What is Texas Hold 'em? 5 Useful Tips to Dominate the Opposition!

What is Texas Hold ‘em? How to Dominate the Online Opposition 5 tips

What is Texas Hold ‘em and why is it so popular now?

Texas Hold ‘em began as a variation of seven card stud called Texas Hold ‘em seven card stud back in the 1920’s. Each player is given two cards, face down prior to the “flop.” They will be betting these two cards for the remainder of the hand. After the betting phase, the dealer will flop 3 community cards face up in the middle of the table. These cards can be used by each player still in play to make their hand. After an additional round of betting where players starting left of the dealer or dealer chip (following the large and small blinds; to learn more about blinds please visit the free play section at http://PokerPlay.notlong.com), the dealer will turn face up the “turn” or fourth community card. Players will measure their 2 secret or “hold” cards to make the best 5 card hand with the current community cards. An additional round of betting will take place and the dealer will flip the fifth and final “river” card. After the final round of betting, players will reveal their two hold cards and whichever hand is better will take down the pot of chips.

Texas Hold ‘em has gained an explosion of popularity in recent years more so than any other variation of poker due simply to the coverage it has got with the media. The “No-limit” pot betting style of most Tournament-type Hold ‘em games makes it very attractive to gamblers of all walks of life. The idea that you make or break your earnings on one hand makes this game very attractive if you know what you are doing. Online Texas Hold ‘em has become even more popular because of the convenience of sitting in your bedroom, away from the atmosphere of a loud and smokey casino, and making money.

Some quick tips that I have found useful in making money online:

1.      Weed out the 1 and done’ers! - Starting out, play tables with a low entry fee and wait out the impatient ones. People who play 5-10 dollar buy-in tables, overwhelmingly are impatient. They bet very high, very early in attempt to either make or break their bank so if they win, they can just wait out a top 3 finish and make money, and if they lose, they can move on to the next table and do it again. Play conservatively when someone bets really high (10X big blind or more) early in a game (even if you have good hands, and especially pre-flop). You will weed out those players and stand a better chance of winning. I personally am an advocate of conservative play in online games because a lot of times in the online arena, people get impatient and either go all-in, or early exit the game for no reason.

2.      Playing your blinds effectively – Being in a blind, especially the Big Blind gives you slight pre-advantage into the hand but don’t read too much into it. A lot of people think that because they have a blind in, they are obligated to play the hand regardless. Feel free to toss poor-moderate hands in either blind as to avoid future disaster in a hand you did not want a part of in the first place. Unless you are late in a game and the blind makes up a fifth (at least) of your entire chip amount, do not play poor hands hoping for a miracle flop.

3.      Position Raising/ Betting  - As you progress you will learn how your position in relation to the dealer can say a lot about your chances in the hand, regardless of what cards you hold. A good example of a decently used position raise is if you are the dealer or directly right of the dealer. If everyone (or most people) fold behind you. You can make a raise at the pot knowing that you have only the blinds to bet ahead of you. The blinds often call with marginal hands because they feel they are “pot committed” due to the money they have in already. With an average – good hand, you stand a good chance to take the pot down in these cases.

4.      Baiting – often used and very effective way to increase your pot size. A lot of players will bet high early when they see and know that they have a very good, or the best possible hand (the best hand is called “the nuts” in poker slang). If you see on the flop that your hand is unbeatable, a good strategy would be betting the minimum or just calling any previous bet to keep as many players in the hand as possible. Hopefully someone else will catch something and start betting into your monster hand unknowingly. The drawback is when you hand is great but someone draws something better (a river flush, or runner-runner to make their hand) so make sure you are sure your hand is unbeatable.

5.      Knowing your opponents – As you play, pay as much attention to the bets of those around as to your own. Take notice of when each player makes big raises and what they actually end up having (write it down if you have to – online play obviously). Label those who play conservatively and those who bet big and bluff a lot aggressively. This will help you when you get further in the game. And example would be if you know and have labeled a player as conservative and later in the game, they make a sizeable bet at a hand you think you have a chance at, you may want to think twice about betting into this player. Chances are they have you beat.

Further, play often and in any form you can; Online, with your friends, with your family. The more you play, the better you will get. Good luck, and I will see you on the tables!