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General Holdem Tips

Here I will go over some general texas holdem tips that should be always kept in mind while playing. Many of these tips have been picked up by me over my times of playing holdem, and others are just my personal opinion. In this article I will go over Luck and Odds, Choosing Your Style, Pot Selection and Raising the Blind.


Luck and Odds
As much as you may try to depict the little details in Holdem or any gambling game, the fact is, it all comes down to luck. I am a regular player and I am very learned in the poker world, but through all my research and personal experience, I have found that you can play a perfect game and still end up losing. This is a fact that most people either fail to realize or deny. Luck is a significant part of the game, but there are ways to sway it in your favor. If you don't believe me when I tell you that poker is a lucky game, then why do so many beginners win at poker? Why don't the “pros” win every time? No matter how much skill you have or may think you have, if you are dealt a full house off the flop, and your opponent has 4 of a kind, you will lose and there is nothing you can do about it no matter how skilled you are. Now don't get me wrong, I do believe there is much skill involved in poker, but it is never 100%.


The trick to being a successful poker player is learning to put the odds in your favor. You must first off pick a style of play and stick to it. It doesn't matter which you choose, you must stay consisten with it. No matter how redundant you may feel that may be, sticking to your game will help you in the long run. I have played with the same group of friends many times, and I have told them on numerous accounts how I play, yet they still fall for the same tricks over and over. Also, a poker face is not as vital as one may think. No matter how you act during a hand, it is still quite difficult for anyone to truly tell how you are feeling. Some people say that you can tell someone is bluffing if they are shaking; yet I know many people who shake when they have a great hand. It is all circumstantial and nearly impossible to interpret, unless you are a pro. That is why it is very important to play your hand and not you opponent. Do not let your adversary change how you play your hand. So many people make their decisions purely off of their opponents face rather than playing their hand, ending up losing all of their money.


Choosing Your Style
Sticking to one style of play is essential, but depending on the circumstance, it can be modified. For instance, you are going to play much differently heads up than you would play with 9 other players. However, each playing style has one critical similarity that many people overlook. Do not play stupid. No matter how conservative or aggressive you may play, if you don't put the odds in your favor, you will eventually lose. You have to take in account how many chips you have acquired and also how many chips your opponents have obtained. All of these things are considered factors of the game that you must address. Always be aware of your surroundings and what is going on. Never lose focus in a game and always play smart. I'm not telling you to never bluff, but there is a place and a time.


Pot Selection
Remember, it is impossible to win every pot. Be very selective in what pots you choose to put a lot of money in. It is not about how many pots you win, but rather how much money you gain. One pot may be twice as lucrative as 10 others, so you must carefully choose which pots you decide to take a stab at. It is critical to let others take small pots from you. You must be willing to lose some chips in the process of gaining them. Just because someone bests high and you think their bluffing but all you have is ace high, let them take down the pot. You cannot gain any “emotional” attachment to the smaller and even some larger pots. Don't let anyone persuade you into calling a bet if you don't have the cards because once you start putting in money, it becomes increasingly harder to get out of the pot.


Raising the Blind
This brings me to my last and most significant words of wisdom. If you have a good starting hand, always raise the blind. Never let someone with 7/2 off suit see a free flop when you are holding big slick. Not only is this very important, but so is raising the bet after the flop. If you have something on the flop, do not let others chase cards. You cannot afford to let someone see a free turn and draw that inside straight they were looking for. Remember, it is better to win a small pot than lose a big one. You may think that slow playing is a smart tactic, when in fact it just takes the odds away from your favor, and that is the last thing you want to do. There are times when slow playing can be very profitable, but it can only be done when you are certain your hand will not be beat. Letting people see free cards is the last thing you want to do when you have a decent hand. This also brings me to another point. Say you are on the receiving end of a heavy better when you are looking for a prayer. For example, you have an inside straight draw on the flop and someone raises the pot to $20. Unless you have a majority of the chips and an extensive chip lead on your opposition, do not chase cards. By doing so you virtually will be digging your own grave.


Final Thoughts
There is no foolproof technique to poker. You just have to play smart and know your limits. If the cards are cold one night, it is very important to know when to stop. Setting and keeping a limit is essential in holdem and any gambling altogether. Along with all these strategies, keep in mind that poker comes with practice just as anything else. If you can find a tactic that works for you, keeping the odds in your favor, then over time you will become a winner. This is a game of time because the odds will work themselves out over time. An inexperienced player may win his first few nights, but over time a “pro” will surely beat him out. Notice how I write “professional poker player” in quotes. By definition these guys are professionals because poker is their main source of income. However, a doctor is also a professional and his job does not involve luck. Luck is a very large aspect of the gambling world, so really, nothing is guaranteed with professional poker players. They have skill, but it is a skill and job that cannot be compared to any other professional.