Limit Texas Holdem : Basic Strategy
Limit Texas Hold'em can prove deceptive to less skilled players.
A false notion held amongst players is that you can simply sit and
call down the hands whenever you have pot odds, without taking much
notice of your opponents. In fact, this is how a majority of Limit
Texas Hold'em players act on low limit tables ($2-$4 or $4-$8). In
addition, intermediate players are very commonly afflicted with a
lack of discipline (tightness) and a lack of applied aggression
(strong attack in the appropriate spots).
In general, an overall tight/aggressive style of play is probably
the most profitable, especially in intermediate/strong games.
Limit Texas Hold'em Top Advice
- Play only premium starting hands: in a regular game you should
see no more than 20-25% of the flops.
- Table selection: beware of tight/aggressive tables (low
profit, high volatility) and avoid strong players overall as
they will "read you and take your money". Look for loose games
where at least 30% see the flop on average and play their hands
too far.
- Make sure to have pot odds when you are drawing: only call a
bet if the pot justifies the call (see Pot Odds).
- Always analyze your relative strength in the hand: make a
habit of always anticipating the holdings of your opponents and
be sure to further evaluate as more information is revealed in
later rounds. You will never be truly successful unless you "get
under the skin" of your opponents.
- Try to remember the playing styles of your opponents:
questions you should ask yourself include, what kind of hands do
they raise with? What hands do they re-raise with? Do they call
all the way with weak holdings? How do they play pocket- pairs?
How do they play their draws? What kinds of hands do they
call/raise with from early position? What type of hands do they
check-raise with?
- Bet or raise when warranted - do not just call: the structure
of Limit Texas Hold'em invites drawing hands, which might even
bet into you. If you believe you have the best hand you should
almost always bet/raise. You do not want to give any free cards.
- Always have a good kicker: you must have a good side card, or
kicker, to your highest card. (Weak kickers create second-best
hands, which prove expensive in the long run).
- Be quick to steal pots when you are in late position: when few
players are in and it has been checked around to you, a
possibility of taking the pot in last or late position might
arise. Only do this if it looks as though the board did not
benefit anyone. Also, be sure to consider the type of players
left in the pot.
- Vary your play: occasionally limp on "raising hands" and
bet/raise on some "calling hands". Do this both before and after
the flop in order to avoid predictability in your playing style.
- Fold in time: you will save money if you fold in time. Do not
draw when you know you are beat and the pot does not warrant a
call.
- Rarely bluff: you must be quite sure that your opponents are
not holding strong hands and/or are very weak when you attempt
to bluff.
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