Texas Hold'em - Strategy
Knowledge is all good and well, but how are you going to apply your knowledge in a game? You need to have a game strategy. You need to take the knowledge you have gained, and will gain, and develop a solid strategy around this. Here are a few guidelines for you to use:
Have an idea of your starting hands
Not all starting hands are created equal. Instead of sitting and praying that you will get goods hands on the flop, you will save money by knowing what hands you shouldn't have played in the first place. We have shown you the Sklansky model, now do a bit of homework. Take control of the wheel, change gears, and take your game to the next level.
Be aware of your position
Position is key in Texas Hold'em. There is less tolerance for error when you're sitting in early position than if you're last to act. We have also told you about position, now take a few seconds to work out what position you are in, and what to play. Do this and you will be light year ahead of other players.
Fit or fold
If the flop doesn't improve your hand, then fold. Don't hold onto the past. There will be many more hands to be dealt, and there is much money to be saved, so fold'em and move on. Another tip is don't get caught up in would of, should of and could of. The cards you fold are gone, so again, forget about what was and watch your players for clues.
Be disciplined
If the cards haven't been coming your way, and you have been folding a lot, wait. If you haven't played a hand in a while, and you are caving action, be patient. Don't throw away your game on impatience and a 'I-just-want-to-play' attitude. Be disciplined about the hands you play and the strategy you follow. If you are patient and disciplined, you and you wallet will be rewarded.
Be able to read the board
As soon as you see the flop, work out what the best potential hand is, and compare what you have, or what you think you might get to this hand. If you don't do this, you will be spending money on a hand that has already been beaten. This is known as "drawing dead". Read the cards correctly on the board. Know what hands can beat yours, and look to the players for clues to see if they have these hands. If you think that they got you beat, fold'em!