A guide to getting ahead in Texas Hold'em
Starting hands and betting
If you feel you are doing well with the beginner’s strategy it is worth reading this section on some more advanced strategy. It will teach you how to play with a larger range of hands than the beginner’s strategy recommended. Whilst with the beginner’s strategy you were told to play only if you were holding two cards with a value of ten or above, there is now a broader range of hands you are recommended to play. If you are holding any of the following it is now recommended that you stay in the game before the flop: (in the following example hands an “s” means both cards are of the same suit): K-Js, A-10s, A-Q, K-Q, 7-7, 6-6, 5-5, 4-4, 3-3 and 2-2.
If you have a good hand it is now recommended that you raise, raising a bet on the fold has a number of advantages. If another player re-raises it means they are likely to have a good hand and you should take note of it, any players with bad hands will fold and of course it means there will be more money in the pot. When the flop is dealt, as with the beginner strategy, you must decide whether your hand has been improved and whether you can win the game. If either of these is the case then it is recommended to raise in this betting round, as with beginners strategy, if you do not think your hand has improved and you have a chance of winning then you are advised to fold.
During the Turn and River rounds the strategy is very much the same. Whenever a community card is dealt you should assess whether your hand has improved, is it likely to improve with the next community card and whether you are likely to win. As before, if the answer is yes then it is recommended to raise the bet, however, if you are doubtful then it is probably worth folding.
At all points it is essential to remember the basic strategy that you should not stay in a game just because you have bet. If it will lead you to betting more without an improved chance of winning then it is strongly advisable to fold. As before, if you reach a point where you have bet a large enough amount that what you need to bet to continue seems negligible in comparison then it is worth staying in.
One other aspect to consider is the community cards in relation to the other players. Try and work out what use they may be to others. Remember that they are “community” cards and you are not the only person who will benefit from them.
