No-Limit Holdem : Basic Strategy
The biggest differences between No-Limit Texas Hold'em and Limit
Texas Hold'em involve position and hand value. Position is far more
important in No-Limit because the decisions you make will have a
greater impact on your stack. If you trap someone in No-Limit with
the help of position, you can win your opponent's entire stack as
compared to collecting a few extra bets in Limit. Big connectors
like AK, AQ and KQ decrease in value when you play No-Limit as you
are more likely to win small pots and lose big pots with these types
of hands. As well, all pairs increase in value when playing No-Limit
since you are able to double through your opponents when you hit a
set. The big pairs, AA and KK, also increase in value when playing
No-Limit as you are again presented with an opportunity to trap
someone for his whole stack.
In No-Limit it is important to keep track of the amount of money
you and your opponents have on the table. The variation in stack
size greatly affects how the game is played. Some examples are as
follows:
- You have $500 and your opponent has $25, the blinds are
$2-$4. You are sitting in the big blind with a JTs and your
opponent moves all-in from first position (a position referred
to as sitting under the gun). All other players fold. This is
clearly a situation in which you should fold since you are most
certainly the underdog and risking an additional $21 in order to
win his last $25 is not a profitable play. If your opponent also
has $500, then a call may be acceptable as you have a chance of
winning $500 by risking another $21. The decision of whether to
call or not depends on how well your opponent plays after the
flop.
- You have $1000 and your opponent also has $1000, the blinds
are $2-$4. You hold QQ and make it $20 to go. Your opponent, who
is acting behind you, now moves all-in with his entire $1000.
You should fold unless you know your opponent does not have AA
or KK. If your opponent made the same play with only $60 in
front of him, you should call his all-in bet in the hopes that
he does not hold AA or KK.
No-limit Texas Hold'em Top Advice
- Playing too many starting hands: in a standard $2-$4 NL game
you should have a 20-30% view of the flop percentage. This means
folding AJ in first position, KT in middle position and QT in
late position.
- Table selection: only play in games where you have an edge.
You want at least a couple of weak players at the table when you
sit down.
- "Playing the players": make sure to quickly assess the
opposition: who plays inferior hands, who folds at aggression,
who bets with draws, who calls big bets with weak hands and
draws, who can be bluffed, who bluffs, etc.
- "Pump it or dump it": fold or bet/raise (if the odds are with
you). You should avoid calling unless you have a good reason
(like trapping an opponent).
- Respect most big bets and raises: this is particularly true
on the turn and river as most players do not bluff.
No-Limit Texas Hold'em Common Mistakes
- Not releasing a decent hand when beat, thus losing the whole
stack on one hand.
- Calling with weak holdings when facing a bet.
- Playing too many starting hands.
- Not raising pre-flop with premium hands (putting pressure on
limpers holding drawing hands) and then going too far with them
after the flop.
- Over/under betting the pot (risking a lot to win small/not
protecting hand).
Basic Pre-flop Strategy
- Most of the time you should raise/re-raise with top-pairs
(AA-QQ) and top connectors (AK, AQs) in order to make low-pairs
and various connectors pay to see flops against you. Remember,
they will often have the opportunity to double up on you if they
hit (although many beginners do not realize this and fold too
often pre-flop).
- Stick to the premium hands. You will pay dearly to "chase"
with second-best hands in NL.
- Keep most raises down to between 70% and 100% (making it 3
times the big blind to go typically equals an 80% pot bet) in
order to save money when you get re-raised or called by stronger
holdings. If there are limpers in front of you, raise to about
4-6 times the big blind.
- Have respect for strong tight players (for example, you
should drop AQ if a strong player raises under the gun).
- When very weak players have entered the pot, be inclined to
call and take flops with them.
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