How to Improve Your Poker Strategy - Texas Hold 'Em

Playing Your Hand - Poker Strategy for Texas Hold'em : Assuming that you know what good starting cards are and have made the decision to 'see the Flop', then it is time to get down to business. This is the most important part of any players poker strategy, and depending on what cards come in the Flop, you will need to assess your hand and which, if any, play you will make. Now three cards hit the board either making your hand better or missing you entirely and the same goes for your opponents' hands too. It is time to play what you have or get out. Here are some of the situations that are most common: You start with a Pair: Usually this hand should be pushed hard to eliminate all the weak hands out. If your pair turns into a Full House or two high pair then you may play slower, unless the board is suited or connected, in which case you should push your hand. You have a Straight or Flush Draw: This is a difficult hand to make with your Pot Odds at about 30% so you should bet aggressively and try to eliminate opponents. You have Top Pair: If you were aggressive prior to the Flop then you should keep it up. Your objective is to get as many players out of the hand as you can before they improve their hands. If You Flop a Small Pair: If there are over-cards on the board and the players ahead of you have checked, then consider betting. This will force someone with a weak hand out, and if someone has a good hand they may come back at you, telling you that this 'baby pair' is not worth pursuing. You get Three of a Kind: Depending on which way you have made Trips, either with a well concealed pair in the Hole, or by having one Hole Card that matches a pair on the board, will determine your strategy. If you have the former and your cards are higher, then you have a strong hand. If you have the latter, then your opponents may have two pair or a good drawing hand. Be careful with this hand, if you push it early and the board has a high card they may fold thinking you have a high pair or better. If however the board looks like a straight or flush draw, then be aggressive and push out the people trying to draw their hand. You get a 'Monster': This is your luck day, if you get a Full House, Straight, or Flush at the flop. This is a time to slow-play and let others build the pot. Late in the hand take control and push it hard. One note of caution would be if the straight or flush you have is make up of lower cards it is possible to get beat by a higher one concealed in the hole, so in this case you should push early to get the ones looking for a draw out. What to do at The Turn: If you think your ahead at this stage your should be aggressive, but watch out for the player who is slow-playing their monster hand. If they some back over the top then you will have to decide if they are bluffing or not. What to do at The River: If you are at this point you should have an idea as to what your opponents could have relative to your hand. By now you have invested a lot in the pot, and the pot odds (what you could win versus the bet) should be pretty good. Exception to this would be if you did not make your drawing hand or if a very tight player who doesn't bluff is pushing. Don't get pushed out of the pot in most cases or you will get a reputation as someone who can bullied.

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