How To Improve Your Poker Strategy - Texas Hold Em

Playing Your Hand - Poker Strategy for Texas Hold'em:
Let's assume that you know what good starting cards are and also have made the decision to 'see the Flop', then it is time to get down to business. This is the most critical part of any players poker strategy, and depending on what cards come in the Flop, you will need to assess your hand and which, if any, play you will make.

Now three cards hit the board either making your hand better or missing you entirely and the same goes for your opponents' hands too. It is time to play what you have or get out. Below are a few of the situations which can be most common:

You start with moobs:
Usually this hand must be pushed hard to eliminate most of the weak hands out. If your pair turns into a Full House or two high pair then you can play slower, unless the board is suited or connected, then you definitely should push your hand.

You have a Straight or Flush Draw:
This is a difficult hand to make with your Pot Odds at about 30% so that you should bet aggressively and try to expel opponents.

You have Top Pair:
If you were aggressive prior to the Flop then you should keep it up. Your objective is always to get as much players from the hand as you can before they boost their hands.

If You Flop a tiny Pair:

If there are over-cards on the board and the players ahead of you have checked, then consider betting. This will force someone with a weak hand out, of course, if someone features a good hand they may come back at you, bandarq telling you this 'baby pair' is not worth pursuing.

You get Three of a form:
Depending on which way you get Trips, either with a well concealed pair in the Hole, or with one Hole Card that matches a pair on the board, will determine your strategy. When you have the former and your cards are higher, then you have a strong hand. If you have the latter, your opponents may possibly have two pair or a good drawing hand. Be mindful with this hand, in the event that you push it early and the board has a high card they may fold thinking you have a high pair or better. If nevertheless the board looks like a straight or flush draw, then be aggressive and push out the folks trying to draw their hand.

You get a 'Monster':
This is your luck day, if you get a Full House, Straight, or Flush at the flop. This is a period to slow-play and let others build the pot. Late in the hand take control and push it hard. One note of caution could be if the straight or flush you have is make up of lower cards it is possible to get beat with a higher one concealed in the hole, so in this case you should push early to get the ones looking for a draw out.

How to proceed at The Turn:
If you were to think your ahead at this stage your should be aggressive, but watch out for the player who is slow-playing their monster hand. If indeed they some right back over the top then you definitely will have to decide if they are bluffing or not.

What to do at The River:
If you are you now should have a notion as to what your opponents could have relative to your hand. By now you have invested a lot in the pot, and the pot odds (what you might win versus the bet) should be very good. Exception to the would be if you did not make your drawing hand or if a very tight player who doesn't bluff is pushing. Do not get pushed from the pot in most cases or you're going to get a reputation as someone who can bullied.

Hopefully these tips will assist you in playing, then you can pay attention to learning to read your opponents.