Texas Hold’em Tips and Basic Strategy
Knowing when to fold
When starting out playing Texas Hold’em, regardless of whether the game is online, the most important thing to be able to do is evaluate your hand. It is only the two cards that you are dealt which separate you from the other players and it is essential to remember that the community cards are for everyone.
The question is whether or not you should fold. A good general rule is to consider folding if you are holding two non-pair cards both of which have a value less than ten. Some players would fold if just one card is less than 10, aggressive players may stay in if they are holding two cards of the same suit as it gives a good chance of a straight or a flush.
Sometimes it is worth staying in so that you can see the flop, but be weary of this, it can cause problems. In a game with a large amount of players, the winning hand will probably be two pair or better, so if you don’t have the high pair it is advisable to fold, do not play the hand out just because you have paid the big blind. However, if you are playing in a small game with only a couple of other players it can be beneficial to be a bit more aggressive. It is often a good move to check if you are the first to bet after the flop. If you have a weak hand it might enable you to see a card or two more without putting money in the pot, also, if you have a strong hand it could make your opponents think that it is weaker than it really is.
The next two community cards dealt known as The Turn and The River give you two more chances to increase the strength of your hand or fold. At these late stages in a game there are normally only a couple of other players left. It is at this point that you should play very cautiously. After The Turn, don’t continue playing hoping for a straight or a flush unless you can do so on a check (i.e. without putting any more money into the pot).
Obviously, the game can reach a point where you have placed so much of your money in the pot that it makes sense to continue playing. The best way to know if you have reached this point is by the percentage of your money that you have placed in the pot. For instance if you have already bet 40% of your total money another 5% will not make much difference. Overall, the advice is to be cautious and not get stuck in a game with a weak hand.
