Texas Hold 'Em Strategy for Beginners

Many players new to poker like to say "I don't do any bluffing, I just bet when I know I have the best hand." For those who say this, they might as well give up poker immediately. Bluffing is not something some winning players do and other don't. Bluffing, to some degree, at some point, is just as much a part of poker as checking, betting, and raising. As mentioned in "Win Big and Lose Small," players that simply contribute money to pots to see what they get, and then fold, or simply stay in to the showdown and lose the pot, will then typically not win much money the few times they hit their "big" hands. Some players think, I don't want to get caught bluffing because other players will always call me. While getting caught bluffing once or twice will certainly not make every bet you make from then on get called or raised, if it did, would that be such a bad thing? This way, when you do have your huge hands, there will be much more money in the pot for you to win.

Having said this, it is important to vary the bluffing, folding, and semi-bluffing, with the objective of creating doubt in other players. When they can't decide whether they believe you are bluffing or not, it can only be good for you. Without being a megalomaniac, the right amount of bluffing, combined with not displaying any tells that will indicate to other players whether you are bluffing or not, can be a very successful strategy. One important factor to keep in mind when you bluff is the size of the pot. The bigger the pot, the more likely it is other players will not fold, as there is much more money to be won. Also, trying to bluff three or more players will rarely force all of them to fold. Ideally, big bluffs come when there is a heads-up or three-way situation.

Bringing in the strategy of reading players, you should keep in mind that you are most likely to force folds from tight players than loose players, early or late in the hand (often, bluffing after the flop will not force players out as they have already committed some money to the pot, and they still have two cards to come). Of course, reading players to determine what they are likely to do and when they are likely to do it is extremely important. In low limit games, bluffing out more than two players should never even be attempted. In limit games, if you see many hands in which several players are in for the maximum number of bets, bluffing is probably not a good idea. The situation in which you find yourself is the most important guideline for bluffing.

Lastly, remember that getting caught bluffing isn't always bad, as in the future, you may get called by one or more players even though you "have the nuts," just because they believe you are a bluffer. There is no doubt that you will not be bluffing a lot more than you will be bluffing. The key is just to be able to pick your spots.

Considering there is plenty of betting that must take place based only on your two hole cards, it is important to know what are the best and worst "starting hands", statistically, in the game of Texas Hold'Em. The information here is based on many different opinions, and although players will disagree with some information here, it is essentially and typically the most commonly accepted ranking of starting hands. The hands are divided into hands that you will always play, hands that you will usually play (meaning if some players have already acted and NOT raised), and hands that you would seldom play (only when no one has raised and you are in late position (one of the last to act).

Top Ten Hands (Always Play)
1. A-A
2. K-K
3. Q-Q
4. A-K
5. J-J
6. 10-10
7. 9-9
8. 8-8
9. A-Q
10. 7-7

Usually Play (Middle position)
11. A-10 or A-J suited (Ace plus another suited card).
12. 6-6
13. 5-5
14. 4-4
15. 3-3
16. K-Q
17. 2-2
18. "20 hand" (value of both cards is 20 or more).
19. A-9 through A-6 suited.
20. Suited connectors 8 or higher (8,9 suited; 9,10 suited, etc.)

Seldom Play (Late Position)
21. A-2 through A-5 suited.
22. K-x suited (K w/any suited card).
23. Suited connectors 4 or higher.
24. Q-8 or Q-9 suited.
25. J-7 through J-9 suited.
26. 10-6 through 10-8 suited.
27. Suited Connectors (any).
28. Seven with 3-5 suited.
29. Six with 2-4 suited.
30. Five with 2-3 suited.

The biggest variation in opinions will come in the Seldom Play hands, as your odds over the course of an entire hand are very similar with many of these hands.

Where did you get this list and to what limit are you referring? It makes a huge difference. I really think you are over-valuing 77,88, and 99 while undervaluing KQs.

My $.02.

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why call when you can raise?

I agree with thatpfunk. The value of 77,88, and 99 are not very high considering that at best, you will be facing two overs in an even-money situation. These hands are also dominated by serveral higher pairs.

In a three way pot against two pairs of overs, it is very unlikely that your hand will hold up. I would play AJs or ATs stronger pre-flop then a middle pair. If one of your two opponents help

IMO

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of course, but this is all referring to PRE-flop. statistically, AA is the best hand pre flop, regardless of what anyone else has.

only in really specific situations would you not play it. one i can think of is during a trounament in which only the top 9 people receive prize money. let's say you have not the most chips, but not the least. if someone with more chips than you raises, making you go all in if you want to call, it might not be worth risking finishing 10th and losing out on the money by 1 spot, when several players have less chips than you and at least ONE of them is likely to go out soon due to being really short-stacked.

We are talking about preflop.

A hand like 77 in a multiway pot is the same as 33 or 44. Your chances of winning without improving are very slim. You need the implied odds of hitting your 1 in 8, otherwise the hand is pretty worthless. My only exception, something I have been expereimenting with (99 or 88 dont like going much lower), is OTB raising to isolate a weak early position limper or the BB.

Where did the AA comment come from?

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why call when you can raise?

I guess your right, I do see where i did undervalue KQ, but this is for informational purposes only, myself i might actually play KQ over 77 in most cases even though i didnt say that.

Hand selection is like pot odds, it makes the difference between consistant winners and consistant losers. And it is a lot like sex (borrowing this quote) a lot of people think they are good at it, but most people do not know what they are doing.

Minnejohnny

I don't think 77 88 and 99 are that far off...they have a greater percentage ot hitting a straight compared to many other hands...