Experts agree: having a tight pre-flop strategy is the fastest way to put an amateur on the road to success when playing Limit Texas Hold'Em. This is not a primer of the rules of the game, it's a guide for those who are already pretty familiar with it and want to improve their play, so please be familiar with basic vocabulary before proceeding.
- Ask yourself: Do my cards have high card strength? High card strength is the most important characteristic of your starting cards. Because you'll make pairs more often than any other hand, it's important that when you make pairs, you make strong ones. Having high cards also means that if your opponent hits a low pair, you can beat it by drawing one of your high cards. Any two face cards are good enough to at least limp in with, regardless of position. Any two face cards are worth a raise from medium and late position if no one has yet entered the pot, and fine to limp with if there is already a limper. In the cutoff or button position, if you are the first to enter the pot, you should always raise with any two face cards.
- Ask yourself: Are my cards suited? Being suited allows your cards to make flushes in addition to making pairs. This is important, because flushes will often beat all of your opponents, while pairs usually can only beat one or two. If your cards are suited, be more inclined to limp with connected low cards, and raise with high cards.
- Ask yourself: Are my cards connected? In addition to making pairs, closely connected cards make straights, which will often beat many opponents. Though not as powerful as flushes, straights are often harder to be put on, winning you more bets. Immediate connected cards, like 5-6 or 7-8 are best because they can make the most possible straights. One gap connected cards, like 6-8 or 9-J, are the biggest gaps you should be willing to play with.
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Author: Alvin Lau