Basically, a tough game is a game which is full of skillful players but at its pre-flop with few players. In a tough game, there are so many raises and re-raises and pots are at most at heads up or three-way. Aggressive players are also very apparent in a tough game. Hence to win in such kind of game, you must be very patient and determined.

As mentioned there are so many raises and re-raises that can be experienced in a tough game. Players making raises and re-raises most probably just want to steal others’ blinds including yours of course. Hence, try to defend your blinds at all times.

In late position, try to raise more hands in order to draw out the good players. This may also force them to play mediocre hands which can be good for you if you are also playing such kind of hands.

As also mentioned, aggressive players are very apparent in a tough game. They will try to overcome you and make you feel you have a smaller edge. Well, you may be harsh on yourself but don’t lose hope and faith. Although you may really have a smaller edge, you can still make it. Try not to wait for the nuts so you can raise. Remember that the chance to have nuts don’t come that often. Instead of waiting for the nuts to come, try to focus your attention to your position and on how you would become aggressive.

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Unrelated Medium and Low Value Cards

Just one helpful tip from one of today’s pros – avoid playing unrelated medium and low value cards. They oftentimes actually appear worthless. Specifically, avoid suited cards, which cannot flop a straight, even both ends of a 9 and 5.

Low Pairs

Great tip from one of the most popular pros – be careful in playing low pairs. The low pairs being referred to include any pairs from 66 down to 22. They can only be played in late positions, if in other positions, it maybe risky playing low pairs.

Two-Way Draw

A tip from one of the pros today – play tight and aggressive when have a two-way draw after the flop. If making a flush, trips, or straight out of your hand is possible, making a bet or a raise can be a good idea.

Ace or Pair of High Over-Cards

The “lucky tip” from one of the pros – bet an Ace or a pair of high over-cards after a worthless flop. Flop is considered worthless if entire flop is with unrelated cards of medium and low value.

Flops of 6, 7 and 8

Helpful tip from one famous pro – keep an eye on the flops of 6, 7 and 8 as they can make out a straight which has the potential to overcome a high pair or the like.

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AA, KK, QQ, JJ, or AK

If dealt with an AA, KK, QQ, JJ, or AK, it’s best to get as many chips as possible in the pot through betting, raising, and re-raising. But be careful of tight players and those who are raising pre-flop most especially if what you hold is not AA or KK.

10’s, 9’s, AQ, and KQ

If you have 10’s, 9’s, AQ, and KQ, be more selective. Be aware that although these are good to have, you’ll need the board to win with these. Bet and raise to get people out of the hand when in early position however be more conservative if in later seats.

AJ, A10, KJ, QJ, Q10, or 88

You can’t be aggressive with AJ, A10, KJ, QJ, Q10, or 88. Just play these in late position if before you there have been a lot of checking. Look for suited connectors to get a straight or a flush.

J10, T9, 98, 87, 76, T8, 97, 86, and 75 Same Suit

Hands like J10, T9, 98, 87, 76, T8, 97, 86, and 75 same suit should not be played aggressively most especially early part. Same thing with similar hands like pocket pairs from 7’s to 2’s, A and any same suit card, and K with any same suit card up to 8.

Other Hands

Other hands not mentioned above should be folded particularly if you can’t see the flop without checking. This can be the best thing you can do.

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Below are some general Texas Holdem tips. Go through each and every tip and use all tips you will learn, later in your games.

Some General Texas Holdem Tips

Before the flop, fast play high pairs and very strong hands. Doing so will put more money in the early pot and will encourage players with weak and garbage hands to fold. If these players won’t fold, they may win if on the flop they get lucky.

Avoid unconnected medium and low cards for typically they are unplayable. Suited cards that can’t flop a straight are actually included.

Never draw to low end of a straight or even both ends. If a 9 8 7 flops, you should not play 6 5 or the 10 6 but instead play the J 10.

Carefully play starting low pairs, from 66 down to 22. At most, not from an early seat and the late positions. Fold if in case you don’t flop quads or a set.

When you have a two way draw after the flop, play aggressively. Bet or raise if you can get a straight and a flush or trips.

After a garbage flop, bet an Ace or two high overcards. Garbage flop could involve three suit rainbow with unconnected medium and low cards.

Avoid suited flops that can complete flush. If avoiding such is not possible, hold the nut in that suit or have two pair or trips that can fill up.

Uniform flops such as 8 7 6 can turn into straights and so should be watched over most especially if you have high pair or the like. They can beat your hand.

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Earlier this evening I tried my luck but unluckily didn’t get any good cards at all. In case it happens again, do you have any suggestion, tips, or the like? Do you think bluffing more will work? How about preflop raising?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks and more power!

Regards,
Chen
Chen,

You might want to try and open you hand ranges up in later position. Without knowing more about your game I cannot recommend bluffing. Raising preflop just for the sake of raising usually just leads to lost money. If you are going to raise, do so for a reason, such as a big hand or a tight game.

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It’s really hard for me to win and I don’t exactly understand why. I’m a decent player who’s actually learning how to play well. Oftentimes I can make it to the pay out level or if not to the final two.

Just last night, I made it to the final two once again. Game actually started with 10 players. I remember I was getting decent card then and was playing aggressively. At some point I got my first bad hand, a straight on the river with 3 hearts and a spade. On the flop he didn’t placed any bet but only called. I then placed a big bet, $2400, about half of my chips. I thought he was only up for a flush draw. Then he called and hit his flush. On the flop, I hit a straight 10-9-8-7-6. I was then all in for $3000. After a while, with A8 he called. Turn and river came, 2-J, which meant we gonna have to chop the pot then. Next hand, I had J7s hearts while he had K2o. Flop was J-7h-2h. I went all in at some point while he called with nothing. Much later he hit one of two Kings on the river so it was finally the end.

Do you think I was just unlucky or I actually just folded winners? By the way, if I have two pair, what are the chances another player has a set against me? Any idea? How about tips?

Your help will be much appreciated.

Many thanks,
Zedrick
Zedrick,

It sounds like your opponent got lucky in most of those cases. Of course, in a tournament, you sometimes have to get lucky to win. A player is 11% to hit a set on the flop. If I am heads up and flop two pair, I am push the hand in most scenarios.

It sounds like you are playing well. Eventually the streak of luck your opponent is on will end and you should take down a few winners.

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For about 12 months now, I’ve been playing Holdem. Well, in live games, I can actually say what kind or type of opponents I have, weak, tight, aggressive/loose, etc. But when it comes to myself I’m quite not sure. I believe that when I play, I play really tight however once someone call me a tight passive player.

I can’t believe I’m a tight passive one as I always thought I was a tight aggressive player. I don’t know if I just don’t realize it at all, but I’ve never played a passive game, I don’t also pretend to be a pro and actually very open to suggestions, advices, tips, etc.

Any tips on becoming a tight aggressive rather than passive? Your help will be much appreciated.

Many thanks,
Drew
Drew,

A lot depends on how much you are betting and raising etc. Do you check a lot when you miss the flop with your big hands? Do you only raise when you have the nuts? Do you not play position? If you can answer yes to any of these, then you are a passive player.

Being tight and aggressive means getting strong hands and then betting them strongly. Betting out, check raising, using the occasional semi bluff, and value betting are all skills that tight aggressive players have.

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I really find it hard to analyze the flop, turn and river, for some possible cards that could beat what I have. Any tips or strategy? Please help me on this.

Many thanks,
Antione
Antione,

What I recommend is to take out a deck of cards and deal out some hands to yourself and then deal out a flop. Practice trying to figure out what cards that other people can hold to beat you. Also practice learning to spot potential straight and flush draws.

The only way to get good at this is practice. Take some time to learn this and it will help you make more money.

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