New to poker ? - Limit holdem - a brief introduction.
If you want to start playing poker,you had better decide to play
texas hold'em !.This game,though arguably not the best game of
poker,has somehow superceded other forms of poker,particularly
online.
Within texas holdem there are still decisions to be made.Do you
want to play limit poker,no limit poker or poker tournaments?
This introduction only concerns LIMIT TEXAS HOLDEM.
Why ?.Well the tactics you use in no limit poker,and tournament
poker will be completely different to those used in limit poker.
Also limit poker,i feel,is the best test for a poker player.
No limit poker can leave a player potless after hours of good
play,just by going "all in" on what seems an unbeatable
hand,only for a bad player,or loaded player who can go with
you,to pull off a fluke.The player has done nothing wrong,they
have to go with their hand,but,the bottom line is they are going
home with nothing to show for all the good play that went before.
Tournament play is also largely down to luck(and patience).Also
as with no limit poker,you can play great for hours only to lose
out just before the share-out stage on one bad stroke of
luck.Again the player does nothing wrong,but hours of play goes
up in smoke with nothing to show for it. Limit poker is the game
- you can play for as long as you feel good,and you can
manipulate the stake you want to play for each and every hand.
THE PROCEDURE. Take your online seat.
Wait for large blind(2 players pay large and small blind every
hand to start pot) - you will be prompted,just click to pay)
Two cards will be shown to you,and no one else.
A round of betting will now take place by other players round
the table. If there has not been a "raise"(increase in your
large blind stake you have already paid) then just "check"(it
costs you nothing and you get to see next card for free).
If there has been a "raise"you can either go with
them("call")and increase your stake or cut your losses and
"fold" - We will show wether you should stay in or fold hands
later.
Next the "flop" occurs - this is when 3 cards are dealt onto
table,which everyone can see.
There is now another round of betting,and apply same procedure
as in first round of betting.
Every player will now see another card dealt - the "turn" card.
There is now another round of betting,and apply same procedure
as in first round of betting.
Every player will now see another card - the 5th and final card
- the "river" card.
There is now another round of betting,and apply same procedure
as in first round of betting.
The game is now finished - the player with the best hand wins
the pot - less the poker house cut,the "rake"
Another game now begins,this time you will be prompted to pay
the "small blind"-click to pay.After this game you will get a
respite from paying to play,and will only pay again(unless you
have good hand that you do want to play) when big blind rotates
the table.
THESE ARE THE BEST HANDS IN RANK ORDER
1. Royal Flush
This is the highest poker hand. It consists of ace, king, queen,
jack, ten, all in the same suit. As all suits are equal, all
royal flushes are equal. 2.Straight Flush
Five cards of the same suit in sequence - such asJ-10-9-8-7.
Between two straight flushes, the one containing the higher top
card is higher. An ace can be counted as low, so 5-4-3-2-A is a
straight flush, but its top card is the five, not the ace, so it
is the lowest type of straight flush.
3. Four of a kind
Four cards of the same rank - such as four queens. The fifth
card can be anything. This combination is sometimes known as
"quads", and in some parts of Europe it is called a "poker",
though this term for it is unknown in English. Between two fours
of a kind, the one with the higher set of four cards is higher -
so 3-3-3-3-A is beaten by 4-4-4-4-2. It can't happen in standard
poker, but if in some other game you need to compare two fours
of a kind where the sets of four cards are of the same rank,
then the one with the higher fifth card is better.
4. Full House
This consists of three cards of one rank and two cards of
another rank - for example three sevens and two tens
(colloquially known as "sevens full" or more specifically
"sevens on tens"). When comparing full houses, the rank of the
three cards determines which is higher. For example 9-9-9-4-4
beats 8-8-8-A-A. If the threes of a kind were equal, the rank of
the pairs would decide.
5. Flush
Five cards of the same suit. When comparing two flushes, the
highest card determines which is higher. If the highest cards
are equal then the second highest card is compared; if those are
equal too, then the third highest card, and so on. For example
K-J-9-3-2 beats K-J-7-6-5 because the nine beats the seven.
6. Straight
Five cards of mixed suits in sequence - for example Q-J-10-9-8.
When comparing two sequences, the one with the higher ranking
top card is better. Ace can count high or low in a straight, but
not both at once, so A-K-Q-J-10 and 5-4-3-2-A are valid
straights, but 2-A-K-Q-J is not. 5-4-3-2-A is the lowest kind of
straight, the top card being the five.
7. Three of a Kind
When comparing two threes of a kind the hand in which the three
equal cards are of higher rank is better. So for example
5-5-5-3-2 beats 4-4-4-K-Q. If you have to compare two threes of
a kind where the sets of three are of equal rank, then the
higher of the two remaining cards in each hand are compared, and
if those are equal, the lower odd card is compared.
8. Two Pairs
A pair is two cards of equal rank. In a hand with two pairs, the
two pairs are of different ranks (otherwise you would have four
of a kind), and there is an odd card to make the hand up to five
cards. When comparing hands with two pairs, the hand with the
highest pair wins, irrespective of the rank of the other cards -
so J-J-2-2-4 beats 10-10-9-9-8 because the jacks beat the tens.
If the higher pairs are equal, the lower pairs are compared, so
that for example 8-8-6-6-3 beats 8-8-5-5-K. Finally, if both
pairs are the same, the odd cards are compared, so Q-Q-5-5-8
beats Q-Q-5-5-4.
9. Pair
A hand with two cards of equal rank and three other cards which
do not match these or each other. When comparing two such hands,
the hand with the higher pair is better - so for example
6-6-4-3-2 beats 5-5-A-K-Q. If the pairs are equal, compare the
highest ranking odd cards from each hand; if these are equal
compare the second highest odd card, and if these are equal too
compare the lowest odd cards. So J-J-A-9-3 beats J-J-A-7-6
because the 9 beats the 7.
10. High Card
Five cards which do not form any of the combinations listed
above. When comparing two such hands, the one with the better
highest card wins. If the highest cards are equal the second
cards are compared; if they are equal too the third cards are
compared, and so on. So A-J-9-5-3 beats A-10-9-5-4 because the
jack beats the ten.
HANDS TO PLAY.
To stress again this is an introduction to limit poker,after
time you will not stick to any strict guidlines,you get a feel
for the game,there might be an idiot playing who you want to get
involved with,it is your lucky day,and also you do not want to
become too predictable.
But for now some guidlines may be useful.
Position is often portrayed as very important - it may be in no
limit,but in limit not so important,if a hand is worth playing
there is no need to be put off by an increase in stakes.If it is
not a great hand,and you are early player(in other words you may
get raised by later player)then fold,whereas if you are late
player(fewer players have opportunity to raise you)then you
might run with it.
Also you should always defend your big blind stake to at least
one raise.One of the biggest pots i have ever won at limit poker
was a situation where i was dragged unwillingly into a raising
game holding a 6 - 2 unsuited,and you can't get much worse than
that.The flop threw down 3 sixes !. Let the small blind go
unless you have at least a half decent hand.
These are hands you must play,or raise even if raised
previousley.
AA, KK, QQ,
A K, AQ, AJ, KQ, KJ,
A - anything suited
Include these hands to check,and call if raised.
QJ, 10 - 10, J - J
4 - 5 suited, 5 - 6 suited, etc......through to.............10 -
J suited.
Include these hands to play and check(discard or play,depending
on your,and the games circumstances)
Any pair
4 - 5 unsuited etc..........through to ....................10 -
J.
THINGS TO BEAR IN MIND.
Players bluff a lot.
Players bluff much more than you would imagine - if you hold at
least a pair from flop,it may pay to see it through to the
end.Particularly if 2 suited cards,or a possible straight was
flopped,and now their straight can't be made,and their flush
busted.
Have rough idea of odds involved.
You can exhaust yourself,and make poker pretty hard work if you
take the maths to extreme lengths,but a rough idea of the odds
to draw is a must. Just have in front of you the odds involved
to make your hand.For these examples the river(last card)is to
come,and below are the approximate odds.If,say for example,you
have a pair of 3's and know you need another 3 to win the
pot,there are only 2 cards in the pack that can win it for
you.The odds are 22/1,if the pot,plus what will be played this
round is only paying you 10/1 you have to fold,if the pot has
potential for paying 30/1 you have to play.
Odds below are for river card - last card only to come.
It is roughly half the odds given below for turn plus river card
- last 2 cards still to come
2 cards wanted is app 22/1
3...............................14/1
4...............................11/1
5............................ .. 8/1
6............................... 7/1
7............................ ..11/2
8............................... 5/1
9................................4/1
10 cards wanted just play!
Most players are now too aggresive.
Almost everyone has read the poker instruction books,and the
recurring theme within those books is be agressive.Don't be
intimidated,when someone raises and reraises,if you have the
hand,go with them,let them up the ante,wait and hit them
late,particularly if the raiser does it all the time - the table
will go with this player,but maybe fold if you raise.This is the
reverse of popular tactics,but i have tried both,and at least
you have the option of bailing out if it goes wrong,most players
having raised agressively early feel they have to stay with it
whatever they end up with,and try to bluff their way out of
trouble.
Play in the highest stakes table you dare play in.
Poker can be a drudge sometimes,particularly if you have a
sequence of poor hands that you can't play.Even if you do have
hands to play,the norm is you will win the stake of the table
each hour - $5/10 table will return about $10 - $15,for a GOOD
player,not that much really.So what to do ? - play on a big
stakes table,and win or lose play for a shorter time,enjoy the
thrill,and if you do win,you will make a decent return.
By Pendil at British Betting and Gaming Sites