Start with LIMIT Texas Hold 'Em
Both limit and no-limit Texas Hold 'Em are wonderful games. Each game provides unique opportunities in nearly every single hand and subtle complexities that can take more than a lifetime to master. However, each game emphasizes different skill sets in order to master it. Limit Texas Hold 'Em is both an art and a science. However, the structured betting emphasizes the science aspect of the game. Likewise, no-limit Texas Hold 'Em is also both an art and a science, but the absence of structured betting emphasizes the art aspect of the game. Ultimately, I believe good poker players should excel at both versions of the game (as well as many other variations of poker), but I think that beginning players should initially focus on limit Texas Hold 'Em before moving on to no-limit.
Despite this recommendation, please do not mistake limit Texas Hold 'Em as an easier game than no-limit. The skill required to win an additional bet (or more likely save an additional bet) in a hand is extremely high and your profits from limit Hold 'Em come from those extra bets.
I make this recommendation for a number of reasons. One, limit Texas Hold 'Em forces beginning players to learn all of the basics of Texas Hold 'Em such as starting hand requirements, pot odds, and implied odds. Many of these same concepts are less critical in no-limit Hold 'Em (as I am sure many of you have seen on TV). However, please do NOT fool yourself. These same players you see on TV raising ten-two unsuited have already mastered the underlying fundamentals (starting hand requirements, reading the texture of the flop, pot/implied odds, basic strategy).
Two, since limit Hold 'Em is more of a science, it lends itself to more rules that beginners can rely on. As you progress in your limit career, you will uncover more and more exceptions to these rules. However, reliance on rules such as starting hand requirements and pot/implied odds can transform a beginning limit player from a significant loser to a winner. Please note, in short-handed limit games the rules have less significance so please stick to 9 to 11 man, limit Hold 'Em while learning.
Three, expert players have a much greater advantage over beginning players in no-limit than they do in limit. There are many situations in limit where both the better and the caller are playing correct strategy because of pot odds. In no-limit, this is less likely and usually 1 of the players is making a mistake and more often than not it is the beginning player, not the expert player. Since beginning players are at less of a disadvantage in limit, in only makes sense to transform yourself from a beginning player to an intermediate player at limit Hold 'Em.
So begin your ascent now. Learn the game! Don't let your opponents fool you into thinking playing by the book is ignorant. Remember, the majority of your opponents are long-term losers! For starters, I would recommend the Texas Help 'Em guide (available at www.TexasHelpEm.com) since it consolidates what you need to know and presents it in a manner that is practical to reference by beginning players while actually playing online. It is my experience that most people cannot sit and read a traditional poker text without falling asleep! If you decide the Texas Help 'Em guide is not right for you, I still strongly recommend that you find the basic limit strategy reading that is.
Once you improve to the point where you have mastered starting hand requirements, pot/implied odds, reading the texture of the board/flop, pot/implied odds, and basic strategy, and are profitable (which you will know because you will record all of your winnings and losses per session, right???), you then have several options available.
Move Up in Stakes
This is how to progress from a low-limit player to a mid-limit player to a fill-in-the-blank here. It is important to never go bankrupt. Never play at stakes that jeopardize your bankroll. It is also important to note that winning strategy often changes at mid-level and higher stakes so I would not recommend moving up too high until after you have read and understand several advanced limit Hold 'Em books.
Play 6-Man Limit Hold 'Em
6-man Limit Hold 'Em provides for a much faster, and often more entertaining game. However, please be warned that as mentioned earlier, the skill set required for short-handed games varies greatly from that of 9-11 man games. Beginning players simply do NOT do well in short-handed games so avoid these games until you are at least an intermediate level player and have read several books on advanced limit Hold 'Em strategies.
Play No-Limit Hold 'Em
Now that you have mastered the basic (and essential) fundamentals Hold 'Em (starting hand requirements, reading the texture of the board, pot/implied odds, basic strategy), you are in good position to begin learning no-limit Hold 'Em. As I recommend with limit Hold 'Em, I would encourage you to pick-up a text on no-limit Texas Hold 'Em for beginners. I must caution you in advance that many of the recommendations will be that it depends on what you think he has, what you think he thinks you have, on what you think he thinks you think he has?Get it? Rules do not apply as much to no-limit which makes it a more difficult game to teach in a book so please be cautious.
Mike McLaughlin
Texas Help 'Em - An Online Player's Guide to Low-Limit Texas Hold 'Em
Even though they look pretty much the same and they're... Read More
The true origin of bingo dates back as far as... Read More
Ways To DepositWhen I first wanted to start playing in... Read More
Pssst...! Wanna know a secret?How about the secret of winning... Read More
We all like to take a break from reality, play... Read More
Note: The goal of this article is to give you... Read More
Offshore sportsbooks are also the result of many regulations the... Read More
In the AFC East I expect to see the Patriots... Read More
It's hard to miss the fact that the last two... Read More
Big blind with my jack-three off suit, I found myself... Read More
Online casinos have many ways to "trick you" into gambling.... Read More
Over the past few years stop gambling websites have helped... Read More
Have you heard stories about people hitting big jackpots, winning... Read More
Who does not have tables at home? Such a queer... Read More
Most people believe that poker tournaments are for the most... Read More
For most people, there are only two real reasons to... Read More
Do you have what it takes to become a successful... Read More
It is in one's best interest to know all your... Read More
Knowing where and at what times the loosest poker games... Read More
When it comes to playing shorthanded games online, one size... Read More
Casinos and other forms of gambling are popping up in... Read More
How would you like to have your name on a... Read More
Using the standard poker hand ranking methods (see below), the... Read More
First if you are tired, angry, drunk or your condition... Read More
The first and most important step is to take notes.... Read More
Texas hold'em is the most popular of the community card... Read More
Types Of Online Casino BonusesIf you've ever considered playing at... Read More
Not many people argue that gambling and playing at casinos... Read More
Craps is the fastest - and certainly the loudest -... Read More
Playing in Online Casinos can be either a very good... Read More
OVERVIEW: NFC EASTThe Eagles once again appear to be the... Read More
Poker on TV has been the catalyst that allows millions... Read More
As the game of Poker is scaling new heights, casinos... Read More
It is quite surprising and amusing at the same time... Read More
On average, one third of the casino's total revenue is... Read More
When a compulsive gambler is in recovery, feeling guilty is... Read More
Here is a very simple method that gives you the... Read More
Position is even more important in 6-max play than in... Read More
I have played millions of hands of blackjack. I started... Read More
We are For Sale By Owners, "FSBOs." We spend our... Read More
As all the poker sites on the internet call themselves... Read More
A win at a gambling table can be fun narrating.... Read More
Online casino black jack is said to have originated in... Read More
Please correct me if I am wrong but aren't Las... Read More
Bet only what you can afford. Define a bankroll at... Read More
Roulette offers the greatest variety of possible ways you can... Read More
Card Counting is one of those phony ideas published in... Read More
Against the popular belief, gambling did not originate in the... Read More
Many have had their days of glory in the state... Read More
Free online card games that can be played over the... Read More
Gambling has been a form of entertainment since the beginning... Read More
Learning to play the game of casino Blackjack reasonably well... Read More
It seems you can't turn on the TV without seeing... Read More
The gambling scene, not only of North America but also... Read More
Lotto System: How you can win lotto easily and automaticallyIn... Read More
There are three main factors that influence how you should... Read More
Before you sign up with an Online Sportsbook and start... Read More
Poker, black jack or any other casino game with a... Read More
There are three basic types of video poker machines:* Jacks... Read More
Traditional Bingo has been a popular pastime for many years... Read More
A trip that will always be remembered is the one... Read More
Roulette System: "The Almost Illegal Tactic Casinos Use Against You... Read More
Most people believe that poker tournaments are for the most... Read More
Before you plan a trip to Las Vegas or Atlantic... Read More
Pssst...! Wanna know a secret?How about the secret of converting... Read More
Being a winning slot machine player is to some extent... Read More
Casino & Gambling |