Getting two cards in Texas Hold’em seems simple enough. Then you look down at something like A♣8♦ and suddenly the questions begin: Is this good? Should I raise? Does my position matter? What if someone has already entered the pot? This is exactly why beginner starting hand charts are so useful. A starting hand chart … Read more
Playing with 200 big blinds can feel like playing a completely different version of Texas Hold’em compared with sitting on 40 or even 100 big blinds. The cards and hand rankings stay the same, but the amount of money behind changes what you can profitably call, raise, bluff, and play for an entire stack. Understanding … Read more
A lot of difficult poker decisions actually begin before the flop. Call with a weak ace, raise from the wrong position, or defend the big blind too loosely, and you can quickly find yourself facing an expensive decision on the flop or turn. That is why having a preflop poker plan matters. Instead of looking … Read more
One of the easiest ways to get into trouble in Texas Hold’em is to fall in love with every two cards you are dealt. A king looks exciting. Two suited cards look promising. Even a small pair can feel impossible to fold. But successful pre-flop play starts with understanding that not all starting hands deserve … Read more