below are 5 texas holdem image descriptions that you may generally find at a poker table: A fish, weak-tight players, the maniac, the rock, and strong-aggressive players. Try to find a texas holdem image description that conveys your style of play or opponents you've played with. But remember, just like the article, your opponents may use their table image to throw you off to make you believe they are something that they are not.
A Fish: The weakest texas holdem image and player there is. Also the most prevalent, fishes have poor hand selections and will call just about anything (also known as calling stations). This person has very little skill or discipline, investing into too many hands, hoping for a lucky break. Chips are earned mainly from these players. However, fish players enjoy the bluffing element of poker, so don't be surprised if a fish tries to make a move with nothing or slow-playing by checking the best hand.
Basically, a fish is just a bad player. You can't bluff a bad player. When a fish has some kind of hand and is still in the pot, it's obvious he's got something. Play straight forward - no tricks or fancy plays against these players.
## End of Article
A book author and professional holdem player was playing texas holdem at the Mirage in Las Vegas. A player left his table and a man wearing shorts and a Hawaiian shirt filled the seat. The poker author explains, "I immediately pegged this guy for another tourist. After the tourist sat down, he was telling stories and joking with the dealer and some of the other players. He didn't seem to have a care in the world as he sat there talking and playing." Everyone at the table perceived this character's texas holdem image as a weak opponent, but this care-free tourist was winning with his very tight and aggressive style of play.
As the poker author left the table and went to the cashier to cash out, he bumped into his Hawaiian shirt, dressed friend and introduced himself. He explains, "I asked him where he was from and to my surprise he said he lived in Las Vegas. I mentioned that he looked like a tourist. 'I know,' he said. 'Why would I want anyone at the table to think I'm a local?'"
Below are 5 texas holdem image descriptions that you may generally find at a poker table: A fish, weak-tight players, the maniac, the rock, and strong-aggressive players. Try to find a texas holdem image description that conveys your style of play or opponents you've played with. But remember, just like the article, your opponents may use their table image to throw you off to make you believe they are something that they are not.
A Fish: The weakest texas holdem image and player there is. Also the most prevalent, fishes have poor hand selections and will call just about anything (also known as calling stations). This person has very little skill or discipline, investing into too many hands, hoping for a lucky break. Chips are earned mainly from these players. However, fish players enjoy the bluffing element of poker, so don't be surprised if a fish tries to make a move with nothing or slow-playing by checking the best hand.
Basically, a fish is just a bad player. You can't bluff a bad player. When a fish has some kind of hand and is still in the pot, it's obvious he's got something. Play straight forward - no tricks or fancy plays against these players.
## End of Article
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
An Overview Of Texas Hold'Em
Hold'em Poker has, in a few short years, exploded into the most popular poker variation of the game and Texas Hold'em is a game that started some time in the early twentieth century. However, it is only in the last five or six years that Texas Hold'em has mesmerized poker players and taken over poker rooms just about everywhere poker is played.
No-Limit Texas Hold'em is the mainstay of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) which is the highest profile event in the history of the game and is televised around the world. Texas Hold'em is the main game played in the World Poker Tour (WPT) that promotes worldwide poker tournaments. Celebrity tournaments particularly as held in Las Vegas, feature Texas Hold'em and are extremely popular with spectators. In fact, Texas Hold'em tournaments have become highly popular spectator sports and are televised to enthusiastic audiences.
Assuming you are acquainted with traditional poker, here is the basic Texas Hold'em play:
You are dealt two personal cards face down and five cards are placed face up in the center of the table for use by all the players. These are the community cards.
You make the best five card hand using your two personal cards and any combination of the five community cards.
There are four betting rounds. Unless you are in a no-limit game, the first two bets will have a set limit - for example, two dollars. The next two bets have a limit of four dollars. Betting or raising for each round cannot exceed the pre-set limits.
The first two bets are called "blind" or "posted" bets. The first player to the left of the dealer places a "small blind" or minimum bet which is half the maximum - or $2. The next player to the left of the minimum blind poster places the "big blind". The maximum allowed in this case is four dollars. No other bets are made. Once play begins, the deal rotates around the table and each player, in turn, will act as the small blind, big blind and eventually as dealer.
The game starts with the first small blind player receiving the first card face down and the deal revolving around the table with the last card taken by the dealer. The deal revolves around the table again with each player receiving the second card face down.
The first round of betting begins with the player to the left of the big blind either calling or raising within the pre-set game limits. Betting, calling or folding goes around the table until the small blind poster is reached. The small blind poster can call the bet since a blind was already posted. The big blind then has the option to raise or to "check".
Three community cards are then dealt face up in the center of the table. In Texas Hold'em terminology, this is known as "the flop". Bets are placed.
Next comes "the turn" or "fourth street", which means the dealer places the fourth community card among the first three cards. Again, bets are placed.
The fifth and final community card dealt is called "the river" or "fifth street".
To play Texas Hold'em well, basic strategies should be learned and practiced and for the serious player, extensive study of advanced game strategies is a must.
No-Limit Texas Hold'em is the mainstay of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) which is the highest profile event in the history of the game and is televised around the world. Texas Hold'em is the main game played in the World Poker Tour (WPT) that promotes worldwide poker tournaments. Celebrity tournaments particularly as held in Las Vegas, feature Texas Hold'em and are extremely popular with spectators. In fact, Texas Hold'em tournaments have become highly popular spectator sports and are televised to enthusiastic audiences.
Assuming you are acquainted with traditional poker, here is the basic Texas Hold'em play:
You are dealt two personal cards face down and five cards are placed face up in the center of the table for use by all the players. These are the community cards.
You make the best five card hand using your two personal cards and any combination of the five community cards.
There are four betting rounds. Unless you are in a no-limit game, the first two bets will have a set limit - for example, two dollars. The next two bets have a limit of four dollars. Betting or raising for each round cannot exceed the pre-set limits.
The first two bets are called "blind" or "posted" bets. The first player to the left of the dealer places a "small blind" or minimum bet which is half the maximum - or $2. The next player to the left of the minimum blind poster places the "big blind". The maximum allowed in this case is four dollars. No other bets are made. Once play begins, the deal rotates around the table and each player, in turn, will act as the small blind, big blind and eventually as dealer.
The game starts with the first small blind player receiving the first card face down and the deal revolving around the table with the last card taken by the dealer. The deal revolves around the table again with each player receiving the second card face down.
The first round of betting begins with the player to the left of the big blind either calling or raising within the pre-set game limits. Betting, calling or folding goes around the table until the small blind poster is reached. The small blind poster can call the bet since a blind was already posted. The big blind then has the option to raise or to "check".
Three community cards are then dealt face up in the center of the table. In Texas Hold'em terminology, this is known as "the flop". Bets are placed.
Next comes "the turn" or "fourth street", which means the dealer places the fourth community card among the first three cards. Again, bets are placed.
The fifth and final community card dealt is called "the river" or "fifth street".
To play Texas Hold'em well, basic strategies should be learned and practiced and for the serious player, extensive study of advanced game strategies is a must.
Texas Hold'Em Poker Tips - Low Pairs
In a perfect world, we would all get high pairs as starting hands, but, in truth, that rarely happens. What players will see more often are lower pairs of cards. For newer players, a pair of anything looks pretty good, but be careful, especially if you are playing for real money, when it comes to low pairs.
In general, there are no hard and fast rules that say what constitutes a low pair. For my own reasons, I consider anything below a 6 to be a low pair. As you gain experience and learn your own style of play you will be able to set your own standards as to what is a low pair and what is not.
One of the most useful tips that I can share with new players is this: 90% of the time (and this is especially true if you are holding a low pair of pre-flop cards) you want to see a cheap flop. What I mean by this is you want to see the flop for as little of your money invested as possible. Put another way, if you’re holding a pair of 3’s you want to see the flop but you do NOT want to put in a lot of money (by calling big bets or raising) in order to see that flop.
The key to remember is that a low pair has potential for becoming a huge hand if you pick up a set (another card matching yours comes up, giving you three-of-a-kind) or a quad (two matching cards come up on the flop, giving you four-of-a-kind) or a full-house, but the important word here is potential. Until you see the flop all you have is a lowly pair, and in a ten-handed game and even in a seven-handed game, that generally isn’t worth very much, and the lower the cards, the less they are worth. Keep in mind that a pair of 4’s will beat that pair of 3’s.
Again, we come back to position play and why it is important to always know where you are in relation to the Button. If you are the first person to act (meaning, you are first to either call the blind and play or fold) you must exercise caution. In fact, this is true with low pairs if you are seated anywhere on the first half of the table. The reason for this is simple. If you are the first to play (or even the second, third, or fourth) all the others players behind you will have the option to raise the bet, forcing you to put even more money in before seeing the flop. If you are playing with aggressive betters, the cost can skyrocket in no time at all. Now if you are sitting there (pre-flop) with a pair of King’s or a pair of Ace’s you might welcome that aggressive betting. But with a small pair in your hand, it can spell doom, real quick.
It is worth repeating. The key to playing small pairs is to see the flop for as little money as possible. A well-disciplined player will happily fold a small pair if the betting becomes too rich. Why will they do this? Experienced players will reason that aggressive betting before the flop usually (not always, but usually) represents a player with a strong hand, and in many cases, it may be two or three players with strong hands.
But what if you are holding a small pair and you are at the far end of the table line? Perhaps you are in the blinds (either the big blind or the small blind) or perhaps you are on the Button itself. What do you do in that case?
Well, it depends. If everyone else has folded, you would want to call the blind and see a flop. If only one or two earlier players have called the blinds (but not raised) you may want to go ahead and call yourself to see the flop as well. However, if one player has made a big raise or if several other players have called and or raised, then you go with your gut, and in most cases, your gut should be saying, “Fold”.
If you are in the blinds and can see the flop for a small additional amount of money, then go for it. If you hit your set, you will be in a very good position to probably win the hand.
If you don’t hit your set on the flop, it is time to think hard about folding your hand unless the other players check and you can check as well. If you can see a free card, see one.
It’s important to understand that you have about a 12% chance of hitting your set on the flop. Another way of looking at this is you have about a 1-in-8 chance of getting that third card on the flop.
The odds of getting that third card to fill your set decrease dramatically after the flop. In fact, the odds of seeing that third card by the River are only about 9%.
These statistics apply to all pairs and not just to small pairs.
So, if you are holding a small pair use common sense and watch your betting. Try to see the flop as cheaply as possible. If you hit your set on the flop, then go for it! If you do not hit your set on the flop, consider folding before putting anymore money into the pot. More often than not, you will be glad you did.
In general, there are no hard and fast rules that say what constitutes a low pair. For my own reasons, I consider anything below a 6 to be a low pair. As you gain experience and learn your own style of play you will be able to set your own standards as to what is a low pair and what is not.
One of the most useful tips that I can share with new players is this: 90% of the time (and this is especially true if you are holding a low pair of pre-flop cards) you want to see a cheap flop. What I mean by this is you want to see the flop for as little of your money invested as possible. Put another way, if you’re holding a pair of 3’s you want to see the flop but you do NOT want to put in a lot of money (by calling big bets or raising) in order to see that flop.
The key to remember is that a low pair has potential for becoming a huge hand if you pick up a set (another card matching yours comes up, giving you three-of-a-kind) or a quad (two matching cards come up on the flop, giving you four-of-a-kind) or a full-house, but the important word here is potential. Until you see the flop all you have is a lowly pair, and in a ten-handed game and even in a seven-handed game, that generally isn’t worth very much, and the lower the cards, the less they are worth. Keep in mind that a pair of 4’s will beat that pair of 3’s.
Again, we come back to position play and why it is important to always know where you are in relation to the Button. If you are the first person to act (meaning, you are first to either call the blind and play or fold) you must exercise caution. In fact, this is true with low pairs if you are seated anywhere on the first half of the table. The reason for this is simple. If you are the first to play (or even the second, third, or fourth) all the others players behind you will have the option to raise the bet, forcing you to put even more money in before seeing the flop. If you are playing with aggressive betters, the cost can skyrocket in no time at all. Now if you are sitting there (pre-flop) with a pair of King’s or a pair of Ace’s you might welcome that aggressive betting. But with a small pair in your hand, it can spell doom, real quick.
It is worth repeating. The key to playing small pairs is to see the flop for as little money as possible. A well-disciplined player will happily fold a small pair if the betting becomes too rich. Why will they do this? Experienced players will reason that aggressive betting before the flop usually (not always, but usually) represents a player with a strong hand, and in many cases, it may be two or three players with strong hands.
But what if you are holding a small pair and you are at the far end of the table line? Perhaps you are in the blinds (either the big blind or the small blind) or perhaps you are on the Button itself. What do you do in that case?
Well, it depends. If everyone else has folded, you would want to call the blind and see a flop. If only one or two earlier players have called the blinds (but not raised) you may want to go ahead and call yourself to see the flop as well. However, if one player has made a big raise or if several other players have called and or raised, then you go with your gut, and in most cases, your gut should be saying, “Fold”.
If you are in the blinds and can see the flop for a small additional amount of money, then go for it. If you hit your set, you will be in a very good position to probably win the hand.
If you don’t hit your set on the flop, it is time to think hard about folding your hand unless the other players check and you can check as well. If you can see a free card, see one.
It’s important to understand that you have about a 12% chance of hitting your set on the flop. Another way of looking at this is you have about a 1-in-8 chance of getting that third card on the flop.
The odds of getting that third card to fill your set decrease dramatically after the flop. In fact, the odds of seeing that third card by the River are only about 9%.
These statistics apply to all pairs and not just to small pairs.
So, if you are holding a small pair use common sense and watch your betting. Try to see the flop as cheaply as possible. If you hit your set on the flop, then go for it! If you do not hit your set on the flop, consider folding before putting anymore money into the pot. More often than not, you will be glad you did.
Poker Book Review: A Guide To Texas Holdem
At a time when new poker books are pouring onto store shelves, Dennis Purdy is the first author to offer a unique approach to learning poker with The Illustrated Guide to Texas Hold'Em. The former gambling pro uses a visual problem-solving approach rather than a textual approach at teaching poker strategy.
The first three chapters of the guide start off very similarly to many beginner books on the poker market, covering the basic rules of how to play Hold'Em, what you might wear to a table, how much you should buy-in for and some rules of good poker etiquette. The fourth chapter presents eight brief rules of 'good basic poker strategy' followed by a detailed explanation of actual odds and pot odds. Chapter five is where this book becomes unique as the next 300 pages are filled with 150 different, illustrated Texas Hold'Em poker scenarios, matched with the author's answer to each of the practice situations! Purdy ends the book with a noteworthy 30 page poker terminology glossary.
The cover indicates that this guide may make a winner out of an advanced player but this book was really designed to captivate those unlikely readers that shy away from the other poker books already published. The introduction warns that this book is not 'targeted towards sophisticated and knowledgeable players', and I would agree. Advanced players will find too many examples stating 'the obvious' like situation #2: folding 27 offsuit before the flop.
Purdy's advice is mostly in-line with most other poker authors however there are certainly some debatable answers to a few of his problems (i.e. Problem #46 suggests to cap the betting with 36s pre-flop?). There is often more than one correct way to play any individual poker hand however I sometimes found myself wondering why Purdy would suggest such advanced plays, especially since these situations can be easily misinterpreted by new players. The intention of this guide may have been to give definitive situational advice to poker scenarios, however, I suggest that readers actually place more importance on the general strategy advice given in the answers rather than the specific action to take. It's really the whole strategic approach you take to the game that will make the most difference in your results.
The visual representation of each of the poker situations is by far this book's greatest asset. I personally know readers to have picked up this book after ignoring the other acclaimed texts on the premise of its simple and fun-looking learning method. Another quality point is that no commitment is needed as the reader can easily review a couple pages and put the book back down again without losing the value of the material. The teaching pattern also follows through with its ideas, enabling the reader to encounter the same notions and strategies in various problems throughout the book (for example, each of situations #17, #38 & #148 address folding small pocket pairs in early position before the flop).
Due to the popular nature of problem solving game books, this style of teaching poker is expected to appeal to many players and will most likely be adopted in more books to come. Like many books of its nature, The Illustrated guide to Texas Hold'Em is not recommended as the only book to teach you sound poker strategy, but as a visual practice supplement for those players not interested in studying the more technical texts. Readers that insist on keeping the fun and excitement first and foremost in their poker education will appreciate this chance to learn without being bogged down with abstract concepts or complicated terminology.
The first three chapters of the guide start off very similarly to many beginner books on the poker market, covering the basic rules of how to play Hold'Em, what you might wear to a table, how much you should buy-in for and some rules of good poker etiquette. The fourth chapter presents eight brief rules of 'good basic poker strategy' followed by a detailed explanation of actual odds and pot odds. Chapter five is where this book becomes unique as the next 300 pages are filled with 150 different, illustrated Texas Hold'Em poker scenarios, matched with the author's answer to each of the practice situations! Purdy ends the book with a noteworthy 30 page poker terminology glossary.
The cover indicates that this guide may make a winner out of an advanced player but this book was really designed to captivate those unlikely readers that shy away from the other poker books already published. The introduction warns that this book is not 'targeted towards sophisticated and knowledgeable players', and I would agree. Advanced players will find too many examples stating 'the obvious' like situation #2: folding 27 offsuit before the flop.
Purdy's advice is mostly in-line with most other poker authors however there are certainly some debatable answers to a few of his problems (i.e. Problem #46 suggests to cap the betting with 36s pre-flop?). There is often more than one correct way to play any individual poker hand however I sometimes found myself wondering why Purdy would suggest such advanced plays, especially since these situations can be easily misinterpreted by new players. The intention of this guide may have been to give definitive situational advice to poker scenarios, however, I suggest that readers actually place more importance on the general strategy advice given in the answers rather than the specific action to take. It's really the whole strategic approach you take to the game that will make the most difference in your results.
The visual representation of each of the poker situations is by far this book's greatest asset. I personally know readers to have picked up this book after ignoring the other acclaimed texts on the premise of its simple and fun-looking learning method. Another quality point is that no commitment is needed as the reader can easily review a couple pages and put the book back down again without losing the value of the material. The teaching pattern also follows through with its ideas, enabling the reader to encounter the same notions and strategies in various problems throughout the book (for example, each of situations #17, #38 & #148 address folding small pocket pairs in early position before the flop).
Due to the popular nature of problem solving game books, this style of teaching poker is expected to appeal to many players and will most likely be adopted in more books to come. Like many books of its nature, The Illustrated guide to Texas Hold'Em is not recommended as the only book to teach you sound poker strategy, but as a visual practice supplement for those players not interested in studying the more technical texts. Readers that insist on keeping the fun and excitement first and foremost in their poker education will appreciate this chance to learn without being bogged down with abstract concepts or complicated terminology.
Being Suited - Important In Texas Holdem
Having suited cards when playing Texas Holdem can give you a definite advantage. Being suited allows cards that under normal circumstances might be thrown in the muck to suddenly become playable.
Hands like QTs, JTs, T9s, 98s, 87s, 76s, or even K9s, Q9s, J9s and so can be played in late position when the pot is sure to be multiway, and have a much better chance of winning compared to their unsuited counterparts.
You might be asking yourself, is there really that big of a difference between K9 suited, and K9 offsuit. The answer is a definite YES!
Even if the difference of winning only changes from say 16 percent to 20 percent, this is not just a 4 percent increase, but is a 25% increase! The value of being able to make a flush can turn a loss into a win. Even in pots with 6 or 7 people involved, a flush will usually be good enough to win you the pot. While flushes don't come in often, when they do the rewards can be enormous.
Another benefit to suitedness is having redraws in situations like when you might only have one pair. In these situations, your holding is very vulnerable to someone else making a bigger pair or making two pair or better on the turn or river. Having suited cards can often give you the opportunity to make a flush even when your one pair is drawn out on, and still win the pot.
Another thing to think about in multiway pots is that with more people involved, the likelyhood of one or more of them having suited cards goes up. This puts an unsuited hand at a disadvantage that a suited hand wouldn't face. Playing hands like Q8o or A5o in large multiway pots gives your opponents a big head start if they hold suited cards. This is a large starting gap to overcome that sometimes even the best players aren't able to do.
If you ARE going to play offsuit cards in texas holdem, then make sure that they have big card value. A hand like AQo is affected less by the fact that it isn't suited because it's other obvious benefits make up for the disadvantage of being offsuit.
Basically, if you are ever unsure of whether or not you should get involved, be more inclined to play suited hands than unsuited ones.
HOWEVER - this doesn't mean that just because a hand is suited, you can play it in any situation. A weak hand like J5 is trash regardless of whether it is suited or not. Being suited does improve the strength of your hand, but this doesn't give you an excuse to play bad cards just because they are of the same suit.
In short: Being suited in holdem will offer you a greater chance of making money in multiway pots than unsuited ones, and can make a marginal hand like Q9 playable.
Hands like QTs, JTs, T9s, 98s, 87s, 76s, or even K9s, Q9s, J9s and so can be played in late position when the pot is sure to be multiway, and have a much better chance of winning compared to their unsuited counterparts.
You might be asking yourself, is there really that big of a difference between K9 suited, and K9 offsuit. The answer is a definite YES!
Even if the difference of winning only changes from say 16 percent to 20 percent, this is not just a 4 percent increase, but is a 25% increase! The value of being able to make a flush can turn a loss into a win. Even in pots with 6 or 7 people involved, a flush will usually be good enough to win you the pot. While flushes don't come in often, when they do the rewards can be enormous.
Another benefit to suitedness is having redraws in situations like when you might only have one pair. In these situations, your holding is very vulnerable to someone else making a bigger pair or making two pair or better on the turn or river. Having suited cards can often give you the opportunity to make a flush even when your one pair is drawn out on, and still win the pot.
Another thing to think about in multiway pots is that with more people involved, the likelyhood of one or more of them having suited cards goes up. This puts an unsuited hand at a disadvantage that a suited hand wouldn't face. Playing hands like Q8o or A5o in large multiway pots gives your opponents a big head start if they hold suited cards. This is a large starting gap to overcome that sometimes even the best players aren't able to do.
If you ARE going to play offsuit cards in texas holdem, then make sure that they have big card value. A hand like AQo is affected less by the fact that it isn't suited because it's other obvious benefits make up for the disadvantage of being offsuit.
Basically, if you are ever unsure of whether or not you should get involved, be more inclined to play suited hands than unsuited ones.
HOWEVER - this doesn't mean that just because a hand is suited, you can play it in any situation. A weak hand like J5 is trash regardless of whether it is suited or not. Being suited does improve the strength of your hand, but this doesn't give you an excuse to play bad cards just because they are of the same suit.
In short: Being suited in holdem will offer you a greater chance of making money in multiway pots than unsuited ones, and can make a marginal hand like Q9 playable.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Spying on Texas Holdem Poker Opponents
While we all know that the game of poker, is all about taking a chance, many people have developed techniques and strategies that can help you improve your game of poker. The key to being a successful poker playing is having extensive knowledge of the specific poker game you play, the better you understand the game, the better understanding you will have about the players along side of you. This is important to mastering the game of poker and can mean every difference in the world between win or lose when it comes time to play.
Yes, your poker game can only be as good as the hand you are dealt; however, a crucial part of the game is how you play the hand in the first place. Being able to understand and recognize the strategies and tells of the opponents near you, as well as understanding why they play poker in the way that they do, helps you understand which decisions you should be making. Of course, if you simply have a bad hand dealt to you, you will have no choice but to lose, but you can still try to win.
The key to success when it comes to placing your wagers is watching your opponents. Poker wagers are not one size fits all, therefore, there is no specific tip on how you should be wagering. Any advice you are given is all the result of common sense and will greatly depend on which variant of poker you ware playing at the time. That being said, here are some tips that you should think about while playing poker.
Watch and access the other players. This creates an advantage for you, if you can understand how the other players act and respond in a variety of situations. The games outcome generally depends on how each player responds to the other players. You should keep in mind that, yes, you are watching everyone else, but they are probably watching you at the same time.
When it comes to poker tells, watch for them. Without even realizing it, when confronted with certain situations a player may make a facial expression or perform a gesture. This can be habit forming and something you should be watching for. The perfect example of this is perhaps when a player is bluffing they may unconsciously put their hand to their face. As you play more often with specific players, you will tend to notice this action and realize what the actions means.
However, this is not fool proof, because other players know you are watching them and their actions, they may perform what are called 'false tells', just to throw you off track. Players want to make you believe they have a horrible hand, to keep you betting, however, in reality they have a killer hand.
The more you play with the same people, the better you will come to know them and their characteristics during the game of poker. This is even true when it comes to online poker.
Online poker, is not played in a personal setting, in other words you are not able to see the actual players face in general. However, it is still possible to identify certain tells. An example of this may be lengthy pauses before taking any type of action. When it comes to poker and playing a good game, it is crucial that you understand your opponents and how to read them.
Yes, your poker game can only be as good as the hand you are dealt; however, a crucial part of the game is how you play the hand in the first place. Being able to understand and recognize the strategies and tells of the opponents near you, as well as understanding why they play poker in the way that they do, helps you understand which decisions you should be making. Of course, if you simply have a bad hand dealt to you, you will have no choice but to lose, but you can still try to win.
The key to success when it comes to placing your wagers is watching your opponents. Poker wagers are not one size fits all, therefore, there is no specific tip on how you should be wagering. Any advice you are given is all the result of common sense and will greatly depend on which variant of poker you ware playing at the time. That being said, here are some tips that you should think about while playing poker.
Watch and access the other players. This creates an advantage for you, if you can understand how the other players act and respond in a variety of situations. The games outcome generally depends on how each player responds to the other players. You should keep in mind that, yes, you are watching everyone else, but they are probably watching you at the same time.
When it comes to poker tells, watch for them. Without even realizing it, when confronted with certain situations a player may make a facial expression or perform a gesture. This can be habit forming and something you should be watching for. The perfect example of this is perhaps when a player is bluffing they may unconsciously put their hand to their face. As you play more often with specific players, you will tend to notice this action and realize what the actions means.
However, this is not fool proof, because other players know you are watching them and their actions, they may perform what are called 'false tells', just to throw you off track. Players want to make you believe they have a horrible hand, to keep you betting, however, in reality they have a killer hand.
The more you play with the same people, the better you will come to know them and their characteristics during the game of poker. This is even true when it comes to online poker.
Online poker, is not played in a personal setting, in other words you are not able to see the actual players face in general. However, it is still possible to identify certain tells. An example of this may be lengthy pauses before taking any type of action. When it comes to poker and playing a good game, it is crucial that you understand your opponents and how to read them.
Friday, October 5, 2007
Texas Holdem Poker Secret Betting Strategies
When it comes to poker, there is no shortage of poker variants or the methods in which it is played, such as online at home or in a busy casino. The key to poker is understanding that while the basic concept of the game always remains the same throughout, each variant carries its own set of rules and strategy. However, with every game of poker one person wins, the one with the best hand.
The key good poker playing is developing a strategy. In general, most poker players, play to win, it is hard to imagine anyone playing to lose, particularly when you are placing your hard-earned money in the pot. Developing your strategy allows you to maximize your winnings, while minimizing your risks. In this article, we discuss two different poker types, no-limit, and limit.
Beginners enjoy and benefit from limit poker particular because there is a previously determined amount of money a person can bet. For the more advance players, no-limit is the name of the game, because with all in bets, the pots become huge and even if you do not have the great of pokers hands, you can still win it. This is where a strategy comes in handy, in no-limit poker. It is advisable for those still learning poker, that they avoid no-limit poker games, simply because any mistake could end up costing you a great deal of money.
Building a Strategy in No-limit Texas Holdem Poker
The all in betting, in no-limit Texas Holdem Poker, is how experienced players take charge, dominate a position, and intimidate their opponents. This strategy works for many players and if mastered, can be used to your advantage.
If you ever watch players in a no-limit Texas Holdem poker game, you will notice they tend to go 'all in when they have the ability to steal the pot from their opponents. It is essential that you never follow this strategy unless certain conditions have been met within your poker hand.
If the other player calls on you, you want outs. Meaning you should ensure that there are still some cards that may help you in winning the current hand, within the deck. No matter if the odds are good or bad, you still need to ensure you have outs.
You should also have a good ability to read the actions of your opponents. In other words, you should be confident enough in your ability to read that you know for sure the player will likely fold, before stealing the pot.
A lesser important factor among these tips, is ensuring you have a good position. However, in order to accurately read your opponents, you should be in a good position.
As you can tell, knowing if your opponent will fold is the key to this strategy. With no-limit poker, aggressive hand playing will likely lead to bets being much higher. It is for this reason that you should be playing aggressively against players who hold a shorter stack than yours. This makes sure that even if you were to lose the match, you are still playing the game. Opponents with shorter stacks allow you to lessen your risks, this is yet another benefit of using this strategy.
Regardless of which strategy you choose to implement into your poker game, it is crucial to remember that you should have the ability to accurately read your opponents and their habits. Another important factor to remember, obviously, is that different games, different opponents, and different situations will all require different strategies.
The key good poker playing is developing a strategy. In general, most poker players, play to win, it is hard to imagine anyone playing to lose, particularly when you are placing your hard-earned money in the pot. Developing your strategy allows you to maximize your winnings, while minimizing your risks. In this article, we discuss two different poker types, no-limit, and limit.
Beginners enjoy and benefit from limit poker particular because there is a previously determined amount of money a person can bet. For the more advance players, no-limit is the name of the game, because with all in bets, the pots become huge and even if you do not have the great of pokers hands, you can still win it. This is where a strategy comes in handy, in no-limit poker. It is advisable for those still learning poker, that they avoid no-limit poker games, simply because any mistake could end up costing you a great deal of money.
Building a Strategy in No-limit Texas Holdem Poker
The all in betting, in no-limit Texas Holdem Poker, is how experienced players take charge, dominate a position, and intimidate their opponents. This strategy works for many players and if mastered, can be used to your advantage.
If you ever watch players in a no-limit Texas Holdem poker game, you will notice they tend to go 'all in when they have the ability to steal the pot from their opponents. It is essential that you never follow this strategy unless certain conditions have been met within your poker hand.
If the other player calls on you, you want outs. Meaning you should ensure that there are still some cards that may help you in winning the current hand, within the deck. No matter if the odds are good or bad, you still need to ensure you have outs.
You should also have a good ability to read the actions of your opponents. In other words, you should be confident enough in your ability to read that you know for sure the player will likely fold, before stealing the pot.
A lesser important factor among these tips, is ensuring you have a good position. However, in order to accurately read your opponents, you should be in a good position.
As you can tell, knowing if your opponent will fold is the key to this strategy. With no-limit poker, aggressive hand playing will likely lead to bets being much higher. It is for this reason that you should be playing aggressively against players who hold a shorter stack than yours. This makes sure that even if you were to lose the match, you are still playing the game. Opponents with shorter stacks allow you to lessen your risks, this is yet another benefit of using this strategy.
Regardless of which strategy you choose to implement into your poker game, it is crucial to remember that you should have the ability to accurately read your opponents and their habits. Another important factor to remember, obviously, is that different games, different opponents, and different situations will all require different strategies.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Texas Hold'em - Rise And Resurrection
Texas Hold'em poker has found its spot in the limelight as a premier form of poker. In the United States, everyone is playing Texas Hold'em from groups of friends at parties to celebrities in tournaments. Texas Hold'em may have started out as just another poker game, but it has been resurrected into the most popular form of poker in the United States.
Texas Hold'em first caught interest in 1999. A television show in the United Kingdom, called the Late Night Poker TV Show brought Texas Hold'em attention as a spectator sport. Although this brought some attention it was a meager beginning to the game. Texas Hold'em would see its popularity really began to gain ground when it was introduced on another TV arena, the World Series of Poker.
The World Series of Poker has been credited with the resurrection and amazing popularity of Texas Hold'em poker. An amateur player named Chris Moneymaker won the World Series of Poker or WSOP. Mr. Moneymaker started in the game through online poker websites. The idea that anyone could play and win big with this game was part of what drew people to it. The WSOP saw the number of people entering the tournament triple between 2003 and 2004. Every year since then the WSOP has seen entrant levels rise and the winning prize values keep going up. The interest in the WSOP and Texas Hold'em poker has not wavered and the prediction is that interests in it will continue to rise.
Hollywood has played its part in introducing and making Texas Hold'em poker popular with the public. The 1998 movie "Rounders" was based on Texas Hold'em poker and the life of professional players. This movie gave Texas Hold'em poker the nickname of the "Cadillac of Poker". Even James Bond has been brought into the world of Texas Hold'em. In the upcoming James Bond film, Casino Royale, the card game originally played, Baccarat, will now be changed to Texas Hold'em because it is trendier. Hollywood is always following the trends and when moviegoers see Texas Hold'em on the big screen it can only mean good things for this poker game.
Texas Hold'em is the most popular card game in the United States as of 2005. It is the most played form of poker in US casinos and the main event for the World Series of Poker. The rest of the world may not give as much credit to the game, but with celebrities jumping in to play, Texas Hold'em has no limits in where its popularity may reach.
Texas Hold'em first caught interest in 1999. A television show in the United Kingdom, called the Late Night Poker TV Show brought Texas Hold'em attention as a spectator sport. Although this brought some attention it was a meager beginning to the game. Texas Hold'em would see its popularity really began to gain ground when it was introduced on another TV arena, the World Series of Poker.
The World Series of Poker has been credited with the resurrection and amazing popularity of Texas Hold'em poker. An amateur player named Chris Moneymaker won the World Series of Poker or WSOP. Mr. Moneymaker started in the game through online poker websites. The idea that anyone could play and win big with this game was part of what drew people to it. The WSOP saw the number of people entering the tournament triple between 2003 and 2004. Every year since then the WSOP has seen entrant levels rise and the winning prize values keep going up. The interest in the WSOP and Texas Hold'em poker has not wavered and the prediction is that interests in it will continue to rise.
Hollywood has played its part in introducing and making Texas Hold'em poker popular with the public. The 1998 movie "Rounders" was based on Texas Hold'em poker and the life of professional players. This movie gave Texas Hold'em poker the nickname of the "Cadillac of Poker". Even James Bond has been brought into the world of Texas Hold'em. In the upcoming James Bond film, Casino Royale, the card game originally played, Baccarat, will now be changed to Texas Hold'em because it is trendier. Hollywood is always following the trends and when moviegoers see Texas Hold'em on the big screen it can only mean good things for this poker game.
Texas Hold'em is the most popular card game in the United States as of 2005. It is the most played form of poker in US casinos and the main event for the World Series of Poker. The rest of the world may not give as much credit to the game, but with celebrities jumping in to play, Texas Hold'em has no limits in where its popularity may reach.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
The History Of Texas Holdem Poker
Over time Texas Hold'em poker has become a popular pastime throughout the world, as it features players from all over the world who can even compete in tournaments for large amounts of money. But before today the game has made several different changes to get it to where it is today. The history of Texas Hold'em poker is one that is long and has evolved over time through many countries. Throughout the history of Texas Hold'em poker the game has featured many additions, but the substance of the game is still the same.
The history of Texas Hold'em poker originated around the middle of the tenth century in China. Mu-tsung, the emperor of the country at the time, was a fan of the game of "domino cards," which is the first time in the history of Texas Hold'em poker that the game or a variation of it was recorded. The history of Texas Hold'em poker continued to evolve across the world, as cards found in Egypt dating back to around the thirteenth century appear to be similar to cards used in the game today. This has caused for many to believe that the game originated from ganjifa, a card game that was popular in India, thus spreading the reach of the history of Texas Hold'em poker.
The history of Texas Hold'em poker continued into Persia. The game "as nas" has some similarities to Texas Hold'em poker in that it is a game that uses five cards in each hand. A major difference between the two games, however, is that in "as nas" only twenty five cards were used, and there were five suits of cards as well. It is also considered in the history of Texas Hold'em poker that the Persians taught the Germans this game during the seventeenth century. The Germans then spread the game, which was referred to by them as "pochen," to France. The French then referred to the game as "poque," and the habit of bluffing was then created as part of the strategy by the French.
The history of Texas Hold'em poker eventually moved into the United States. When settling in the French town of New Orleans the French would travel along the Mississippi River and played the game around there. Also, the people would teach others who were interested how to play the game. This would then by spread by people who learned the game through settlements and other towns in the country.
The most important moment in the history of Texas Hold'em poker occurred during the American Civil War. During this time the Americans began to use the traditional English set of cards for the game, meaning that the normal fifty two cards in four suits that are used today began to be used. The last major part of the history of Texas Hold'em poker came in 1875, when a wild card for the game was introduced. This wild card is better known as the joker card.
The history of Texas Hold'em poker originated around the middle of the tenth century in China. Mu-tsung, the emperor of the country at the time, was a fan of the game of "domino cards," which is the first time in the history of Texas Hold'em poker that the game or a variation of it was recorded. The history of Texas Hold'em poker continued to evolve across the world, as cards found in Egypt dating back to around the thirteenth century appear to be similar to cards used in the game today. This has caused for many to believe that the game originated from ganjifa, a card game that was popular in India, thus spreading the reach of the history of Texas Hold'em poker.
The history of Texas Hold'em poker continued into Persia. The game "as nas" has some similarities to Texas Hold'em poker in that it is a game that uses five cards in each hand. A major difference between the two games, however, is that in "as nas" only twenty five cards were used, and there were five suits of cards as well. It is also considered in the history of Texas Hold'em poker that the Persians taught the Germans this game during the seventeenth century. The Germans then spread the game, which was referred to by them as "pochen," to France. The French then referred to the game as "poque," and the habit of bluffing was then created as part of the strategy by the French.
The history of Texas Hold'em poker eventually moved into the United States. When settling in the French town of New Orleans the French would travel along the Mississippi River and played the game around there. Also, the people would teach others who were interested how to play the game. This would then by spread by people who learned the game through settlements and other towns in the country.
The most important moment in the history of Texas Hold'em poker occurred during the American Civil War. During this time the Americans began to use the traditional English set of cards for the game, meaning that the normal fifty two cards in four suits that are used today began to be used. The last major part of the history of Texas Hold'em poker came in 1875, when a wild card for the game was introduced. This wild card is better known as the joker card.
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