Reaching the top of Texas Holdem is the dream of many players who aspire to win a pot at the next World Series of Poker (WSOP) event in Las Vegas. However, not many can say they have achieved it. As one of the most popular versions of poker, Texas Holdem offers a lot of depth, healthy competition, and, most importantly, a wealth of material to study and find the best strategy to approach the game.
Any professional poker player will tell you that Texas Holdem is a process of constant improvement. As the game evolves, so do the poker strategies you should use to improve your hand. The number of players is also growing, which means there is plenty of room for creativity and new challenges to explore.
Today, we’ll be looking at what PH777 considers to be the most viable Texas Holdem strategy options for both beginners and more advanced players who dream of making it to the final table of the WSOP. Our strategy tips are based on common sense and what top players in the poker world have to say. Let’s take a look.
Here are our top Texas Holdem poker strategy tips to learn before you start playing poker online for real money, so you have a better chance of winning.
Change Your Playstyle to Keep Your Edge
Whether you play fast or slow, act with strong hands or bluff, it is important to avoid being seen by your opponents. Every professional poker player tries to keep a poker face and show no emotion, whether they are holding a winning hand or struggling with a weak one.
To master any Texas Holdem strategy, you need to learn how to maintain a pace of play that allows you to avoid mistakes, take advantage of strong openings, and adjust your overall play in a way that allows you to be in control.
However, you should vary your playing style, especially if you are facing the same poker players in live tournaments or even online. Texas Holdem is a game of statistics, and sooner or later, a player will be able to read you. The best way to avoid this is to constantly develop your play and use bluffing tactics from time to time.
Know How to Fold When Unsure
Texas Holdem is a game of imperfect information. However, if you want to play successfully, you will have to learn to fold in a way that allows you to protect your pot and not be tempted by bluffs to bet too much on a weak hand.
Any player can fold a weak hand, but a good player will know when they are outplayed even with a strong pair pre-flop. Remember, the dynamics of the game change, and even WSOP players do not always know what their opponents are playing.
However, they know that when in doubt, the best way to move forward is to fold. Of course, a player in the Poker Index Top 100 will have far fewer instances of being “unsure.” However, the same logic applies to all levels of play.
If you can’t or don’t understand the stats, it’s best to fold your hand and wait for a more familiar opportunity. Don’t get too attached to a hand that you’re forced to fold because you’re unsure. Use this as an opportunity to grow because Texas Holdem is a casino game of stats, and the more you learn, the more you can risk.
Keep a Good Mood
Is this part of any Texas Holdem strategy? Actually, yes! To increase your chances of influencing your game for the better, you should be in the right frame of mind. No player in the history of the game has ever won a major title while sleep-deprived or “off the game.” Poker strategy requires you to be at your sharpest, and that often means meeting certain mental conditions. You want to maintain a high level of focus on the game and not let the little details get the best of you. Playing poker when you’re “in the mood” will help you avoid making bad decisions, such as reacting emotionally, and not taking a bad loss instead of trying to calm down and analyze what went wrong.
You Don’t Have to Play All Your Cards
As explained earlier, playing fewer but stronger hands is often how you win pots. This type of strategy signals that you are aware of your odds and that you have a better chance of winning than what an average hand can offer. Players who focus on fewer hands will generally fare better.
A common poker saying in Texas Holdem is that if you don’t have enough cards to call or raise, you probably won’t get very far on the flop or any other round, so why limp when you can wait?
Watch Professional Texas Holdem Poker
One way to improve your game is to study how the best players in the world play and put yourself in their shoes. With so many poker events taking place, including the WPT and WSOP events, and televised content available, you can glean a lot of information.
However, it is important to consider yourself an active spectator. Many people watch poker without criticism and simply enjoy the show, enjoying watching people react to unknown conditions. However, if you are a poker player who wants to learn, you will need to ask yourself why a certain game outcome occurs and why.
Players who study the game are more likely to succeed and develop a strategy that allows them to win based on the current table conditions. There is inherent value in watching how tournaments are played because you can see more situations, take notes, and even see ready solutions to similar situations you have experienced and fought yourself.
