What's your best Texas Holdem strategy?

Answer 1

I think the most important thing to do is realize that not playing is often good playing.

Let me give you an example. When you are playing pool there is that wonderful feeling when you smack the ball really hard and the shot sinks perfectly with that wonderful thunk as the ball drops into the pocket. The harder you hit the shot the better it sounds, and when you do it just right, you look like a hero.

Unfortunately unless you are a professional pool player the harder you hit the cue ball, the less accurate your shot is likely to be. So as you strive to achieve that wonderful perfect shot you are in fact reducing your odds of making the shot altogether.

Poker reminds me of this. There is a wonderful feeling when you take down a massive pot, when you have the nuts or when you pull off a perfect bluff. It's also great when that miracle card comes and gets you out of trouble. So there is a temptation to play a lot of hands to demonstrate just how good you are. When you involve your ego in a game of poker and play too many hands you will often end up losing.

Just because you see Gus Hansen raise with 26o and win, doesn't mean you can do that.

I think that the key to playing good poker is to know when to get out of a hand. Too many beginners play too many junk hands, 'favorite hands,' and long shot draws. Too many of them remember that time they played 64o and flopped a straight and made a big pot. They don't realize how unlikely it is to chase an inside straight draw or hope to flop a straight with some junky unsuited semi-connectors.

So I believe the best strategy is to vary your game so you are hard to read, watch your position, watch your starting hands, don't get too heavily involved in a speculative hand, don't fall in love with a hand when you know you are beaten, don't chase long shot draws, observe your pot odds, observe all the other players, play fairly tight and selectively aggressive. Remember in most tournaments there is plenty of time to pick your spots. Don't donk off all your chips trying to impress others.

Chris "Jesus" Ferguson once said that you should always be looking for reasons to fold, not reasons to play. If your hand is not worth raising, should you even be playing it?

Answer 2

I like being agressive and alter my strategy off an on through out the game. I like to advoid showing my cards until i have to also. Try watching the WPT on the travel channel.

Answer 3

Best strategy:
1. Don't bluff (don't have a good poker face)!
2. Bet high!
3. Never look at other people's faces! They are all lieing!

It works! I'm13 and I beat my 21 year old brother and his 20 year old friend, oh! and my Poker "star" brother (19 years old)!

Answer 4

Theres some good strategy articles at www.recentpoker.com

Answer 5

my stratagy is unimportant. you must find your own and work that. there are some fantastic books that changed my game to the better in a great way. read harrington on hold em and any of slantsky's books. good luck and see u at the tables

Answer 6

my strategy is extremely complex. and would take forever to explain. but basicaly im eggressive and a slid player and i read people and watch what they bet how they bet and how long it takes them to make a move. i also listen to what they say and how they say it. i can usualy put a player on a hand about 80% of the time and im riht about 65% of the time

Answer 7

Tight/Aggressive play. Know the situation and bet/fold/call accordingly.

Answer 8

Basic strategy - conservative card selection, aggressive play.

Good luck

Answer 9

when starting a tourney the strategy is based on the table you are at...

Answer 10

Depends on how many people are playing.