Got a big office tourney coming up, wanted to learn this game. Im just learning the basics now, so any input, advice, strategy would be help id like to get. What does check and call mean? When should you fold? Thank you
Can someone teach me a few things about Texas Hold Em?
- Thread starter hemiscatpak
- Start date
Get Lee Jones' book - Low Limit Texas Holdem. That is by far the best book I know of for absolute beginners on the game. Read a little bit first just to understand how the flow of the game goes. 2nd, try downloading one of the major poker rooms software if you can. They have play money games on there that will at least get you used to the flow of the game. You wont find necessarily people playing strong games on those tables, but it will get you used to what the blinds are and how they work, how the betting rounds go, when to fold, what a checkraise is - things like that. It wont necessarily be a barometer of how well you will play, but it will at least get your feet wet in seeing how a live table operates.
At an office tourney like that, just have fun. Chances are you will have at least 2-3 Rounders wannabees there, who will scream and holler all night "What you called a $4 raise with XX when I had XX and you were only a 45% chance to win with your 4 outs?" I've seen azzholes like that, and nothing puts a buzzkill on a fun night more than a couple of cardjockeys like that. So if anything, have fun, and be fun to be around - especially if it is your first time so you will be invited back. If you take a bad beat, tap the table and say "Nice hand sir, well played"
At an office tourney like that, just have fun. Chances are you will have at least 2-3 Rounders wannabees there, who will scream and holler all night "What you called a $4 raise with XX when I had XX and you were only a 45% chance to win with your 4 outs?" I've seen azzholes like that, and nothing puts a buzzkill on a fun night more than a couple of cardjockeys like that. So if anything, have fun, and be fun to be around - especially if it is your first time so you will be invited back. If you take a bad beat, tap the table and say "Nice hand sir, well played"
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Check - No bets on the table for that round and you do not want to open the betting.
Call - There is a bet on the table and are going to match it.
Raise - There is a bet on the table and you are going to increase it. In Texas Holdem the minimum raise is what the previous bet was. maximum to all in.
For example: Player A opens with a $100 bet. Player B wants to raise. He must raise a minumum of 100 to a total of 200. Lets say he has a monster hand and wants to raise it 300. Player C and all others who want to raise now must raise a minimum of 300.
In a office game like yours my experience is to play it patience. Wait for nice opening hands, A-A K-K Q-Q J-J, 10 - 10, A-K A-Qs ( small s means suited) and play them aggressively pre flop. Smaller pairs and two paint cards can still be played in any position but beware of raisers. If your the dealer ( in position) try stealing a pot or two if players before you are just calling the big blind even if you have a mediocre hand. Raise it 2-3x the big blind. Remember that you can always fold and get out if you get a raiser out of the blinds.
The idea is to stick around for awhile and have fun. See to many people overly aggresive early when the blinds are small. Makes little sense. Be conservative early, play only big hands, and fold if you sense that you do not have the best hand. Later when the blinds get higher it makes more sense to be more aggressive because the reward is bigger. You can play some more mediocre hands like 4-5s, 9-10, A-2, etc. and hope you flop something. Resist the temptation to slow plaY BIG HANDS unless you have a fish on the line( calling station).
If some puts you all in, TAKE YOUR TIME. Replay the betting in your head. Does it make sense? Is there a flush or straight possibility on the board. Is there a pair on the board therefore making a full house possibility? How many chips do you have? How many do they have?
Have fun.
I recommend signing up at Poker stars or party poker and play with play money for awhile in tournament games. Can only help.
Call - There is a bet on the table and are going to match it.
Raise - There is a bet on the table and you are going to increase it. In Texas Holdem the minimum raise is what the previous bet was. maximum to all in.
For example: Player A opens with a $100 bet. Player B wants to raise. He must raise a minumum of 100 to a total of 200. Lets say he has a monster hand and wants to raise it 300. Player C and all others who want to raise now must raise a minimum of 300.
In a office game like yours my experience is to play it patience. Wait for nice opening hands, A-A K-K Q-Q J-J, 10 - 10, A-K A-Qs ( small s means suited) and play them aggressively pre flop. Smaller pairs and two paint cards can still be played in any position but beware of raisers. If your the dealer ( in position) try stealing a pot or two if players before you are just calling the big blind even if you have a mediocre hand. Raise it 2-3x the big blind. Remember that you can always fold and get out if you get a raiser out of the blinds.
The idea is to stick around for awhile and have fun. See to many people overly aggresive early when the blinds are small. Makes little sense. Be conservative early, play only big hands, and fold if you sense that you do not have the best hand. Later when the blinds get higher it makes more sense to be more aggressive because the reward is bigger. You can play some more mediocre hands like 4-5s, 9-10, A-2, etc. and hope you flop something. Resist the temptation to slow plaY BIG HANDS unless you have a fish on the line( calling station).
If some puts you all in, TAKE YOUR TIME. Replay the betting in your head. Does it make sense? Is there a flush or straight possibility on the board. Is there a pair on the board therefore making a full house possibility? How many chips do you have? How many do they have?
Have fun.
I recommend signing up at Poker stars or party poker and play with play money for awhile in tournament games. Can only help.
hemiscatpak said:
Hem, we're having a nice friendly game here tonight :brows: bring some cash, we'd luv ta teach ya!
:mj14:
If the flop is this A-5-4 and everyone checks....then the next card is an 8 or so and people start heavy betting...they don't have an eight, they are betting the ace. The turn is when people start trying to make money.
