Texas Holdem Strategy #1:

Play Your Opponents

The easiest way to lose money in holdem is to focus on your own cards and forget about the other players at the table. A common example would be holding something like 2h-4h and making your flush on the turn. Of course you bet big, only to see another heart on the river.

Suddenly a flush isn't so great, and, if there's more than one person still in, it's very likely they've beat your flush. A big bet and then a call before you? Hard as it is, you should fold.

Your hands are strong or weak relative to what's on the board, and, thus, what the other players are holding. There is no objective measure.

Texas Holdem Strategy #2:

Remember The Bets, And Their Timing

It's very important to keep track of who bets what during a hand. This will help you make an educated guess as to who holds what when it comes down to the river. For instance, say there's 7-8- K-4-3 on the board, and you're trying to figure out what your opponent has. Well, if they bet high on the pre-flop and flop, chances are they have high pair or a set. If they started betting on the turn or later, they've probably made a straight. Of course, good players know this line of thinking, and will use subterfuge to confuse you. You must also consider position, other bets, etc.

Texas Holdem Strategy #3:

Get Em Out

Isolation is a key concept in holdem strategy. This is one of the reasons players like to bet big in opening rounds if they hold high pair or something like AK. These hands are much more effective with fewer numbers of players staying in. If five players stay in, for instance, while you're holding pocket queens, the chances one of them will make a straight or a flush is much greater than if only one person stays in. That's why, when you get dealt a strong opening hand, or get a nice flop, you want to bet big enough to chase the drawing players from the hand. If you're ahead, make them pay to see the flop, turn, and river! (These also increases the frequency of pots given to you, when all other players fold--these quick wins bolster your stack, keeping you ready for the big hands in which other players give you action.) Make sure you've got the cards to justify this technique, however--if you're tagged as a ?loose? player, your ability to isolate other players will be greatly diminished.

Texas Holdem Strategy #4:

Realize Cards Run In Streaks

For whatever reason, this is true. You'll be sitting on a cold streak, getting nothing for an hour, and then, all of a sudden, you'll get pocket aces, and then a gutshot straight, and then a nice flush, in three consecutive hands. It's called being ?on a rush.? Momentum is a factor in holdem poker strategy. Though this is a tricky thing to handle, basically it means you should be a little more conservative if your cards are running cold, and a little looser if you're in a hot streak. This doesn't mean, however, that you should bet recklessly at any time. Many players go on a rush only to lose everything they've won by going too far. What goes up must come down; make it an easy descent, not a crash.

Texas Holdem Strategy #5:

Bet Cautious Early

Until you know the players sitting at your table, err on the side of tightness. Only after a half-hour or hour (longer, sometimes), will you have seen enough hands to properly categorize everyone at the table. Once you have, you can open it up a little, but until all the data are in, it's best to sit back and be a bit of a rock.

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