Best Tips for Texas Holdem Players

Texas Hold'em poker is considered as the most popular and most played poker variant in the gaming industry today. It just doesn't excite online and mobile players, but also regular tournament gamers from different parts of the world. Almost all poker tournaments - both land and web based - hosted by different gaming organizations are patterned after its gameplay. This explains why more and more players are enticed on playing Texas Hold'em.

Another reason to consider is the game's simple rules and mechanics. Anyone can easily understand its gameplay - which is somehow to other poker variants. But this doesn't mean that players won't need much effort to succeed on this game. There are still complex strategies and techniques which can win them more rewards and bonuses.

Since its enticing for first timers to try, here are some basic knowledge on playing this featured game.

How to Play Texas Hold'em

It is important that new players understand the basic gameplay of any poker game which is getting the best five-card hand at the end of the round. In Texas Hold'em, they are dealt with two initial hole cards. Each players will then have their turn as the play moves around the table or in clockwise direction. Initial player turn usually starts from the player to the left of the dealer button.

The first two players usually initiate the round by posting small and large blinds - small blinds are usually half the total amount of the large blinds. These initial blinds, also known as forced wagers, are required to get the table going and invite other players to start staking for additional pot money. It is a necessity that the amount in the pot increases as the game progresses to add excitement as the round ends.

Once the blinds are set, action can now occur in multiple streets - the pre-flop, the flop, the turn, and the river:

1. Pre-flop action is the first wagering round of Texas Hold'em. Pre-flop takes place as soon as the initial hole cards are dealt to each player. In this round, the player staking the small blind will play first with three options to choose from: call, raise, or fold. During the "call" option, players need to match the amount wagered as the big blind; whereas the "raise" will literally increase the initial amount of the big blind stake. In some online gaming sites, this increase must be at least double the amount of the big blink before it is acknowledged. Meanwhile, the "fold" option discards the player's current hand and end their current game.

2. In the second round, also known as the Flop action round, three community cards will be dealt and the table will start another wagering round. These community cards will determine the strength of the players' cards as early as now. As for the play order, the first player to the left of the deal button will start this round and the succeeding rounds. Aside from the three initial actions - call, raise, and fold, players can also choose to "check" or pass their turn during this round to the next active player if they can't decide on which action to take.

3. During the third wagering round, a fourth community card - or the Turn - will be dealt face-up on the table before the action starts to happen. The remaining players will be again given the same four action options presented in the earlier round.

Again, players will still be given the same action points used from the previous round. After all players have finished their turns, the remaining players should reveal their two cards in hand to determine the winner. This last revealing round is called the Showdown. Players can enter this site to play with a $1000 welcome bonus and know more of these action rounds and strategies exclusive from Zodiac Casino.

Aggressive vs. Passive Play

There are two types of players in every Texas Hold'em scenario - the aggressive and the passive players. The aggressive players are usually the "raising" ones or those who are fond of wagering in every round. On the other hand, the passive players are those who regularly "check" or "call" on the played round. New players tend to be aggressive players as being passive tags them as weak players. But each gameplay type has its own advantages which can lead on winning a poker game. Gameplays are usually determined by the players' strategy per round.

Know When to Call or Fold

As the game progresses, players should be mindful of their decisions in every round. It is not just they're always following the action schemes wherein they continuously call, raise, fold, or check in every game. Players who are not sure of the odds of their hands can readily fold and discard it to avoid any risk of calling or raising the wager played. But once it touches the muck or the pile of discarded hands from other players, the folded hand is already dead - as well as the wager played with that hand.

But if players think they have a strong hand, they can call other player's hand or match their wager amount to continue the round. The strategy still depends on the player and how they will maximize their hands in every hand.

Play Fewer Hands

Since there are 169 possible starting hands in Texas Hold'em, it is advisable that players play with fewer or premium hands. Premium hands have the AA, KK, QQ, JJ, and AK - which is suited - combinations. These starting cards should be played if there are no other raises made on the table because a raise means a possible stronger hand. If players get other low-valued hands, then they should reconsider on playing these until the end of the round.

Other strong starting hands have the 10/10 and 9/9 combinations; suited AQ, AJ, KQ, A10, KJ, and JQ; and off suit AK and AQ.

Learn Basic Odds

Just like other poker variants, Texas Hold'em is also a game of statistics. Players need to understand the odds of having the next card or set of cards on the table either win or risk their hands. They can consider a simple probability computation for the next two cards to be drawn which goes 4 multiplied by the number of outs, subtracted to the number of outs minus eight.

If the odds are 2:1 or better, players are advised to call; if not, fold for lower odds. Players should always remember that the farther the odds in their favor, the lesser chances of them having a winning hand. It is better to fold as early as possible to avoid losing more wager as the rounds continue. Players can now know more of their poker odds in this site and check if they're on the right track of success in Texas Hold'em.