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Texas Hold’em Beginner Strategy

April 30, 2009

Texas Hold’em is a relatively easy poker game to learn, but much more difficult to master. There are plenty of strategic maneuvers one can learn to increase profits and decrease chip loss when playing Texas Hold’em, but it is highly recommended to take the Texas Hold’em Strategy process one step at a time.

We have provided this Texas Hold’em Strategy Guide in three parts…

Texas Hold’em Beginner Strategy
Texas Hold’em Intermediate Strategy
Texas Hold’em Advanced Strategy

Novice Texas Hold’em players, or veteran players who have never applied a Texas Hold’em strategy, should start out with this initial guide – the Texas Hold’em Beginner Strategy. We will offer a few key elements that beginners should apply to their Texas Hold’em game to decrease losses and maximize winnings.

Texas Hold’em Beginner Strategy – Pick Your Player Type

In general, there are 4 types of poker players – Loose/Passive, Loose/Aggressive, Tight/Passive and Tight/Aggressive.

Loose Players: Loose players are defined by their consistent desire to see the lop, disregarding the strength of their Starting Hands, or moving on with marginal hands, rather than waiting for premium holdings. Basically, Loose players filter out too many chips Pre-Flop. Being a loose poker player isn’t always a bad thing, however. Loose players can often steal Blinds by placing a large bet that forces tight players to Fold more often than not. As a novice player, Loose game play is not suggested until you’ve become more accustomed to reading your opponents. Loose players can often win a tidy sum if playing against predominantly Tight players.

Tight Players: Tight poker players are those who Fold Pre-Flop way more often than they move on. This is because they are paying close attention to Starting Hand selection, choosing to conserve their chips for a hand that has a better chance of winning. Most professional poker players choose to play a Tight poker game, knowing it is more beneficial in the long run.

Passive Players: A Passive poker player will place small to medium size bets, but rarely places a large bet without the Nuts (best possible hand). If a Passive poker players pushes all-in, be afraid!

Aggressive Players: An Aggressive poker player is one who is not afraid to place a large bet or raise, usually in hopes of knocking other players out of the pot. When an Aggressive player has a good hand, even if it is not the nuts, they will call a large raise or re-raise with confidence. Aggressive players are generally successful bluffers who earn most of their winnings by encouraging others to Fold.

From these player types, you need to decide which will suit your style of poker play best. A tight poker game is highly recommended for beginner Texas Hold’em players. the only problem most newbies face with a Tight poker game is the ability to remain cool, calm and collected, even during long swings of Folding. Getting bored causes bad decisions, and bad decisions result in losses.

Texas Hold’em Beginner Strategy – Starting Hand Selection

Until you develop an instinctual feel for the game and the ability to successfully read your opponents, you should never waver from a good Texas Hold’em Starting Hand strategy. As we just mentioned, letting yourself get bored is dangerously costly. During long periods of folding due to bad Starting Hands, concentrate your unused energy on reading your opponents and picking up on their betting and behavioral patterns. Wait for a good Starting Hand, then make your move.

You can learn more here about Texas Hold’em Rules & Starting Hands.

Written by Rob · Filed Under HORSE Poker Strategy 

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