Texas Holdem has quickly become the most popular casino poker game online or off. At any time, hundreds of real money Texas Hold’em tables are going at sites like Americas Cardroom, the largest online poker room on the Net. It is currently the game you will see televised in such events as the World Series of Poker and The World Poker Tour. Though Holdem looks and plays very simply, many experts agree that it is the most complex of poker games. Due to its complexity, the game can be kind or harsh to beginners and grizzled old warriors alike. The action is fast an furious, with more players, bets, raises and re-raises than many other typical poker games. Winners win big, losers lose big. These factors are the essence of what makes Texas Holdem so enjoyable, and therefore the King at the Casino.

The following is intended to be a basic introduction to and strategy for playing limit Texas Holdem online. For more in depth articles on this topic, keep checking out our other articles in our Poker Strategy section, or visit our sister site at Betting Odds - Graffiti - Podcast and our awesome site that you want to mark now that will have all of the latest bonuses in poker and casino games at BonusBabe.com.

The Button

The button represents the dealer. In home games, no button is needed, as the cards are passed around the table and each player deals in turn. In the casino and in online poker tables, the dealer is a professional or a computer. Hence, the necessity of a “button”. The button moves clockwise around the table after each hand, and the player “on the button” gets his cards last and bets last in each round. Keeping up with the current location of the button is a huge consideration when determining positional strategy.

The Blinds

Texas Holdem has no ante. To force the action without an ante, Holdem uses blind bets. The first 2 players to the left of the button are forced to put in the blind bets. Typically, the first player puts in the small blind, equal to half of the minimum bet, while the second player puts in the big blind, equal to a full minimum bet. For example, in a game of $10/$20 limits, the small blind would be $5 and the big blind would be $10.

The Deal and Betting Rounds

Starting with the first player to the left of the button, each player is dealt 2 cards, face down, called pocket cards. The first two players to the left of the button posts the blinds, and the first round of betting ensues. The first action after the deal is taken by the player to the left of the big blind. He and subsequent players can choose to call the big blinds bet, fold or raise. In most Texas Holdem games, the blinds are live, which means that in the first round of betting, they get a chance to call, check or raise when the action moves around to them. In this sense, the big blind would be the last player to act after the dealing of the pocket cards.

The Flop

The flop is 3 cards laid face up in the center of the table. These cards serve as common cards. Another round of betting ensues, with the first remaining player to the left of the button starting the action.

The Turn

A single card is laid face up, next to the flop, for a total of 4 cards face up. Another betting round occurs, starting with the first player remaining to the left of the button.

The River

A final card is turned face up, bringing the total number of common cards face up on the board to 5. A final round of betting occurs, starting with the first player remaining to the left of the button.

Showdown

After betting is complete and if more than two players remain, a showdown occurs in which the winner is determined by the best five card hand possible using the 5 common cards and each players’ pocket cards. It is entirely possible for the best hand to be completely “on the board,” in which case the remaining players split the pot. It is also possible to have a “tie” in which the players with the same hand strengths split the pot.

After the showdown, the button moves one person clockwise, and the next hand is dealt.

This list is set up for the aggressive player. Though its a good list for any player, some more conservatives might have a tighter list. This list was created with limit holdem in mind. If you play no limit holdem, small pairs will definitely go up in value, as well as suited connectors. Please note the differences between “suited” and “off-suit”. They are off-suit as default unless otherwise noted.

Top Cards:
Ace-Ace (pair of aces)
King-King
Ace-King suited
Queen-Queen
Jack-Jack

When you’re dealt Aces, Kings, or AK suited, you can and should raise and even re-raise before the flop, no matter your position. A pair of queens or jacks you have to be a bit more careful with, but the chances are still huge that you are top hand before the flop. Raise and drive out the draw hands, if there are no raises in front of you.

Strong Cards:
AQ, AJ, A10 (all suited)
AK (off suit or unsuited)
KQ suited
Pair of 10’s
KJ, QJ, J10 all suited
AQ, AJ
Pair of 9’s
KQ
K10 suited, Q10 suited

Why are these strong? If you notice, all have strong flush or straight draw chances, as well as a high face card. The pairs of 10’s or 9’s have to be included simply because of the rarity of being dealt a pocket pair, and these being on the high end.

With strong cards, look to raise in middle or late position, only if noone has raised before you. If you raise in middle position and someone in late position re-raises, be careful. If they’re a strong player they probably have you beat in card strength unless theyre bluffing to try and take the blinds and antes.

Decent Pocket Cards:
Pair of 8’s
Jack-9, 10-9 both suited
Pair of 7’s
9-8, 8-7 both suited
Ace and any other suited card
KJ, QJ, J10

Dont bother raising with these cards unless everyone in front of you has folded. Also be careful playing these in middle position. Honestly, you probably want to see the flop as cheaply as possible. These cards can turn into monster hands though, because of their deceptive value. If you have a reputation as a strong player, other players wont be expecting you to make a straight with a 9-8. Another reason to at least play these cards sometimes is to keep yourself from getting a reputation as a “Rock”. If you only play nut cards and everytime you raise, everyone else folds, you’re missing out on some big bucks.

Barely Playable Pocket Cards
Any pair, 6’s and under
Connected suited cards, not shown above (ie. 4-5 suited)
A10, K10, Q10
K9, Q9, both suited

These cards have to have serious help from the board to win. If you can get to the flop cheap it can be worth it though, as these are draw hands to flushes and straights, and you may hit trips with your low pair. These cards can make good bluff hands when you’re “on the button,” and everyone in front of you has either folded or called the blinds, because they at least hold some potential for a good hand…so its not a complete bluff. But be warned. These are “play and pray” cards. In low limit games they might be worth it. But if you play these cards every time, you’ll see your chip stack sink fast.

All other cards not mentioned above are complete trash. Fold ‘em.

Feel free to print this list and by all means make amendments or trash it and make your own. Keep in mind, card strength is relative and depends on so many other factors. What might be great pocket cards in a tight game, may lose some value in a loose game where 3 people hold on to garbage hands hoping for a miracle board, no matter how many times you raise them. Other factors include your position, your total chips vs. your opponents, and the limits of the game.

Besides the dealing of the pocket cards, and your decision to fold or hold them, the Flop is probably the most important moment in Texas Holdem. Three cards hit the board, often making “nut” hands out of weak pocket cards, and at times, making strong pocket cards useless. Your ability to read the flop will be a huge factor in your success in Texas Holdem.

Flopping 3 of a Kind

At the suggestion of a recent visitor, I am going to make a difference between “flopping a set“ and “flopping trips.“ First, flopping a set would be a situation where you hold a strong pair, such as KK, and the river comes K-A-6. Your monster 3 Kings are hidden, and anyone with an Ace is probably going to be putting in a raise, seeing top pair on the flop. The potential for this hand is amazing, and slow play would be a good option.

A similar situation we will call flopping trips. This would be a situation where you hold only one of the 3 cards as your pocket card. Say you hold AK suited, and the flop comes K-K-Q. Here again, you have 3 of a kind, but even so, we have to understand that this is a bit of a weaker hand. Anytime a pair is showing on board, there is danger of a full house already formed. QQ would definitely be a hand that someone would hold onto, and if given this flop, your 3 Kings are losers. Its also harder to maximize a pot with the two Kings on the flop. Those are huge scare cards, and if you bet out right away, you may get nothing more than whats already in the pot. Again, slow play, and be especially careful of an already formed full house.

There are however certain times you want to jam the pot with 3 of a kind. If the flop gives chances for a straight draw, like K-K-10, where anyone holding Q-J has a good chance at a straight, or if 2 of the cards are the same suit, giving someone a chance at a flush.of they held onto a pair of same suited cards. In these instances, they are going to play to the river, so make them pay to see extra cards!

Another time you want to jam the pot is if you have flopped a small set. For example you checked with the big blind with a pair of 3’s, and the flop comes out Q-8-3. You have your set, and will most likely win with it, but you don’t want to risk someone holding a higher pair getting their set on the turn or river for free. Bet, raise, check raise if you know someone else will bet, whatever you have to do to narrow down your competition and hopefully force out the medium pairs. What you like to see is someone with AQ in this situation with top pair, top kicker who will give you action but has very little chance of winning it. Jam the pot with small sets.

Top Pair after the Flop

If you held a high pair before the flop and were jamming the pot, then you should continue to jam the pot if you still hold the top pair. If you held Q-Q, and the flop comes out 10-2-7, you’re most likely still the leader, unless someone was slow playing Aces or Kings before the flop, or someone with 10’s just flopped a set. The fact is, if you play aggressively with a high pair before the flop, you will generally know whether or not you still have the lead.

If you held A-K, and the flop comes out 4-K-9, here again, you’re jamming the pot. You hold top pair with the best kicker, and the last thing you want is for someone to draw out and complete a flush or straight to beat you.

Top pair is strong after the flop, but definitely not strong enough to sit on and slow play.

Flopping a small Pair

Suppose you were holding A-8 of clubs, and the flop comes out Q-8-3. You have missed your flush draw, because only the 3 is clubs, but you have flopped a pair of “babies.” You have to respect the fact that someone may have a queen, and have you beat. Even so, if the action is checked to you, I would seriously consider putting in a bet here. By putting in the bet, you accomplish the purpose of finding out the true strength of your pair. If anyone holds a queen, you can expect a raise. If you have high hand, expect calls. If you are raised, then you must consider the personality of who raised you. If a mouse or rock raises you (“Poker Animals”) , then it might be time to call or fold. If its the jackal, then by all means stay in, and even re-raise.

This particular hand would be hard for me to fold, simply because you still have alot of outs. An ace would give you a huge hand, another 8 would be even better, and theres always the possibility of 2 more clubs hitting the board.

So, go ahead and bet with the small pairs, and then judge by your opponents personalities and actions as to where you stand.

Flopping a Monster Hand

By monster hand, I mean flopping a royal flush, 4 of a kind, full house, flush, straight, straight flush. Statistically the hand is yours or practically yours. I would slow play in most circumstances. You want the other players to stay in and build a decent hand that they will bet with or at least call to the river with.

A word of caution though. In the case of flushes and straights, make sure you don’t get caught with the low end of a straight or a low card flush, where someone makes the same straight with a higher card, or someone makes the same flush with a higher card. If you are playing good quality pocket cards though, this should rarely happen. But if your flush is only a 10 high, bet aggressively and try to force out anyone holding a jack, queen, king or ace of your suit. Granted, most people won’t fold with four to a flush, but at least you’re making them pay for a chance to get their card.

As a general rule then, slow play the monsters and wait till the more expensive turn and river to begin extracting chips from your opponents.

Flopping a Flush or Straight Draw

You have to first of all understand that odds are still against you making your hand (2-1 with four to a flush or open ended straight). But the rule of thumb to follow here is that Texas Holdem rewards aggressive play. Bet this hand if it is checked to you and hope for one of two results. Either everyone else folds and you pick up a small pot, or you end up making your flush or straight and winning a huge one.

If there are bets and raises to you, then you will need to resort to calculating pot odds to determine if it is profitable to call or in some cases raise.

Flopping 2 Pair

Say you hold J-10 suited, and the flop comes 10-4-J. You have managed to flop the top two pair. I would tend to jam the pot with two pair. While two pair is strong, there are still alot of hands that can beat it. There is no harm in jamming the pot and elbowing everyone else off the table. If you end up making a full house on the later streets, you can adjust your strategy, but for moment, you want to bet and force the limpers out.

There are exceptions to this of course. If you hold AQ and the flop comes AQ2 rainbow, you are pretty strong and can afford to let someone catch up a little. Read the texture of the flop. If the flop is suited or connected you definitely do not want to mess around with slow playing, but rather get your chips in while you are ahead and charge the draw hands to play. Flops that show little help to the other players might be worth slow playing a bit so that they improve enough to call your bets on the turn and river or give an aggressive player a chance to bluff.

Ugly Flops

If you are holding onto a marginal type hand, and it is not helped at all by the flop, then plan on checking and folding. Taking bad hands to the river will take a major toll on your bankroll.

he Turn, or 4th Street in Holdem is the first instance where the bets are doubled. You can hear the “cha-ching” in your ears, as you bet those good hands. However, for the beginner, this street can be exceptionally dangerous, as this is where many players complete their straights and flushes, along with all of the other hand possibilites of poker.

If you have played good poker up to this point, at both the pocket card selection and flop, then you should have some idea of whether or not you are ahead or behind in the hand. As a general rule, if you are ahead after seeing this 4th card hit the board, then bet and start building the pot. On the other hand, if you are pretty sure you are behind, this is the prime time to fold your hand, before you start throwing your money away by calling the expensive bets.

Say you were dealt J-J, and you bet aggressively before and after the flop. The flop and turn board looks like this: Q-3-7-A, three of which are diamonds, and unfortunately, you hold the black jacks (spades and clubs). I would fold this hand to any raises. Why? Count how many ways you are beat. An ace, queen, 2 diamonds, or 1 diamond if another shows on the river, plus a remote straight oppurtunity if the river card is a 10, K or another Jack. Those are alot of ways to beat you. Now count how many “outs” you have and what the best possible hand is that you could form. Right now, your best hope is another Jack, giving you three of a kind. Are you willing to call bets and raises when there are only two cards left in the deck that can help you, and even then, still have a shot at getting beat by someone blessed with a diamond flush or straight??

Good poker play before and after the flop gives you the information you need to make the decision on the Turn. Stick with your gut instinct. If you’re ahead, bet, and if you’re behind, fold unless you are getting good pot odds with a draw hand. Don’t pray for miracle cards.

The River Card. Showdown. Its time to see who is taking down the chips, and who is drowning in the river. River play is fairly simple. If you have the best hand either by strength of good cards early, or luck of the draw on the river, now is your final chance to get a few more chips from your opponents. Some “classy” players will check here, even though they know they have the top hand, and thus save their opponents a few dollars to put back in their wallet.. Unless its a long time friend, I would advise taking his wallet, emptying it of its contents and then stuffing the wallet down his throat. There are winners and there are losers in poker. If you are looking for “courtesy play”, then play with family. The world of poker is like Jack London’s icy wastelands where only the strong survive.

The only real advice I can give on river play is to almost never fold. If you have been playing good cards up to this point in the hand, then you at least have a shot at holding the winning cards. By now the pot is large enough that it also makes good money sense to stay in. Unless you did not complete a pure draw hand, call any bets. Don’t get the reputation as someone who can be bluffed off the river. If this happens, you’ll just face more and more bluff bets on the river. On the other hand, if you get the reputation as someone who can’t be bluffed, then noone in their right mind will attempt it.

The only other times I consider folding is when an extremely conservative player who never bluffs has been calling towards a draw hand the entire hand, and now it looks like he has hit his card. Or when there are two or more players who starting betting and raising on the river, you can be sure that at least one of them holds the goods. You can make a case for folding here.

Pot odds dictate that you bet or call on the river, unless you are practically positive you are beat.

Conclusion

If you have read through this entire strategy section on Texas Holdem, from Pocket Cards to River, and you apply it to your game, you will see success in Holdem, and especially in low limit, online Holdem.

However, there is so much more strategy than can be written down in a few cyber pages on this poker site! Check out “Black Hat Poker” in our Poker Strategies section, and you will see a stark contrast between his starting hand suggestions and the ones in my original “Pocket Cards” section. Texas Holdem is such a complex game that there are literally hundreds of different methods and strategies that can be successful. My advice to any reader would be to invest a few dollars into at least one good Texas Holdem book, written by such masters as Lee Jones (Winning Low Limit Hold’em) and Andy Nelson (Poker: A Winners Guide).

Learning how to play poker is of great importance, and so is learning where to play.

That’s why we highly recommend Americas Cardroom.

The professional men and women of poker have years of experience and winnings under their belt. Continue to study the game and your chip stack will climb ever higher.

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