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Texas Hold'em: Winning Tips from a Pro |
Texas Hold'em: Winning Tips
from a Pro
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| Texas Hold'em is a community
card game wherein all players are dealt with two cards which they can use
along with five community cards to make a five-card hand. Fairly easy.
However, with a standard 52-deck card and about 169 possible hole card
combinations to merge with five other cards that are only revealed
gradually, winning a simple hold'em game may not be easy after all.
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A Brief Review
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| The game was first played in
the early 1900's in Robstown, Texas but only reached its most popular state
during the 21st century. Made famous by movies and the introduction of
online gambling casinos, not to mention the success of internet rookie Chris
Moneymaker in the 2003 World Series of Poker, Texas hold'em has definitely
come a long way. Not even the US House of Representative's 2006 bill, which
prohibited its citizens to play online poker and other online gambling
games, was able to stop Americans who account for about fifty percent of the
online poker gambling market from playing the game. |
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Techniques from a Pro
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How do you think Chris
Moneymaker made it? How did he beat his opponents who happen to be pros when
he has never in his entire life sat on a live poker match? No, it isn't the
last name. It's strategy.
The first winning tip is to know your position. You could be in any of
three, early, middle or late position depending on where you are in relation
to the dealer. Knowing this is crucial in determining the right move. Keep
in mind that a two-hole card combination that can win money in an early
position can win more in a late position because the pot has been made
bigger by those in early and middle positions. Similarly, a weak combination
that can never win in an early position is most probably not an asset in a
late position.
Do some mathematics. You can never always depend on sheer luck. Think of it
this way. Once you have the hole cards, you have a vague idea of whether you
have a high hand or not. However, once the flop is turned up, you suddenly
have a seventy-one percent idea of how the game will turn out for you. Use
this in deciding whether to continue in the game or not. Don't forget,
though that the flop is not yours alone. Consider also what these cards mean
to the other players while focusing on yours. Do not grieve over the bets
you have already placed in hope that the tables will turn for you. Remember
that it is better to cut short your losses than to play it until the end and
lose some more.
Learn how to bluff. As in any poker game, bluffing is a good technique to
confuse your opponents. Sometimes, it helps to get caught bluffing once in a
while since you may use this later on to get your opponent to bet on your
good hand or fold on your weak hand.
Lastly, be smart. Don't be predictable in the eyes of other players. Be
inconsistent in your moves. Also, when you are not in the game, don't just
sit there and stare at the table. Pay attention. Study your opponents and
see whether they have mannerisms that give out clues. Every player has a
"tell". You should be observant enough to know theirs and careful enough not
to show yours.
Knowing the game and learning how to play yours are the keys to winning your
next match. |
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