Texas Holdem Strategy When To Fold

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  1. Texas Holdem Strategy When To Fold Back
  2. Texas Holdem Strategy When To Fold Free
  3. How To Play Texas Holdem For Beginners
  4. Texas Holdem Strategy When To Fold Board
  5. Texas Holdem Best Start Cards
  6. Texas Holdem Theory

They are: “Opening Hands”, “Bet Sizing”, “Limping”, “Knowing When to Fold” and “Position”. Many players would argue that there are more relevant strategy tips. However, if you can master these five “Golden Rules”, and focus on them, you will be better than most Texas Hold’em players. Starting with Opening Hands. The hands that you choose to go into battle with in Texas Hold’em are vital. That said, starting hands are only one part of the game.

Once you’ve mastered these 5 Texas Hold’em poker strategies, you’ll be able to incorporate many other strategies into your overall game plan. Luckily, these strategies will set you on the path to Texas Hold’em glory. Let’s get started! #1 – Opening Hands. Remember, poker is a battle royale. Study Advanced Texas Holdem Strategy You also need to stay up to date with the latest advanced Texas Holdem strategies if you want to succeed in this game. There are tons of good advanced poker training programs out there these days. If you literally don't know where to start though, then I would recommend The Upswing Poker Lab. Mar 29, 2019 Know when to fold based on your position. Sometimes you just get a weak hand in an early position. This is a long game so sometimes your strategy for winning Texas Hold’em is folding-weak and waiting until you’re in a strong, later position. How To Play Texas Holdem Strategy. If you raise, your opponents have to raise, call, or fold. This can give you information about how strong their hands are. You may also get a check from your opponent on the next betting round, and with it the opportunity to improve your hand with a free card.

Granted, folding might not be the most spectacular play in a poker player's toolbox, but it sure is a very important aspect of poker. If you recognize the situations in which folding would be the most correct play, then you can save yourself a tremendous amount of money in the long run (or even every session). Especially in no-limit hold'em games not folding when holding a second best hand can be very expensive. It is therefore useful to take a closer look at folding and find out when to fold in poker (if you are looking for more information about which hands to fold pre-flop I would like to recommend you to also read the Texas hold'em starting hand selection guide).

When to fold in poker?

There are a number of situations in which folding would be correct:

  1. You are certain that you hold the worst hand and are also facing a bet.

  2. You don't have enough chance of improving to the best hand compared to the pot odds you get.

  3. You're unsure whether you're ahead or behind, but you'd have to call a big bet now or maybe later in the hand to find out.

  4. You are getting odds to call but you aren't closing the action and it is very likely that someone behind you will make it too expensive to continue.

Situations in which folding would be incorrect

Just like there are situations in which folding would be the best play there are also situations in which folding wouldn't be so okay:

  1. You can check instead :-).

  2. You know you have the best hand (obviously).

  3. You know you probably have the worst hand but you are getting the correct odds to call with your draw anyway.

  4. You know you are behind, but you are also pretty sure that a bluff will win you the pot.

Also: don't think about folding pocket kings pre-flop at the lower stakes unless your opponent goes all-in and shows you pocket aces.

Key aspects to consider for recognizing a fold

As you can see from the examples of folding and non-folding situations above there are some aspects besides your cards that are very important to consider in order to recognize a fold. These are:

  • Your odds
  • The action behind you or later in the hand

There's also the option of bluffing instead of folding when you know you're beat, but that goes beyond the scope of this article. At the lower stakes folding is often the better play anyway as there are too many loose calling stations anxiously waiting to call down your bluff.

Folding because of bad odds

If you are on a draw you should only call bets when you get the right pot odds and/or implied odds, as explained in more detail in the pot odds guide. As is mentioned in this guide it is very important to not overestimate your number of outs when deciding to draw or not (i.e., don't draw to gutshot straights on a two card flush and paired flop).

Folding when you don't get the right odds to call doesn't necessarily apply only to when you are drawing though. Because you can't put your opponent on just one hand, you often also can't say you are always ahead or always behind in a certain situation. If you put your opponent on a range of most likely holdings then you will often find that you are ahead of a part of that range and behind of the other possible holdings: you can make an estimation of how likely you are to be ahead and by comparing this chance with your pot odds you can either justify a call or make a good fold.

Example:
Hole cardsBoard

Say you called a raise from middle position pre-flop and called both a flop and a turn bet (seems very reasonable with top pair and second pair with an added flush- and gutshot straightdraw on the turn). Now your opponent bets again on the river: a pot sized bet giving you pot odds of 33% or 2:1. Say you think this opponent might have you beat with a pair of kings or aces, a hand like AQ, KQ or QJ and that you know he also likes to bluff three streets ('triple barreling') with hands like AJ, AK and sometimes a lower pair like 33.

Now, if you count all the possible combinations of these hands and calculate the fraction of hands you win from with your pair of tens, then you'll find that you have a chance of about 44% to win the pot based on the hand range mentioned. This means you should call. (You could also use PokerStove for this sort of 'equity calculation' instead. Oh, and now we're between brackets anyway, don't try to do these calculations while playing. Just practice them away from the table to get a rough idea or feel for your odds when playing.)

If, on the other hand, you don't think your opponent could have lower pocket pairs and AJ in his hand then you only have a 30% chance of winning. This means you should fold, because you aren't getting the right pot odds.

At the lower stakes you will encounter a lot of passive players who would not be attempting to bluff this river. In that case it would be a clear fold too.

Note that you can only very rarely put your opponent on an exact hand. Therefore folding very strong hands like bottom set (three-of-a-kind) on the flop or pocket kings pre-flop will almost never be correct, certainly not at the lower stakes. In order for this to be correct you have to put your opponent on exactly a higher set or, in the other example, pocket aces. In reality the range of possible hands your opponent could hold will almost always be wider and that would give you the right odds to just go ahead and 'ship it' with such strong holdings.

Folding because of the expected action

This one is also important for pre-flop starting hand selection. The reason that you should be very reluctant to play all kinds of drawing hands (with which you would like to see a cheap flop) from early position is that there are still quite a number of players to act behind you who can make it more expensive than you would like to by raising.

This principle also applies after the flop. Sometimes you will find yourself in a situation where you have a relatively weak made hand and are facing a bet with one or more opponents left to act behind you. Even if you think that you are ahead of the player who bet out, you have to consider the fact that you might still be behind to one of the other players. This would be a sound reason to just fold your marginal hand.

Besides the possible action the players left to act behind you might give, you also have to consider the possibility that a player will keep betting on future streets. If you check/call the flop with a medium strength hand and check the turn again then do you really want to call another bet? If not, then maybe it wouldn't have been a bad idea to fold on the flop in the first place.

Notice how your position plays a very important role in deciding whether to fold or not. If you are out of position then you have less control over how the hand plays out after you have made your decision, which should favor a fold in very marginal situations.

Folding in poker - conclusion

Hopefully this folding guide has helped you to better recognize folding situations or maybe even calling situations where you would have otherwise folded. Whether you actually fold your hand when you recognize that doing so would be the best action or whether you just keep calling and pushing with it instead might be dependent on the amount of bad beats you already had to suffer at that point. That's where discipline becomes an important factor too.

Texas

Remember that in micro stakes online poker games it isn't very difficult to pick the spots where you have a big edge to build big pots. That is where your value, your profit comes from. If you find yourself in a situation with a marginal hand and the pot is getting bigger than your hand warrants, then just fold. Don't become a calling station with your draws; don't find yourself calling your stack away with a weak middle pair; just fold. After all, a dollar saved is still a dollar earned. And those dollars can and will really add up when playing thousands of hands every month!

Further reading at First Time Poker Player:

Further reading across the internet:

  • OnlinePoker.net - Knowing when to fold your poker hand

Texas Holdem Strategy When To Fold Back

Texas Hold’em poker is everywhere these days — on TV, online, and in clubs and casinos. Before you sit down to a game of Texas Hold ’em, make sure you’re in good shape to be successful — take care of non-poker issues and check your physical, mental, and financial status. During the game, you need to understand basic odds and playable hands, as well as how to bluff successfully and follow proper poker etiquette. Texas Hold ‘Em also has its own abbreviations for online play.

Playable Texas Hold’em Hands

Texas Hold’em is a game of strategy, like any poker game, but where you’re sitting in relation to the action becomes part of your strategy when playing Hold’em. If you bet early, you generally need better cards than you do if you’re one of the blinds. The following table offers sound advice on what hands are playable when you’re sitting in different positions.

Questions to Ask Yourself before You Play Texas Hold’em

Whether you’re playing Texas Hold’em for fun or money — make that whether you’re playing for high stakes or low stakes — make sure you’re in a position mentally, physically, and financially to enjoy the game and make the most of your chances. Ask yourself these questions before you sit down to a game:

Texas Holdem Strategy When To Fold Free

  • What is the purpose of my playing this session? Whether it’s to learn more, win money, or just hang with friends for a good time, make sure you know why you’re there and that you’re doing everything you can to accomplish that goal.

  • If I were to play an opponent who’s exactly the same as a well-rested, un-stressed version of me, would that person have an advantage? If the answer is “yes,” hold off on playing until you’re in a better psychological and physical state.

  • Can my bankroll handle this level of play? If not, play a lower level.

  • Are there any distractions in my life that I need to get rid of before I play? Pay your rent, walk your dog, call your significant other — whatever it is, get it out of your head so you can focus.

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  • Do I know if the house I’m playing in has any bonuses for players such as bad beat jackpots, high hands, free food and/or drinks for players, or freeroll tournaments? If not, ask a floorperson before you start playing and find out about the details of how you can qualify.

  • Is there an aggressive person at the table I’ll be playing at? If so, try to get yourself seated to his left so you see the raises before your action and not after.

  • What do I know about the people sitting at the table? Whatever it is, use it to your advantage.

Rough Odds for Texas Hold’em

Playing poker is about playing the odds. The following list gives the odds for outcomes in Texas Hold’em hands. When you realize how heavily the odds are stacked against you, you may want to rethink going all-in before the flop with two suited cards. Use the odds to your advantage:

  • 1 percent (1-in-100): Percentage of time that no player holds an Ace or a King at a table in a 10-handed game

  • 1 percent (1-in-100): Percentage of time that if you hold two suited cards, you’ll flop a flush

  • 6 percent (about 1-in-20): Percentage of time that five community cards will give pocket suited cards a flush

  • 6 percent (about 1-in-20): Percentage of time that you’ll be dealt a pocket pair

  • 8 percent (about 1-in-12): Percentage of time that you’ll hit at least trips after having a pair on the flop

  • 12 percent (about 1-in-8): Percentage of time that you’ll flop trips if holding a pocket pair

  • 12 percent (about 1-in-8): Percentage of time that two more cards will flop in the same suit as a suited pocket pair

  • 19 percent (about 1-in-5): Percentage of time that the five community cards will at least trip your pocket pair

  • 32 percent (about 1-in-3): Percentage of time that you’ll pair one of your cards on the flop (with no pocket pair)

  • 33 percent (about 1-in-3): Percentage of time that you’ll make a full house or better after having trips on the flop

  • 35 percent (about 1-in-3): Percentage of time that you’ll make a flush on the turn or river if you have four cards to a flush after the flop

How To Play Texas Holdem For Beginners

Texas Hold’em Bluffing Tips

What makes any poker game exciting, and Texas Hold’em is certainly no exception, is that players can bluff at any point. Sometimes half the fun of a game is seeing whether you can successfully bluff an opponent out of some money. But, even as you’re misleading your opponents, make sure you bluff in the right circumstances. Heed these bluffing tips:

  • Only bluff where it makes a difference to your standing — either in a tournament or to your stack of chips.

  • Be careful bluffing someone considerably worse than you are. He may call just to see what you have, or on some probabilistically low draw when he already has you beaten anyway.

  • Bluff in situations where the board hints at the great hand you do not have: straights and flushes being hinted at by the board, the turn of an Ace, and so on.

  • Don’t try to bluff players who only play the most solid of hands if they’re still in the pot.

  • Don’t bluff people who are extremely likely to call.

  • Do bluff the timid or people who are likely to fold.

  • Remember that it’s easier to bluff in No-Limit than Limit because the bets (both implied and real) are bigger.

Texas Holdem Strategy When To Fold Board

Poker Etiquette for Texas Hold’em

The etiquette tips in the following list apply to Texas Hold’em and to any other poker game. Sure, you can have fun while you play poker, but you can have all the fun you want without being impolite to the other players or the dealer. Basic poker etiquette includes these tips:

  • Always play in turn.

  • Be aware of when it’s your turn to post the blinds and do so promptly.

  • Any time there is a discrepancy at the table, talk to the dealer — not the other players — about it. If you’re not able to get satisfaction from the dealer, ask for a floorperson. Talking with other players about the problem you perceive may generate ill will among people who have no authority in the situation in the first place.

  • Place your bets in front of you. Do not splash them into the pot.

  • Do not show your hand to other players at the table while a hand is in progress.

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  • Tell the dealer when you intend to raise. In No-Limit, gather the amount that you’re going to raise and either announce the total, or move it all forward with one motion. This prevents being called on a “string raise.”

  • Don’t forget to tip your dealer. Dealers work for minimum wage and rely on tips for their livelihood.

Texas Holdem Best Start Cards

Online Poker Abbreviations for Texas Hold’em

Playing online poker in general, and Texas Hold’em in particular, is a very popular pastime. When you’re online, you may encounter abbreviations specific to the world of poker. To understand what other players are saying, get familiar with these online abbreviations:

Texas Holdem Theory

AbbreviationWhat It MeansAbbreviationWhat It Means
86To remove or banne1Anyone
brbBe right backnhNice hand
gc/ncSlightly sarcastic phrase meaning good catch/nice catchggGood game
lolLaughing out loudglGood luck
nlNo-LimittyThank you
n1Nice one🙂Smiley face (view sideways)