| The great thing about Texas Holdem Poker is | | | | hand. Even if you have not improved your |
| that it is easy to learn. Even a beginner | | | | hand, because you started out with one of the |
| can quickly develop into a winning player. | | | | better hands you may still have the best |
| By following a sound strategy and playing the | | | | hand. This is especially true if your |
| best starting hands a Texas Holdem Poker | | | | starting hand was a pair of aces or kings. |
| newbie can dramatically shorten the learning | | | | |
| curve. So what are the best hands that a | | | | If your opponents raise back this can be a |
| beginner should play? | | | | strong signal that they may have a powerful |
| | | | hand. Ask yourself, "What could my opponent |
| The best hands for a beginner to play are | | | | have?" "Could they have improved their hand?" |
| Ace-Ace, King-King, Queen-Queen, Jack-Jack, | | | | |
| Ace-King suited (example - Ace of clubs & | | | | Ask yourself these questions after each round |
| King of clubs). | | | | of cards are dealt and try to "read" your |
| | | | opponents hand. |
| I strongly recommend that you only play these | | | | |
| starting hands as a beginner. In other | | | | If you have a high pair a raise after the |
| words, if you are dealt a hand other than one | | | | flop can help you assess whether your |
| of the above then fold! | | | | opponents feel if they have a strong hand or |
| | | | not. |
| Folding is one of the most difficult | | | | |
| decisions for a Texas Holdem Poker beginner | | | | If you think you are beaten there is no shame |
| to do. The mindset of most Texas Holdem | | | | in folding at this point. |
| Poker beginners is to hang around and see the | | | | |
| flop in the hopes of hitting it just right | | | | When the turn card has been revealed, if you |
| and improving a hand. | | | | think that you may still have the best hand I |
| | | | would raise the pot so that I could obtain |
| While a beginner will hit the flop and | | | | information about my opponents' hands. |
| improve their hand occasionally, more often | | | | |
| than not they will miss it. The Texas Holdem | | | | I would follow this same strategy on the |
| Poker beginner player that plays poor | | | | river card. |
| starting hands will end up throwing more | | | | |
| money away than they will win. | | | | To summarize this basic Texas Holdem Poker |
| | | | beginner strategy: |
| When you are dealt one of the best starting | | | | |
| hands I recommend raising the pot which will | | | | - stick to playing the best starting hands |
| serve two purposes. First, it will force | | | | |
| players with weak hands to fold instead of | | | | - fold the bad hands |
| allowing them to stay in the game and see the | | | | |
| flop for free. | | | | - use the power of the raise to knock out |
| | | | weak players and to assess the strength of |
| Secondly, by seeing who raises and calls you | | | | your opponents hands |
| get to see who feels that they have a good | | | | |
| hand and who may be trying to hang in for the | | | | By following this Texas Holdem Poker beginner |
| flop. | | | | strategy you will start out winning more |
| | | | hands than you lose. You will start out |
| When the flop is dealt you should look | | | | winning more money than you will lose. |
| carefully to see if you have improved your | | | | |