Limit Texas Holdem: Some Basic Strategy & Tips
Introduction
Limit Texas Hold'em can be quite deceptive to those players that are less skilled. A falsehood believed by some players is that you can just join the game and call down the hands when you have pot odds, never taking notice of your opposition.
In truth, this is how many Limit Hold'em player do play on the low limit tables such as the $2-$4 and $4-$8 tables. Additionally, it is common for intermediate players to be afflicted with a lack of discipline or tightness as well as a lack of aggression or b attach in the right situations.
As
a general rule, overall tight/aggressive playing style is
perhaps the most profitable, especially in intermediate/b games.
Limit Texas Hold'em Top Advice
1. Play only when you hold one of the premium starting hands. In regular play, you should stay in to see no more than 20-25% of the flops.
2. When choosing the table at which to play, beware of tight/aggressive tables which are low profit and high volatility and avoid b players who will simply 'read you and take your chips'. Look for loose games where about 30% see the flop on average and many play their hands too far for prudence.
3. When you are drawing, be certain to have pot odds in your favor, only calling a bet if the pot justifies the call. For more information about this concept, see Pot Odds.
4. Remember to analyze your relative strength in the hand. Make it a habit to always anticipate what your opponents are holding and to continue the evaluation as more informaiton is revealed in each of the later rounds. You will not be really successful unless you learn how to think like your opponents.
5. Make it a point to recall playing styles of opponents. Ask yourself what types of hands they waise, what hands they re-raise, whether or not they clal when holding weak cards, whether they play pocket pairs, whether they play draws, what hands they like to call or raise from early positions, as well as what hands they check or raise with to gain more insight into the players styles.
6. Bet or raise when it is warranted. If a bet or raise is worthwhile, don't simply call. The very structure of Limit Texas Hold'em encourages drawing hands, which might even bet into you. If you really think you have the best hand, it is wise to almost always bet or raise. Don't give away any free cards.
7. Always have a good kicker card. You want to have a good side card, called the kicker, to your highest card. Too often, weak kickers simply build second best hands and these can be expensive in the long run.
8. Jump on the opportunity to steal pots when you are in a late position. If few players are in the pot and it has been checked around to you, the possibility of taking the pot in last or late position may exist. However, do this only when it appears as if the board did not provide benefits to anyone. Always consider the styles and types of players remaining in the pot when considering stealing a pot.
9. Vary your play so that you sometimes limp on raising hands and bet or raise on some calling hands. This should be done both before and after the flop so that you don't become predictable.
10. Save money by folding at the right times. Do not draw when you already know you are beaten and the pot isn't worthy of a call.
11. Bluff very rarely and only when you are certain your opposition does not hold great hands and/or are very weak when you attempt to bluff.
Strategy Article 1.Limit Holdem Playing Flops
Strategy Article 2. Limit Holdem Starting Hands
Strategy Article 3. Limit Holdem - Playing Middle or Bottom Pairs on the Flop
Strategy Article 4. Limit Holdem Overcards Flop
