10 Texas Hold'em Tricks That Will Make You More Winning Poker Player
CasinoThe days when Stud poker was the most popular version of poker are long gone, and today Texas Hold'em is probably the most played card game in Arabic online casinos. One of the advantages of Texas Hold'em is its simplicity. You only need a few minutes to learn the basic rules and gain enough knowledge to compete against basic-level players. However, poker is known to be a game that is easy to learn but hard to master, and this is true for Texas Hold'em as well. This means that if your goal is to compete for the big pots, then you need to invest a lot of time in your own learning curve. Fortunately, thanks to the advancement of internet technology, you can easily find training material in a few clicks. Also, you can join VipArabClub which offers plenty of free poker games that you can play without risking anything. But before you start honing your skills in these risk-free online poker games, here are 10 Texas Hold'em tips from seasoned pros to help you improve your playing skills.
Start by Studying the Poker Hand Rankings
This is especially important if you are new to online poker. Keep in mind that poker is a game where you have to be able to make quick decisions. And if you still do not know the ranking of poker hands, you will have a hard time even deciding whether to call or raise. So, when you play RNG-based poker (video poker machines), you always see a poker hand ranking in front of your face. And so, video poker can be your great starting point for diving into the world of the popular card game. What's more, by joining VipArabClub, you can play video poker machines like Deuces Wild or Jacks or Better without risking your money. Although these games use different rules than Texas Hold'em, they can help you remember your poker hand ranking quickly.
Don't Use Strategy Charts
At the start of each round, you get two closed cards. And your future decisions depend on this starting hand. Many Texas Hold'em beginners are tempted to use strategy charts to make game decisions. However, you can systematize this information so it sticks in your memory and you don't have to use strategy charts every time. So, here are a few categories of starting hands:
- Pairs. Having two cards of the same suit is a good start. However, your success depends on how high rank they are. If you have a pair of low-ranked cards, you're probably better off discarding them than continuing to play in hopes of getting a high-ranked hand.
- A-K or A-Q. With these starting cards, you have a great chance of forming a strong hand, so stay in the game if you get them.
- A and a low-ranked card of the same suit. This can be a promising start, but the chances of putting together a high-ranked hand are still slim.
- Two different cards of the same suit. With cards like 6 and J, you have a chance of getting a Flush, for example. However, it's not a promising enough hand to raise in the pre-flop.
By remembering these categories, you will learn to make better decisions in the early stages of the game.
Avoid No-Limit Hold'em If You're a Beginner
While being able to bet as many chips as you like all the way up to the pile attracts many people to No-Limit Hold'em, it is always risky even if you are sure of your hand's strength. As for Limit Hold'em, the name says it all - you can't bet higher than the set limit. Additionally, in this version of the game, calculating pot odds is a much easier task. Finally, with No-Limit Hold'em, you can gradually build up a solid bankroll, but be patient.
Take Your Position into Account
In Texas Hold'em, you can determine your position by focusing on the blinds. Keep in mind that position determines the order in which players act. There is what is known as early position when you act before most of your opponents, and late position, when you enter the game after most players have already made their move. All you need to remember is that you should play tighter in the early position and looser in the late position. There's a simple reason for this: the later you act, the more information you already have.
Don't Play Too Many Hands per Hour
Because the online poker format allows you to play far more hands in a single hour than you would at a physical table, you can be tempted to play as many hands as possible to win something big. If you play too many hands, chances are high that you will lose your virtual chips in a heartbeat. We recommend that you concentrate on developing a good preflop poker strategy first. It is especially important that you do not play a hand that is not worthwhile because it contains weak cards. Finally, don't be afraid to play aggressively, because when you raise, most of your opponents are still unaware of the cards you are holding.
Don't Limp First as You Reduce Your Chances of Winning the Pot
Known as calling the big blind preflop, limping is something you should avoid as the player who enters the pot first. However, you can use this move in Hold'em if there's already a player who is limping. In that case, your chances of winning the pot are much higher, and such behaviour is considered by professional poker players as a nice move.
Fold Wisely
Although we've talked about it above, you need to learn how to fold your cards at the right time so you don't lose too much. So, if you're in an early position - and you don't have any high-ranking cards in your hand - you're better off folding. If you're in a late position - which means you already have enough information on players - and you don't feel you're sitting with weak opponents at the table, then fold too if you have a poor hand. However, do not fold too much, as this is an element of the loose strategy common to weak poker players. Once they discover your weakness, the stronger players will take advantage of it each time.
Don't Bluff When It's Inappropriate
As you know, bluffing is when you raise without having the cards needed to make a strong poker hand. Frequent bluffing in poker results from not following the advice above, i.e., not folding in time. While bluffing can result in nice winnings, you do not have to use it to lose money. The fact is, bluffing is an art that takes years to master. And if you bluff too often, strong players will figure it out and use it to their advantage. However, you can still bluff if you're playing against one or two players. Beginners are better off avoiding tough decisions. Instead of learning the art of bluffing from your first poker steps, focus on when you should fold or raise. However, if your goal is to learn how to bluff, play low-limit poker with a predominance of players not skilled enough to identify you as a beginner.
Manage Your Bankroll Wisely
If you want to learn how to manage your poker bankroll, a study conducted by Chris 'Jesus' Ferguson will probably help you do so. With a goal of reaching $10,000 from just a few quid, he's developed the perfect system to manage his bankroll. Here's what you can do to build your bankroll from scratch:
- Start with freerolls, Texas Hold'em tournaments where you can participate without paying an entry fee. Even though you don't pay an entry fee to participate in freerolls, you can still win something.
- Do not buy-in above 5% of your bankroll. For example, if you have $100, the maximum buy-in you can afford is only $5.
- Avoid playing in multi-table poker tournaments, as they are highly volatile competitive events. If you do want to participate, lower your buy-in limit to 2% of your bankroll.
In addition, the general rules of sensible bankroll management also apply. This means that when you play Texas Hold'em, you should set a limit on how much you're willing to part with. The truth is that while your success in Texas Hold'em depends a lot on your skill, the element of luck is still there. Also, set a limit on the length of your playing sessions so you have time for more important things. Finally, find good Hold'em books to learn the important subtleties of the game. For example, we recommend Hold'em Poker by David Sklansky and The Application of No Limit Hold'em by Matthew Janda as some of the best books. Although there are many other books, these are the ones that can be your starting point into the world of a more advanced game of Texas Hold'em.
Also, you need to practice regularly, as theoretical knowledge is of no value if you can't put it into practice for your own benefit. Instead of just making moves, focus on the important aspects of the game to understand what you're doing and for what purpose. The more you practice, the faster a full understanding of the game will come. Keep in mind that Texas Hold'em is the greatest game, and it will take years before you are fighting on equal footing with really strong players. However, by starting off right - and avoiding the typical beginner's mistakes - you can master the art much faster.