♠ ♥ TEXAS HOLDEM POKER STRATEGIES ♦ ♣
Before learning new strategies, make sure that you understand action types such as check-fold, check-call, and check-raise. Refer to the glossary if you are unfamiliar with any of these poker terms. You will be able to find the definitions of words such as "Big Blind" and "pot odds" there. Be sure that you also fully understand the rules and hand ranks.

Keep in mind that we will be assuming tournament play with 8 to 12 players at the table and blind levels increase every 30 minutes (15/20 minutes online). If blind levels are longer, players should execute the following strategies even more strictly. If the blind levels are shorter or if there are less players at the table, players should play a little more liberal with these strategies.

Beginner Level - Disciplined Rock Strategy




Player Action
Condition
Call the following hands (Preflop)
-All pocket pairs (for the first 3 blind levels or if you have less than 5 Big Blinds worth of chips)
-Pocket pairs of 9’s or better
-If both cards are ranked 10 or higher
-Big Blinds
-Small Blinds (for the first 3 blind levels)
Raise with the following hands 3 to 4 times the Big Blind (Preflop)
-Pocket Aces
-Pocket Kings
-Pocket Queens
-AK
Fold before the Flop
If the bet is raised over 4 times the Big Blind unless you have Pocket Aces, Kings, or Queens
IMPORTANT: If you have pocket Aces, Kings, or Queens don’t ever fold before the flop no matter how high the bet or raise
Check-Fold after the Flop
If you don’t have at least the Top Pair
Check-Call up to 4 times the Big Blind after the Flop
If you have at least Top Pair and another player bets before your turn to act
Bet 3 to 4 times the Big Blind after the Flop
If you have at least Top Pair and if another player doesn’t bet before your turn to act
Call anything after the Flop ONLY if you have
-a Set (if no Flush or Straight possible from board)
-Full House (using both hole cards)
- Big Full (House) or better
-the Nuts
Fold
If someone bets/raises 5 times or more of the blinds and you don’t have a “call anything” hand listed above


Intermediate Level - Boulder Strategy

Once you feel comfortable playing as a Disciplined Rock, you can graduate to the slightly more complicated Boulder strategy which allows you to play more hands. However, you will have to pay attention to things like seat positions, chip stacks, possible hands from the board, and number of players in a hand.




Player Action
Condition
Call the following hands (Preflop)

-All pocket pairs (for the first 3 blind levels or if you have less than 5 Big Blinds worth of chips)
-Pocket pairs of 9’s or better
-Suited cards with at least a Queen high (for the first 3 blind levels)
-Suited cards with an Ace high (if you have more than average chip stack)
-If both cards are ranked 10 or higher
-If both cards are ranked 9 or better (if you have late position and an above average chip stack)
-Big Blinds
-Small Blinds (for the first 3 blind levels or if you have an above average chip stack)
Raise with the following hands 3 to 4 times the Big Blind (Preflop)
-Pocket Aces
-Pocket Kings
-Pocket Queens
-AK
-AQ, KQ (If you have late position and an above average chip stack)
Fold before the Flop
-If the bet is raised between 4 to 6 times the Big Blind (by a player that doesn't often raise Preflop) unless you have Pocket Aces, Kings, or Queens
-If the bet is raised over 6 times the Big Blind unless you have Pocket Aces, Kings, or Queens
IMPORTANT: If you have pocket Aces, Kings, or Queens don’t ever fold before the flop no matter how high the bet or raise
Check-Fold after the Flop if you DON'T have
-Top Pair or better
-Two overcards
-Straight Draw
-Flush Draw
Check-Call up to 8 times the Big Blind or 2/3 the pot (whichever is greater) after the Flop
If you have pot odds
Bet 3 to 4 times the Big Blind after the Flop ONLY if you have

-Over Pair, Top Pair, Two Pair, a Set (if the board has not paired and there is no 3 card Straight or Flush Draw on board assuming you aren't on the same draw)
-Three of a Kind (unless there is a 3 card Straight or Flush Draw on board assuming you aren't on the same draw)
-Straight using both hole cards as top 5 cards or Nut Straight (unless there is a 4 card Flush Draw on board assuming you aren't on the same draw OR the board has 2 Two Pairs or Three of a Kind)
-Flush using both hole cards as top 5 cards or Nut Flush (unless the board has 2 Two Pairs or Three of a Kind)
-Full House (using both hole cards), Big Full, Quads, Straight Flush
-the Nuts
Call anything after the Flop ONLY if you have
-a Set (if no Flush or Straight possible from board)
-Full House (using both of your hole cards)
- Big Full (House) or better
-the Nuts
Fold
If someone bets/raises and you don’t have pot odds

Advanced Level

{{{Should be posted by the end of April}}}