Choose the hands that can bring money in any scenario as your opening hands
The most important thing for Texas Holdem beginners to process is to immediately start selecting the correct opening hands. This will increase the number of wins.
Learn probabilities of best five-card hands
We’ll get to some specific hands in a bit, but first, you really have to know the entire hand rankings and the odds. A couple of Aces (AA)/Kings (KK) are the best open hands statistically. For actual numbers, AA is victorious roughly 85% of the time against a random hand, and KK wins something like 82% of all-in pots.
Hand Categories for New Low-Stakes Players
- Best Hands: AA, KK, QQ, AK (suited and offsuit combo)
- Solid Hands: JJ, TT, AQ (suited), AJ (suited), KQ (suited)
- Speculative: 22-99, suited connectors (78s), suited 1-gappers (68s)
Position Matters
The table position has a huge influence on the strength of your own hand. Play the better hands -like AA, KK, QQ, and AK- only in early positions. In later positions, you can open your range to include hands such as suited connectors and small pairs, which is highly profitable as you have more information on the other players’ actions.
Example Hand Scenarios
- Early Position: You have AK suited. This range is too good to just call — protect your equity and inflate the pot. If he raises you back, you can call or even re-raise based on his profile.
- Middle Position: You have 99. Raise to play heads up or against 1 or 2 opponents. If an opponent 3-bets, estimate your opponent’s range and proceed accordingly.
- Late Position: You have 76 suited in the cutoff. Raise and put pressure on the blinds, trying to steal them. If you get called, you are in position post-flop.
Data-Driven Decision Making
To play better opening hands, analyze hand histories and game statistics. Based on over a million hands of data, players who adhere to tight-aggressive play will see a nice edge over those who play looser. Players who play tightly aggressive (raise when they have it and fold when they don’t) will do better over time.
Adjusting to Opponents
Look for how your opponents are playing. If the player is very tight, you can increase your range a little and steal more blinds. On the other end, tighten up and value bet more against loose players.
Size your bet properly based on the action in front of you
Bet sizing in Texas Hold’em is a crucial skill, making the difference between winning and losing.
Learn The Basics Of Bet Sizing
Bet sizing is not a universal solution. The average pre-flop boost is usually 2.5 to 3 times the big blind. Post-flop, bets are often half to the whole pot in size.
Adapt or Size Your Bets to Your Opponent(s)
- Versus Tight Players: Make small bets to win larger pots you don’t really want to play for. A 2.5x big blind raise preflop and a 50-60% pot size bet postflop is fine.
- Inversely for Loose Players: Make big bets with your top-range holdings. Preflop, raise 4-5x the big blind and 70-100% pot postflop.
Reacting to Table Dynamics
Watching what the table is doing can help expand bet sizing decisions:
- High aggressive table: If people are raising or re-raising a lot, range more conservatively and bet your top hands more. This will allow fewer players to see the flop, increasing pots when you have strong hands.
- Passive table with many limpers: Make higher raises to isolate and build pots. Raising the minimum 4-5x the big blind will thin the crowd effectively.
Example Bet Sizing Scenarios
- Pre-flop example: Suppose you have AQ suited on the button. If two players limp in, raise 5x the big blind to isolate and tighten up the play behind you.
- Flop Example: Your AK on a K-Q-6 rainbow flop. The pot is $30. A loose player checks to you. Bet $20 (2/3 pot) against draws.
- River Example: Turn now $70. Continue value-building with another sizeable bet around 70% pot.
Utilizing Bet Sizing Data
A sophisticated betting strategy optimizes win rates substantially over the long term. A study of 100,000 hands showed profits increasing by 15% when bet sizes were varied according to the other players at the table.
Expert Concepts for Bet Sizing
- Overbetting: Occasionally make larger-than-normal bets to puzzle opponents and maximize value. For example, betting $120 into a $100 pot can make weak hands fold and strong hands call.
- Block Betting: Bet smaller amounts to keep the pot modest and discourage bigger bets by your opponent. A 25-30% bet (of the pot) once in a while, usually smaller, can be effective with a very good marginal hand.
Limping is bad for you. Avoid limping!
Limping, just calling the big blind, is generally a mistake, even by pros.
Limping Weakens Your Position
Playing passively encourages more people to see the flop, not improving your odds of winning the hand. Half a million tracked hands indicate that if they limp pre-flop, they lose a lot more than those who raise.
Loss of Initiative
Calling instead of raising leaves you open to a 3bet by aggressive players with position on you. For example, you limp A♠J♠ and another player raises – now you have a harder decision and are playing a reaction game instead of being in control of the hand.
Failed to Craft the Pot
Raising builds the pot and leads to bigger potential profits. Raising with a hand like A♦K♦ pre-flop builds the pot and makes your hand look weaker than it really is. Any standard raise of 3 to 4 times the big blind can eliminate the weak and improve your chances of earning a significant pot.
Example of Effective Raising
You’re in the middle position with K♠Q♠: raise it to 3 big blinds instead of just limping in. This bet will either take the pot down immediately when everyone folds or give you more ideal circumstances against one or two opponents.
Data-Driven Insights
Players who raise every hand instead of limp are 10% more likely to win according to a full analysis of online poker hands.
Psychological Advantage
Raising instead of limping gains you a small psychological edge against your opponents, making you seem more solid and less susceptible to exploitation.
The correct folds lead to bigger wins
Knowing when to call it quits will save you money and thus, make you more money in the end.
Appreciate the Value of Folding
Folding correctly means knowing when your hand is dead and when the odds are not good for you. Players who fold marginal hands more often have a win rate that is 20% higher for every tight fold they make, according to a study of 1 million hands.
Fold More in Standard Spots
For instance, you have Q♠J♠, the board is K♠10♣8♦6♣2♦. Opponent bets large. The board is so coordinated on the turn that they have the best hand very often. It’s worth folding to avoid losing more chips.
When You Have a Weak Draw
For example, you have 7♦6♦, and the flop comes A♠K♣9♠. Your hand is a gutshot straight draw. Given the board textures, folding is correct if you face aggression.
Use Pot Odds and Implied Odds
Pot odds are important to know so you can fold correctly. Fold immediately if the pot odds are unfavorable compared to your draw.
For example, you have a spade flush draw with 9♠8♠ on A♠7♠3♦. The pot is $50, and your opponent bets $50. Here, by calling $50, you are getting 2:1 pot odds to win $100. Folding here is the correct play, as you are getting about 4:1 odds to complete your flush draw.
Evaluate Opponent Behavior
Assess your opponents properly. For example, if a usually tight player suddenly starts betting big, this is a tell-tale sign of a very strong hand. In that case, folding is usually the best choice.
For example, if a tight player raises pre-flop and then bets hard on a K♦Q♦J♠ flop, folding is good; their range is almost certain to crush you when you’re holding A♣10♣.
Leverage Data and Statistics
Data from PokerTracker2 indicates that the fold rate is higher in worse locations and win rates are likely more profitable. For example, of 100% of players who fold their hands pre-flop in cash games, 70% are likely winning players while the other 30% will lose money.
Practical Folding Scenarios
- Fold Pre-Flop: You receive 10♠7♣ in EP. This is a low-quality hand with not much going for it; a fold should be called here to avoid difficult post-flop play.
- Folding Post-Flop: You have A♠K♠, and the board is 10♦5♣8♠. An opponent overbets, representing a set or a very strong hand. Escaping further damage only because of folding when only two overcards are out.
Dominate your opponent
The biggest advantage you have when playing Texas Hold’em is being in a better position than your opponent(s). Position is simply where you are sat at the table relative to the dealer and governs the order in which players will be acting.
Understanding Position Basics
- Early Position (EP): The positions located to the left of the big blind. When you act early, you have less information about what other players intend to do.
- Middle Position (MP): The seats between early and late positions.
- Late Position (LP): The button and cutoff seats. When you act last, you have the most information and leverage over the hand.
Analysis of data from poker hand histories suggests that play from later positions is highly advantageous compared to early position play. For instance, a study of 500,000 online hands indicated button players won 18% more hands than early position players.
Advantages of Position
Tip: If you act last, you know how your opponents play their hands before you decide what to do.
- Pot Control: You can keep it small or inflate the pot accordingly with hand strength and read on opponents.
- Bluffing Opportunities: Late position allows bluffing more efficiently. When everyone checks to you, a well-timed bet can often take down the pot.
Example Scenarios
- Early Position: A♦K♦ (UTG). This is a good hand but requires care. Such hands fit a 3x the big blind raise. If you get 3-bet, deeply analyze the 3-bettor’s history to decide whether to call or fold.
- Middle Position: You have 10s9s. With fewer acting behind you, raising or calling becomes safer. A raise can sometimes thin the field, helping you get to a more favorable flop.
- Late Position: Button, 7♣6♣. If you’re the last person to act and everyone folded, raise 2.5-3x the big blind to put pressure on the blinds. If called, you’ll be in position for the rest of the hand, making post-flop decisions easier.
Using Examples to Leverage Position
- Bluffing: With Q♠J♠ on the button and the flop K♦8♦3♠, checks to you. This would often be a spot where a bet could take down the pot as it signifies weakness.
- Example Hand: Holding A♠K♠ in late position and the flop is A♦K♣7♣. If everyone checks to you, a 70% pot size bet builds a large pot and protects your hand from draws.
Data-Driven Insights
There is statistical analysis backing the statement that a loose-aggressive style pays off in the long term through more wins. Players with a higher win rate often play more aggressively from the CO, BU, and SB. For example, button raises succeed 45% of the time, significantly higher than the 30% success rate for early position raises.
Practical Tips
- Early Position: Start to Semi-Tighten. In early position, play top-tier hands like AA, KK, QQ, and AK.
- Relax in late position: Add suited connectors and small pairs to your range.
- Position the Pot: Control the size of the pot by betting and raising in position, building the pot when you have the best hands, and bluffing when you have nothing.