Casino & Gambling Information

Heres an Easy Exercise to Improve Your Texas Holdem Play


Many beginning Texas Holdem players develop a playing style that is tight but weak. Maybe they have learned the value of playing only a select few starting hands. Tightening up their starting hand requirements has the effect of improving the beginning player's results. They typically improve from a losing player to a break even or slightly winning player at the lower limits.

The trouble is that the tightness the new player has developed with more selective starting hands bleeds over into their flop and post flop play. Such tight-weak play causes them to fold too often during the latter betting rounds. They tend to see "monsters under the bed" whenever an opposing player bets or raises. Such a timid approach can spell disater especially when the pot has grown large.

We all know how hard it is to get a good strong hand in Texas Holdem. However we may tend to forget that it's just as hard for our opponents to draw a good hand. We may be rolling along with a good but not great hand and get stopped in our tracks when a scare card comes along. Sure, our opponent may have just drawn out on us. Or, he or she may just be using the scare card to represent a big hand.

There are many factors that will enter into your response to your opponent's action. Those actions are beyond the scope of this article. But, if you realize you are backing down to heat all too often; try this simple exercise. It can be really eye opening. Here's the exercise: get a pack of cards and deal a round of Texas Holdem face up. Notice how few hands are actually good starters. Notice how many are junk.

Now think back to all those games you've played where four or five players were always in the pot. There was a lot of junk being played, wasn't there? There was a whole lot of chasing going on, wasn't there? Now turn over three cards for the flop. How many hands missed the flop completely? Play through the hand. Sometimes a good but not great hand holds up, sometimes it doesn't.

Also, notice how often or how rarely that scare card matches up with any of the starting hands. You'll get a good idea of how hard it is to fill a straight or flush. After you play around with this exercise for a bit, you'll likely realize that there have been many times in your past play that you should have stayed with a hand. You may also see that there have been occasions where you could have successfully represented a big hand to your opponents.

Playing a few face up rounds of Texas Holdem can really be an eye opening exercise. It may help drive home some lessons that you already knew but never really applied. Of course, there are still situations where you'll need to lay down that hand. But if timid play is your downfall, this easy exercise can help improve your play and aggressiveness.

Chip Westley regularly posts a series of online poker tips at his Online Poker Tip Guide, http://homerunpoker.blogspot.com/2005/06/online-poker-tip-guide.html, at Home Run Poker.


MORE RESOURCES:

KCK abandons Woodlands
Kansas City Star, MO - Dec 3, 2008
But casino gambling in Kansas is almost undone anyway. Starting all over might not be such a bad idea. The law approved in 2007 established a framework for ...


Why we can't exempt casinos from the smoking ban
Change of Subject - Chicago Tribune Blog, IL - 4 hours ago
The story on today's front page: "Illinois' gambling problem --State's casinos see revenue fall, but they blame the smoking ban, not the economy. ...


Western New York Senecas navigating obstacles
News from Indian Country, WI - 7 hours ago
In the meantime, a lawsuit by Citizens Against Casino Gambling in Erie County seeking to shut down a temporary Buffalo casino, which is operating pending ...


Christian Science Monitor

Hit by hurricane Ike and unexpected layoffs, Galveston ponders its ...
Christian Science Monitor, MA - Dec 2, 2008
Mr. LeBlanc says the storm losses have the city looking for other alternatives – such as casino gambling. It's a moneymaker that has helped other coastal ...


Ballot descrepancy may jeopardize casino gambling
Daily Mail - Charleston, WV - Nov 11, 2008
by Justin D. Anderson CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A discrepancy between ballots counted on Election Day and during canvassing in Greenbrier County has cast doubt on ...


BBC News

Macau Promises To Protect Their Casino Gambling Interests
Casino Gambling Web, FL - Nov 11, 2008
The territory has become the casino gambling leader and plans on staying on top. "If necessary, the government will take over. we will not allow any casinos ...
The 'Miracle of Macau' faces stark reality Times Online
Macau boss calm as gaming suffers BBC News
Macau's chief executive confident in face of gambling slowdown Channel News Asia
AFP - Times Online
all 483 news articles


Jamaica Casino Gambling Crunch Day
Online-Casinos.com, Denmark - Nov 28, 2008
Monday is crunch day for the possible introduction of casino gambling on the island of Jamaica. Local radio reports are that the much debated decision on ...


Taiwan Preparing To Enter The Casino Gambling Market
Casino Gambling Web, FL - Nov 17, 2008
Taiwan looks like they will become the latest in the growing number of countries that is legalizing casino gambling. The Parliament is expected to approve ...
Casino Gambling Comes to Taiwan Online Casino Advisory
all 12 news articles


UPDATE 2-Trump Entertainment to miss bond interest payment
Reuters - Nov 29, 2008
By Mark McSherry NEW YORK, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Casino operator Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc (TRMP.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said on Friday ...


Cabinet to approve Casino gambling legislature - Shaw
radiojamaica.com, Jamaica - Nov 27, 2008
Finance Minister Audley Shaw has announced that Cabinet is on Monday expected to approve policy governing casino gambling in Jamaica. ...

Casino-Gambling - Google News

home | site map
© 2008