Learn Texas Holdem
Get Started The Right Way
The information you get about poker training appears pretty much the same everywhere, be it from books or expert players. New players who want to learn Texas holdem poker need to keep it simple and follow some basic rules as they are learning the intricacies of the game. Given below are 5 things you must put into practice while learning Texas holdem poker:
Practice - Rehearse Texas holdem poker on the available free sites before actually playing in a casino. Each of these sites offers tutorials and free lessons for all of their players to learn from. Use a Texas Hold em Guide to get you started. Once you have completed the learning process, you can play at micro-levels that are not possible in real life. You can then slowly move up as you master the tricks of Texas holdem.
Play According To Your Position On The Table - this is a term you will often come across while learning Texas holdem poker. This point should not be taken lightly. The majority of errors that occur with new as well as veteran players are when they do not play their position accurately. It is very hard for new entrants learning Texas holdem as the seasoned players find it difficult too. Basically, you are going to be playing only big hands in early position and a broader hand selection the closer to the button you get. You will change this up a bit as you get better, but in the beginning make sure that you stick to basics.
Money Management - one more important consideration for winning at Texas holdem poker is proper management of funds. Some players get into the game with all the finances that they have and that is a big mistake. This is a very expensive way to initiate yourself into the game. As a rule, you should never buy into a game for more than 8-10% of your bankroll and you should only play at a level that is in line with that buy in. Failing to do that can lead to bankruptcy. If you learn to manage finances properly, you can still stay in the game even after repeatedly getting broke. Worst case scenario, but you get the point as to how critical proper money management can be. It is one of the most important factors to remember as you poker.
Watch Your Opponents - this applies everywhere, whether you play live or online poker. You must continuously keep an eye on what everyone at the table is doing while you play live. Being observant will allow you to spot tells and betting patterns that you can use later. While playing online, use the note taking facilities available. You can use the notes to second guess your opponents. Each observation is worthy of being noted as you never know when it can be useful.
Know the odds - while you will play with a gut feeling at times, you better know the odds if you are going to learn Texas holdem the right way. For example, the probability of hitting is just about 9% when you have 4 useful cards and only the river card remains to be dealt. In this case, you need to get a 10-1 on your investment to justify making a call. If there is $100 in the pot and the bet is $50, you stand to win $150 if you call the $50 bet. Such low odds will not give you a worthwhile return. You can make intelligent moves if you know the odds and know when to take chances. Learning the numbers will give you an edge over others when you play Texas holdem poker.
While you are new to Texas holdem poker, it is easy to make blunders and land yourself into trouble. To take care of your teething troubles, you can enroll yourself in a training course like the World Series of Poker Academy. If you are willing and able to spend, you can learn Texas holdem very well at these places. Here previous WSOP Champs will give you live tutorials on how to play Texas Holdem. Another good - and free - place to start is at Full Tilt Poker's Poker School.
While these classes can be a little expensive, you may choose to learn Texas holdem poker via one of the many books that are available. You can begin with Phil Hellmuth's Play Poker Like the Pros. As you are looking for more advanced techniques, you should get Super System 2 (a compilation by Doyle Brunson) as it has the best of the best breaking down all of their favorite games. This book brings you tips and tricks from not one, but many of the world's best poker players. Good luck as you learn to win at Texas holdem!
By Dennis Boesen
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