For players who have achieved some level of understanding in Texas holdem, there
is still a lot of strategy to take into considerations. You must make sure you
understand percentages, what hands to play, betting, and the art of the bluff.
If you consider yourself an intermediate level player, these are some things to
consider.
Poker Percentages in Showdown
Showdown percentages are a very important number when it comes to no-limit Texas
holdem. A lot of money is made simply in stealing pots if you know what you are
doing. Before you jump into a game, pay attention to how many hands go to a
showdown. As a general rule, the more showdowns there are the better. This is
because bluffing really wont work if everyone will call you down. Your best bet
for winning good money is to be able to extract a lot of money when you have a
good hand. In other words, you want to make sure you can sell your hand.
What Poker Hands To Play
As a rule, if you are playing no limit, you want to take down the pot at the
flop if you have a hand with big cards. The only time you wouldn’t want to do
that is if you are pretty sure you have outkicked someone or if you get a
really good flop. Look for hands you can bet with confidence and that will
withstand pressure. Pocket pairs and suited connectors are both solid hands
that will withhold pressure. The suited connectors allow for flexibility in the
flop so that you will often hold a hand your opponent don’t expect. This is
especially true if an weird flop comes off.
Poker Betting Strategy
A huge part of no limit is knowing how to bet. The concept may not be difficult:
try to get as much money from opponents who have made their hand but are losing
to you, but without trapping yourself. Punish draws but protect yourself. If,
for instance, you hold a pocket pair and get one more for your three on the
flop, bet about a pot-sized bet. He won’t fade if he has a pair, but if he is
holding a possible straight you don’t want him to get there cheap.
Poker Bluffing
Bluffing is when you make use of the showdown percentages you paid attention to
before you started. The more showdowns there are, the less bluffing will work.
If there are few showdowns, consider bluffing a little more. If, however, you
find that many of the hands go to showdowns, don’t do a lot of bluffing, but do
a lot of punishing when you get the hand you like.