How to Win at Online Texas Holdem

Texas Holdem is the most popular poker game played online. With many players new to the game having seen televised ‘final tables’ their play involves big bluffs and (often inappropriate) all-in moves. This article will look at some of the key elements of poker strategy for players asking how to win at online Texas Holdem.

We will start by looking at hand selection in a number of ways including selecting the right hands for your table and situation and the danger of easily ‘dominated’ hands. Next table position is factored into the discussion. Finally we look at playing both made hands and draws and how this should be adjusted based on the number of opponents and their individual tendencies.

While every player knows that aces are the best starting hand in Texas Holdem it is very common to see this hand misplayed, as with many other types of hand. Aces play best when all-in before the flop against a single opponent with a lower pair – they are more than 80% favorite to win a huge pot. Limping with aces often produces the opposite effect to the one desired – a small pot with many opponents on the flop. The chances of someone making trips or a 2-pair hand have now increased. The likelihood is that anyone willing to get all in now has a strong hand or a good draw – you may still be favorite to win the hand but nowhere near the 80% of the first scenario.

Some starting hands actually do better in a multi-way pot. Such hands include small pairs and suited connectors. Here you would like to see a cheap flop and try and hit a hidden monster – raising and re-raising on later rounds to get paid off those times you do hit. When these hands miss the flop they should be discarded quickly if there is any serious betting action, move on to the next hand and wait for a better situation.

The single biggest hand selection error that new players make is to play too many hands which are easily dominated – especially from out of position. A good example is something like Ace-Seven. If you call a raise before the flop with this hand you should ask yourself the question of what you are hoping to hit on the flop? If an ace hits there is a real danger that another player has an ace with a higher kicker. If you hit the seven this is unlikely to be the top pair, and an opponent may hold a pocket pair higher than this in their hand. Avoiding hands which are easily dominated will make your decisions after the flop far easier – and good decisions lead to bigger profits over time.

In Texas Holdem the player in the ‘dealer button’ position acts last after the flop, turn and river betting rounds. This gives a big advantage to that player in a number of ways. If you miss the flop and see a raise and re-raise ahead you can fold without committing any more chips to the pot, if you were first to act you may have bet before realizing you were beaten. If your opponents check – showing weakness – you can often take down the pot when last to act with a reasonable sized bet. Those times you have a strong hand you will be in a position to build the pot better when last to act, either re-raising immediately or betting a small amount to encourage action. Playing good hands from good position is a winning combination in online Texas Holdem.

Good play after the flop involves an understanding of the basic math of Texas Holdem poker and also correctly adjusting to the tendencies of your opponents. If you flop a draw to a straight or flush then you chances of improving to the best hand (number of outs) need to be compared to the price you are being offered by the pot (known as the pot-odds). Any future betting can also be factored into this decision, for example if you expect your opponent will pay off a big bet on the end of the hand if you make a flush then it can be worth calling a bet with slightly incorrect odds on an earlier street.

Finally winning at online Texas Holdem involves adjusting to opponents. An extreme example would be someone who will call all your bets with as little as bottom pair – you adjust by never bluffing this opponent but always betting your good hands for value. Aggressive opponents will often bet regardless of whether they hit the flop, when you have a good hand then making the most money from these types can involve calling their ever larger and more desperate bluffs, re-raising later in the hand. Paying attention to the table and making notes on how strong a hand an individual needs to bet, and whether they are loose or tight before the flop can both make and save you many bets – increasing your profit at the end of the session.

To summarize, winning at online Texas Holdem involves a series of adjustments to your starting hand selection, position at the table and tendencies of your opponents. Stop and think before each hand you play whether there is a danger of domination and whether your hand would be better multi-way or against a single opponent. Make good decisions after the flop by accounting for pot-odds and the tendencies of opponents who are still active in the hand.