Hold ‘em Helps
Introduction
Texas Hold ‘em is undoubtedly both the most popular form of poker being played and, therefore, the most popular form of poker for making poker bets. World renowned Johnny Moss, the first player to win the WSOP in 1949, once proclaimed that “chess is to checkers what Hold ‘em is to draw or stud poker”. It is the very essence of that comment, that by comparison to stud and draw Texas Hold ‘em is a relatively complex poker game, which makes Hold ‘em (as it is invariably referred to) such an appealing game for poker enthusiasts.
The basics
Looks young enough for a rookie poker player to me?
Even to any relatively rookie poker player, the basics of Texas Hold ‘em are easy enough to understand. That is a single deck of 52 cards, from which each player gets two hole cards and sees five community cards given out – three at the flop, another at the turn and the final one at the river. At the showdown, all the players have to do then is make the best five card hand, including their hole cards, they can with the highest one winning. So, the basics of Texas Hold ‘em are simple enough to grasp but to play it well you not only need to know the game but also how to add elements of courage and cunning to your play; and it is these elements of cunning, courage and skill that make betting on poker tournaments featuring Hold ‘em so alluring. To that end it is in pot-limit poker games that all of your Hold ‘em skills will be tested to the full, where the maximum poker bets can be no higher than the total amount in the pot.
Assessing a players chances in Hold ‘em
How would you assess your chances with her?
Unless a player were to get two extremely diverse hole cards their chances of success or failure cannot be considered until the flop comes and the second round of poker betting. Needless to say those poker players sitting in the later positions around the poker table are at an advantage, compared to those placing their bets earlier on. However, the prime decider in whether to carry on playing or not is what cards are turned over at the flop, rather than a player’s seat position. As a general rule if the flop doesn’t reveal anything that is favorable to a poker hand, but betting has begun elsewhere on the table, the player really should fold. After all they can see five cards now with only two more to come, so it really would smack of desperation to get involved in a hand they’re unlikely to win with. So, especially if you should decide to play one of the online poker professionals, even if you’re dealt something like a pair of nines for hole cards but something like A, K, 10 comes at the flop – you really should fold as the chances of someone else holding at least an A, K or 10 is far too high.
Common Hold ‘em errors
I can’t honestly see anything wrong here - can you?
The two main categories of errors that players fall into both come after the flop. First of all they might over estimate the true value of their hand and call far too quickly and optimistically, compared to their actual chance of winning. Or, secondly, they will simple not pay enough attention to the betting on the poker game, thus failing to understand exactly what is going on with the other players hands. Such lapses in assessment of and concentration in a Texas Hold ‘em poker game; can just as easily befall a leading hand as one that is way off the pace. Here’s an example to consider. Imagine you’ve got Jc and Jd in the hole and the flop gives you As, Jh and 9c. You’ve got three Jacks so you’re probably tempted to slow-play the hand thinking you can only be second to someone with Aces in the hole? But, what would your thoughts be if a K, Q, 10, 8 or even a 7 turned up on the turn? The net result of one of those cards appearing on the turn is that an opponent could easily make a straight, killing your trip Jacks, as there are 20 cards unseen! Even then any Ace could do the same if an opponent already has just one, using the Jack for a bigger full house. Remember, just as if you were looking for any online poker bet, – as well as skill and courage, you need to use cunning and keep up with all the possible plays.