1. General information
2. Pre-Flop
3. Play on the flop
4. The turn
5. The river
General information
No limit hold’em is maybe the most difficult poker game to learn.
There are so many factors that you have to take measures against. You have to beware of the players quality, position, stacks and category (tight, loose, weak, good, aggressive, passive.) Before you start
to play no-limit, it’s a good idea to get all the information about the game. There many good books that will save you money, if you read them before you jump in to higher games.
Pre-Flop
One of the most important things in no-limit is position. Position is very important because when you have good position, you are last to act, and can take advantage of what the other players have done. If for example
have 10 9,
and you call UTG then another player make a big raise. Then you just have to fold.
But if you sit on the button, and there is a big raise, you can fold, before you
have invested any money.
Table selection is also important. If you play
on a site with several tables on the limits that you want to play, take the one with
the weakest players. You can use several tools to recognize weak players.
Starting hands
If you are new to no-limit, don’t play too many hands,
its too dangerous and you will often end up without money. Play only decent start hands:
All pairs Big suited connectors AKs, AQs, AJs, A10s Big connectors AK, AQ
Other connectors KQs, QJs, J10s,
Big pairs and big connectors, AA, KK, QQ, AK, AQs,
usually raise, you can limp in once in a while, just to be deceptive.
Other hands are
calling hands if there are callers before its your turn to act. When you are first in the pot,
you can raise occasional especially from late position
Avoid putting all your money in
on marginal hands. In no-limit, a big bet usually means a big hand.
Flop Play
It’s very important to play well after the flop in no-limit Hold’em.
The most important thing to consider on the flop is:
• The strength of your hand. • Your position. • Number of players. • Stack size. • Type of players in the pot.
Try to take all these things in consideration, and then make your move according to the information.
Flop play help
Straight flush, four of a kind, set, full house
Slowplay or try to build a pot but be careful not to get people to fold
Top pair, overpair
Bet most the times especially if your hand is vulnerable for over cards or draws.
You have to bet a decent amount, about the size and the pot. But remember there can be a
bigger pair or trips out there, so be ready to muck your hand if there is very big action and huge raises.
Middle pairs
and small pocket pairs
Bet only from late position, or heads up, and
fold if you get raised, or if there is heavy action. You don’t want to loose your whole stack.
You can win a small pot or loose a big pot.
Draws
Draws are
dangerous holdings in no-limit poker. Don’t risk too much money on non-nut draws.
If you have very good draws like nut flush draw with 2 over cards then try to bet or raise instead
of calling because you can win the pot immediately. This is especially true if you have position on
your opponent.
Overcards
If you just have overcards to the flop,
you can bet against 1 or 2 callers if you’re the preflop raiser and they have checked to you. Bet 60-80%
of the pot and you will be surprised how much they fold. If you miss the flop and someone bets into
you or checkraises then it’s a very easy hand to fold because you have nothing.
The Turn
We now hope you have position on your opponents, so you
must try to figure out their hand, and decide what to do. If you have the chance, its very good to take
the lead and bet, if you smell some kind of weakness. Don’t invest all your money on a mediocre hand, unless
you got a tell on your opponent. If you got a draw or medium pair, use your judgment to decide if you should
bet.
The River
Never try to bluff a calling station on the
river. When you hit the nuts, try to figure out if your opponent(s) maybe putting you on a bluff. If you
think they are suspicious then you can make a big bet and earn good money. Always think much on the type
of player you are against especially if you are first to act. Against a tight player you should bet and against
a aggressive player you can sometimes go for a check raise. If you have a medium hand heads up, and you’re
first to act, you can bet a small amount. You will often get a call, and your opponent will rarely steal the pot from you.
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