Rules, Strategy and Tips

Get to know the game of Texas Hold ‘Em just a little bit better, with some basic strategy explained. We’ve got everything from starting hands to bluffing all covered here.

Texas Hold ‘Em is the world’s most popular Poker variation, so learning the game in a little more depth and implementing some strategy when you can is always helpful. The aim of the game is to obtain the best ranking Poker hand according to standard Poker hand rankings. However, since the pot is awarded to the highest hand, the players who hold the highest cards generally have the best chance of winning or improving their hand, such as a high pair.

Cards and Hands:
* Low cards – 2 to 6
* Medium cards – 7 to 9
* High cards - 10 to Ace
* Suited hand – a hand with cards of the same suit
* Flop, turn and River – the board cards
* Set – either 3 of a kind, or 2 of the cards in your hand and the third on the table

How to play:
There are different ways to play your hand in any given Texas Hold ‘Em Poker game, and it takes practice learning when and how to apply them:
* Slow play – checking and calling for the purpose of keeping many players active in the game and thus building up the pot
* Fast play – betting, raising and re-raising to win the pot asap.
* Strong hands – pursue these only if you are certain that they can withstand several raises and re-raises.
* Moderate hands – continue with these only if the flop can be seen through for a worthwhile amount.

Starting hands:
* Strong starting hands: high pair (such as AA, KK, JJ, etc), Ace plus suited high cards (such as AQ (h)), suited face cards and AK.
• Moderate starting hands – face card plus 10 suited, medium strength pairs, high pairs, A plus medium strength card suited, low pairs, A plus low strength cards suited.
• Weak starting hands – low strength pairs (such as 44, 33, etc), and low strength cards plus Ace suited (such as A3(h)).

Tips:
• Strong hands should be fast played prior to the Flop round, since it will build up the pot whilst also pressure your opponents into folding,
• Beware of starting low pairs, they generally should be folded early.
• Prevent your opponents from learning your style by being caught out every no and then bluffing – it makes you less predictable.