Basic Poker Strategy
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Key Poker Skills
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Starting Hands
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Position
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Bluffing
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Pot Odds
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Tilt
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Beginner Mistakes
Key Poker Skills
Math skills
To be a good poker player, you need to know general percentages. For example, you should know that you have about a 1 in 8 chance of hitting a set when holding a pocket pair, and that you have about a 1 in 3 chance of completing a flush draw at the flop.
Poker players need to know the importance of
outs. Outs are the number of cards that will improve your hand. Count your outs, multiply them by two, and add one, and that's roughly the percentage shot you have at hitting.
Good poker players can figure out the
pot odds. Knowing your outs is one thing, but it is meaningless unless it's translated into calculated betting.
Discipline
In order to win steadily at poker, the most important skill to master is discipline. Indeed, all other skills are dependent on discipline. You must have the discipline to wait for a good hand, a good game, the right opportunity, etc. Discipline means that you do not play in games where you lack edge, that you refrain from playing hands that will get you into trouble, that you manage your money expertly and that you learn from your mistakes. It is imperative that you keep your emotions under control at all times and not go on
tilt. Do not, under any circumstances, play drunk or when you are tired or emotionally troubled. As well, you should constantly ask yourself if you are playing your best game.
Observation
If you continually study your opponents, you will learn a lot. Most of the time you spend playing you will not be involved in a hand, and you should use that time to observe your opponents. Watch how each player plays their hand and use that information against them. It is important to listen to what they say. A lot of players will tell you what kind of hand they threw away or why they played a hand in a certain way. Try to figure out what they are holding and put them on hands whether you are involved in the pot or not. Consequently, when you are playing a hand with them, you will know what their checks, bets, calls and raises mean. Pay equal attention to your own game and think of your table image at all times. You will notice that some players do not examine the game at all and, therefore, your table image is virtually non-existent when playing against them. Just as you search for tells in your opponents, look for tells in yourself. When you spot one in an opponent, consider whether or not you are displaying that very same tell.
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Starting Hands
The first thing you must understand in order to be a successful Texas Hold'em player is which hands are good and which are bad. You should also consider the number of people in the game and the type of game, but here is a general guide to use if you are just starting out and want to be a winning player at the lower limit tables.
Hands to raise with
These are the best starting hands and you want to create a big pot before the flop.
AA, KK, QQ, AK, JJ, AQ, TT
Hands to call with
You want to see the flop with these hands and then decide. Do not call three bets with these hands, call only one or two.
AJ, KQ, QJ, JT, T9 (suited), 99, 88, 77, Ax (suited)
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Position
Your position at the table is simply your position in relation to the dealer. The dealer is at the most advantageous position, as he/she gets to see how all the players at the table react before making their own decision. The person to the left of the dealer is not only the small blind, but must act first after the flop. The person to the left of the small blind is the big blind. This person is already obligated to the game and is in another early position.
The person to the left of the big blind acts first before board cards are dealt. This is often referred to as "being under the gun". The clockwise motion of play allows those who act later (in late position) to be at an advantage. As a result, those in late position can play weaker hands or
gambling hands with less fear of financial obligation or loss.
The blind positions and the player under the gun (early positions) must be more selective with their hands, as they don't have the privilege of watching other players betting/raising before they must decide if they want to stay in themselves.
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Bluffing
Bluffing is almost useless in a low limit game. There is no point in scaring people out of the pot since people will rarely fold. However, bluffing can be very effective at higher limit or no limit games. Here are some of the things you should consider when deciding whether to bluff or not:
Type of opponent
Make sure that your opponent is a good enough player to fold a hand. You should not bluff with weak opponents who call with anything.
Number of opponents
In general, you should not bluff when there are three or more active players. A bluff is much more likely to succeed against one opponent, not only because it is just one player, but also because the pot is usually smaller and less desirable.
Your table image
A bluff is less likely to succeed if you have a loose table image rather than a tight one. If you were recently caught bluffing, your opponents will be more likely to call you in the future.
The board
If the board looks like it could have hit your opponents or presents many drawing possibilities, a bluff is less likely to succeed. The bluff is more likely to succeed if you can represent a hand. An uncoordinated board with one scare card that you can represent is usually a good bluffing opportunity.
The size of the pot
Your opponents will be more prone to call if the pot is big because they get better pot odds. On the other hand, if you make a successful bluff in a big pot the reward will also be bigger.
Position
If you are sitting in late position, you will usually have more access to information regarding your opponents' hands and, thus, will be in a better situation to bluff.
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Pot Odds
Pot odds is the relationship between the size of the pot and the size of the bet. To calculate the pot odds, you divide the size of the pot at the river (i.e. the current pot plus the amount of money that you think will be added through future bets) by the amount you have to put in. Once you know your pot odds, you have to use this information appropriately. You do this by connecting the pot odds to the value of your hand. This means you are able to put your opponents on likely hands and understand your chances of making a better hand than them. For example, you have a flush draw on the flop in Hold'em and you are up against an opponent who you think has at least top-pair. There are nine cards (or outs) that will give you a flush when you have flopped a four flush. This means you have a 35% chance (2:1 against) of making the flush on the turn and river combined. As a result, you need at least pot odds of 2:1 to call a bet on the flop.
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Tilt
Being on tilt means letting your emotions disrupt your ability to play. All poker players go on tilt at least once during their career, but limiting these episodes is essential to winning at poker. Poker is a game that requires reason. People who get upset and don't stay focused and reasonable will often lose all the money they brought to the table. Generally, most players tilt due to a bad beat or if they just can't seem to win a hand. Some players have a slight tilt after they win a big hand or two, but those episodes are usually much shorter than tilts caused by losing.
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Beginner Mistakes
Playing too many hands
When people sit down in a game, they want to play. Learning to fold the mediocre hands is essential if you want to be a successful poker player.
Being emotional at the table
You should never let your emotions make decisions for you. If you feel that you're going on tilt, it's usually a good idea to fold a few hands and take the time to calm yourself down. This way you will avoid making bad decisions and losing a lot of money.
Not using pot odds
Pot odds can help you determine if you should call to see the next card on the board. Few beginners understand pot odds, and they often call too much.
Overvaluing suited hands
Having a suited hand is a plus. However, you should not play a hand just because it is suited. The first two things to consider about a starting hand are the ranks of the cards and if the cards are paired. These are by far the most important factors in the value of a hand. After this, you should consider if they are suited or connecting.
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