No Limit Texas Holdem Strategy
Here is a quick tutorial for strategy on No Limit Texas Holdem. If you want some more in depth analysis and advanced techniques then click on the title for the longer versions. We will do a quick review of how to play certain hands If you want to learn exact strategy for specific situations click the subtitles. This strategy is based on a tight but aggressive style and is proven to make money.
Index: What You’ll Find on This Page
1. Playing Hole Cards
2. How to Play AA,KK,QQ
Pre-flop big pairs in all situations
How to play AK
How to play Ace Queen
3. Big Pairs After the Flop
Big pairs after the flop for all situations
Playing big pairs against better players
4. Playing Suited Connectors
Suited connectors against better players
Flopping a draw with your hand
5. Playing Small Pairs
Small Pair Theory
Hitting a set with a flush draw on board
Flopping a set with all high cards on board
6. Playing Flush Draws
Flush draws against stronger opponents
Straight and flush draw (simultaneously)
7. Playing Straight Draws
8. Trash Hands
Tournament Strategy
Sit N Go Strategy
High Stakes Sit and Go Strategy
Multitable Tournament Strategy
Late Round Marginal Hand Multi-table Strategy
Short Stack Strategy
Cash Game Tips – Online and Offline
Playing Ring Games or 10 Man Tables
Common Poker Tells
Heads Up Poker Tips
Short Handed Poker Strategy
Playing Low Stakes Poker
Advanced Poker Strategy and Tips
Calculating Pot Odds
Tips on Bluffing in Poker
When to Bluff Again on Fourth Street
Control Betting
Miscellaneous Poker Strategy
Running Bad – Tips To Start Winning Again
What to do When You Miss Your Flop
Common No Limit Mistakes
Texas Holdem – Site built by a fellow webmaster, Greg, strictly for Texas Holdem
NL Texas Holdem Cliff Notes
1. Hole Cards
You are going to be playing premium hands. Of course you will be playing your Aces, Kings, Queens, Jacks but it is with these hands that you will be raising with preflop. Your suited connectors and small pairs is what you will be limping in with. All other hands should be played rarely such as your Ace 7, suited but not connected cards, and in general those type of hands.
2. How To Play Aces, Kings, and Queens / Big Pairs
This is where the so called tight but aggressive style comes in. You are going to be raising hard with these type of hands. If someone raises before you, go ahead and re-raise. A good notion to go by is that 10% of your stack is considered to be a large raise. Go ahead and raise that much with this type of hand.
It is critical to understand that big pairs is not where you will win your most money. This is a very common misconception and you should play to get as few callers as possible.
3. Big Pairs After The Flop
You’ve raised the pot pre-flop so hopefully you will only have 1 or possibly two players left in the hand. If you consistently get more than 1 or 2 players calling you with your big pairs pre flop then you are not raising enough. It is ideal to only have a few players call to the flop.
When the board flops and you still feel you have the best hand do not slow play. The pot should be large enough to take at this point. Go ahead and bet at minimum the size of the pot. Your whole goal with large pairs is going to be this. Get as much money of theirs in the pot pre-flop and take down the pot after the flop. We do not want to see the turn or river. As Doyle Brunson says, “Its better to win a small pot than lose a big one.”
4. Suited Connectors
You will learn to love these cards. Personally I get more excited when I get these type of hands than big pairs. Your pay-outs with these hands are very large when played correctly.
The overall strategy is to limp in with your suited connectors against your average player. Many times players will slow play their big pairs letting you catch something on the flop. This is why you should almost never slow play your big pairs.
If you hit your hand with your suited connectors then you should bet quite large. Most players don’t look for straights. The average player is watching out for flushes and big pairs so when you hit your straight you can be sure to get paid off. If you have an ace on the flop or on the board at all you should bet slightly larger than normal hoping your opponent has an ace. If you get called you know they have an ace so keep firing next betting round.
5. Small Pairs Are God
You can go ahead and put the suited connectors and your small pairs in the same category. It is with these hands that you will make an extremely large amount of money with. Over 3 years we believe the best strategy is to just limp in with these hands.
You can call a small raise with your small pairs but anything near a 10% raise should not be called. In cases where you think your opponent may have aces or kings and they are not one to fold them then you can go ahead and call any moderate raise in hoping to double up against their big pair.
Once you hit your set you are going to pay careful attention to what is on the board. For the most part someone ideally hit top pair and you should bet with moderately high raises. If you do not hit your set just go ahead and dump your hand.
6. Flush Draws
When playing weak opponents it is good to go ahead and semi bluff your flush draw. A semi bluff means that you are betting into the pot hoping to win it right there. If you get called you still have a lot of outs to make the best hand. A weak player will usually just call even if they have top pair letting you draw into your hand for cheap.
7. Straight Draws
Straight draws are disguised a little more than flush draws and you can expect to make more from straights than flushes. It is much easier for you to just call or check with your straight draws and go undetected. If someone is betting into you it is best to just call with a straight draw.
Some straight draws you really shouldn’t even play at all. An example of this is when you hold something like 6,7 and the board comes 8,9,J. At this point you have an open ended straight draw but really your only chance in the hand is to catch a 5. If a ten comes that will also give you a straight but you will have the sucker straight. Your opponent will only need to have a Queen and you staight is no good. These types of draws should be let go if you are under pressure.
8. Trash Hands
Bad players wonder why they consistently lose. It is because they play trash hands. They will slowly lose money with these cards and consistently get out-kicked. These type of hands are the Ace X, J 3, King 5, and garbage like that. Be patient and do not play these hands or you will lose in the long run.
