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No-Limit Hold'em Basic Strategies
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Limit Hold'em games can be frustrating because it can be very hard to move mediocre or inexperienced players off their hands, and frequently those fools who had no right (that is, did not have the pot odds) to be in a pot in the first place suck out and win it all. The beauty of No-limit, and what makes it the most formidable test of poker skill, is that you can raise the stakes to the utmost degree and so force all players to play more thoughtfully.
Most players, but unfortunately never all, will think twice about making a shocking call when their entire stack is on the line. This argument holds true for land-based play where the stakes might be very high, and it is the only game in town. Online, especially in sit-and-go no-limit tournaments that take place round the clock, it might be no big deal for a player if he is knocked out. It is no longer a matter of "win or go home", simply lose and find another no-limit tournament. So, online no-limit play must be approached differently. Know that opponents will still make bad plays against you, and that the suck-out is alive and well.
Position at the table relative to the dealer button becomes pivotal in no-limit, and is far more important now than it is in limit games. The decisions one makes in this format can be final in terms of your stack and consequent participation, so being able to act with more knowledge (after) your opponent is a huge advantage, or should be if you are aware of what is going on at the table.
Remember that those glamorous looking big connectors lose a lot of value in no-limit. Hands like AK, AQ, AJ, and KQ whether suited or not often tend to win small pots at this level but can also lose big pots. The reason is that most players over-bet them pre-flop, which is often the correct strategy since you do not want a lot of callers with these hands. The problem is that you will either chase everyone away and win a small pot, or get a caller or worse (someone who goes over the top of your bet) in which case you are usually in a heads-up race against a pocket pair, or dominated by a big pair. These hands are risky, and should be treated as such, but many novice no-limit players treat them as though they are the Holy Grail, and bet them or hang onto them with far too much gusto.
In No-limit games you must play the players at your table, and adjust your strategies accordingly. If you're up against ignorant weaklings who have never read a poker article in their lives, and who chase like dogs you must adopt stoic levels of patience. You will eventually take their money, but only with a premium hand that holds up. You should refrain from chasing drawing hands against weak players in no-limit because it will eat away your stack, and even then you might not win because chances are they're drawing too. Get used to the following, even though it is harder to do than you might think it is right now: fold AJ and Ax when you are in early position, particularly under the gun. Fold KJ and KT in middle position. Fold QT in late position, even if those cards are suited. Save yourself from those huge pots where you invariably finish second. If you flop a Q and you're holding QT and it costs you the tournament because someone was sensible enough to see the flop ahead of you with QJ, QK, QA, or any of the other countless hands that beat your top pair anemic kicker, who is really to blame for your exit?
Related Poker Articles And News Items:
> The Ghost In The Machine - Reading Poker Hands
> The Key To Winning At Hold'em - Part 1
> Shorthanded Limit Hold'em - The Advantages
> Avoiding Basic Mistakes In No-Limit Hold'em
> A Basic Guide To Playing Limit Hold'em
> How To Play Your Cards After The Flop
> The Many Advantages Of Being Suited
> Texas Hold'em Basics
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