Texas Hold’em No Limit

One of my riskier side income jobs is playing poker Texas Hold’em 2-5 No Limit. There is risk because you can’t always win. Even the best poker players have their bad days. A few years ago, I was playing quite a lot and at one point was up 5 figures. I gave up on playing, not so much of not winning enough, but the sedentary lifestyle of playing 10 – 16 hours per day. Below is my strategy, which I believe, would make you 75% better than the rest of the table

Tight Aggressive

There are many type of players, from loose to passive etc etc. The best players are the tight aggressive. You do not want to be involved in so many hands. My main game is $2-5 No Limit and here are the hands I will always play with.

For $20 raise: Any pocket pairs

For only $5: Any face cards combo, e.g. AJ , 10Q, JK, etc also, suited connectors e.g. 4-5 suited, 7-9 suited. Then there is the suited kind, but it must be a high card such as A-6 suited, or K-2 suited.

Anything other cards, I do not play with pre-flop. It’s very very important to playing with top cards coming in. Pocket pairs are my favorite because the chance of hitting a set. Those are the most profitable hands.

Playing Pre-Flop

Good players know position is very important. E.G. You are dealt A-K. What to do? It depends on your position. If I’m under the gun, small blind, or big blind, then I simply just call or check even for $5. Any other positions, I raise to $20 or $25.

If I am dealt pocket Ace, or Kings, or Queens, then again different story depending on position. I like to take the pot down pre-flop, even if there is only $20 in the pot. I have seen too many people losing their stack by letting people get in cheap and bust them with a set. If I see $20-25 in the pot and I have high pocket pair, I will put $100 on top of that. If I’m under the gun or 2nd seat after the big blind, then I’ll just call hoping someone would raise and then I’ll re-raise on top of that.

Betting Pattern

If there is only $20 in the pot, then bet $20 at the flop if I have top pair or better. The turn would be around $50 if there is no flush or straight out on the board. If you are in early position, and caught a big hand such as a set, consider slow playing as long as there is nothing threating such as a flush draw etc. Check and then re-raise to take the pot down. If they called you $100 at the flop, consider going all-in at the turn if there is no flush. Most people would not call $100 to catch a straight.

Calling

I don’t like to be involved in so many hands because I don’t like to chase for a Flush or Straight. It can get very expensive playing against good players. I don’t call or chase a hand when something out there can already beaten me. If I have top pair and bad kicker, consider giving up at the flop if there is a raise. You will also want to give up calling if you are being re-raised with only top pair in your hand. Knowing your pot-odd play a big role into calling or chasing a hand. If there is only $50 in the pot, what is the point of calling $100 for a flush or a straight? Remember, there is always the next hand and you can’t lose what you haven’t put in.

Folding

Besides being a tight aggressive player, knowing when to fold is the 2nd most important aspect of playing No-Limit Texas Hold’em. I know it’s hard as hell because this is the worst part of my game. It’s in our human nature to not give up and fight til the end. As hard as it might be, you need to fold when the 3rd flush card comes out especially there is a $100 raise or more. My rule of thumb is take at least 45 seconds and think about it whenever there is a big raise.

Bluffing

I don’t like to bluff so much because it is not profitable in the long run. I will only bluff against players who are tight and I sense weakness in their betting pattern. Never ever bluff against a calling-station. These are players who simply do not give up on a hand no matter what. Even if they only have top pair.

Chip Management

As I build up my chip stack, I would even play tighter and not get loose simply because I have more money. Even take more time whenever calling a big raise. Not losing a big pot and your chip stack is equally important as winning a big pot. Again, you can’t lose what you haven’t put in the pot. Not being involved in so many hands, hence you don’t have to make the big decisions of calling. People who are losing tend to make the bad decisions more and go on tilt. You just need to wait for the right hand, possibly hitting a set or a straight at the flop to take all their chips in one hand. Losing $5 or $20 is nothing, considering you can win $1000 pot when you are being patience.

Conclusion

There is so much more about Texas Hod’em No Limit than just one post. I could write another 20 pages and it still won’t cover everything. Don’t play if you are afraid to lose. Don’t play if you are on tilt. Don’t play if you are tired, sleepy, or knowing that there are good players on the table. There is nothing wrong walking away from a table losing $100 or $200 than continue playing and lose a lot more.