Basic Strategy: No-Limit Texas Hold 'Em for Beginners
Our basic betting strategy is simple. We're going to start out playing our usual tight game, and if we have a chance for a good draw hand, we're going to play it. As the game progresses and the blinds go up, we want to start playing a looser game, and focusing on playing made hands a lot more.
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If we're in late position and no one's raised the pot too high before the flop, we probably want to try to see the flop with even low pairs, since high pairs are going to play very strongly and if we can pick up a 3-of-a-kind off the flop, we'll be in great position. Obviously this is not going to work if someone's gone all-in for $200 before the flop.
Also, remember that the game favors made hands, but only if strong draw hands are forced out early. For that reason, we want to “right-size” our bets – what's a bet that's high enough to force other players out without being to risky to our bankroll?
Another problem is that no-limit favors made hands as opposed to draw hands. If the pot is $500 and the maximum bet is $20 and we're trying to draw one more card for a straight or, the odds are pretty good. Because we know the chances of getting the right card are about 20%, which means that 2 times in 10, we'll win. That means we'd lose $20 8 times, but the 2 times that we win, we'd get $1000, so our total win would an impressive $920.
On the other hand, if we're holding out for that last card and someone made raised $500, now our chances don't look so good. The actual odds are the same, but the “pot odds” – how much money we stand to make or lose has changed. Now, we know that statistically we're looking at losing $4000 in an attempt to win $1000. Better fold unless you're feeling really lucky. By the way, if this math doesn't make sense right away, you'd be smart to read some articles on betting theory.
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