Like real life, Texas Holdem is more about what you’ll do in situations you didn’t decide for yourself. And in Texas Holdem, some situations are straight-up unfavorable or require you to be creative to win. So, if you find yourself in them, here are some tips on what to do:
1. Draws
Draws are when you have four cards in sequence or four cards of the same suit, and you need one more card to make the straight or flush. If you have a flush draw, you need a card of the same suit. And if you have a flush draw, you need a card to complete the sequence. You’ll have better chances of taking down the pot if you complete the hand. On the other hand, It can be a dangerous situation because if your opponents have any kind of a made hand, they will usually bet or raise to try and force you out.
One way to play them is to call the flop and check-raise any bet on the turn. It will usually take down the pot right there. If your opponents check to you on the river, you can bet half the pot and try to get a free card.
2. Overpairs
An overpair is when you have a pair in your hand, and one of the cards on the board is of a higher rank. For example, if you have a pair of aces and the flop comes king-ten-five, you have an overpair.
It’s tricky because you don’t want to get too aggressive with your overpair and risk getting outdrawn. The best way to play it is just to bet the flop and try to take down the pot right there.
3. Being out of position
It is arguably one of the most challenging situations in Texas Hold em. Being out of position means you are acting first in the hand before your opponents can see what you do.
Here, your opponents can just check you and wait for you to make a mistake. The best way to play this situation is to be cautious and only bet or raise when you have a strong hand. If you get check-raised, it’s usually best to just fold.
4. Losing streak
It’s a situation that every Texas Holdem poker player has to deal with at some point. Losing a few poker hands in a row can be very frustrating, but stay calm and don’t let it affect your play.
The best way to get out of a losing streak is to keep playing your game. Eventually, the cards will turn around. Don’t be afraid to take a break if you feel tilting, though.
5. You’re forced to bluff
Try to avoid this situation if possible. After all, bluffing isn’t a surefire way to take down the pot. If your opponents catch on, they will start calling your bluffs, and you will lose a lot of money. If you find yourself in this situation, the best thing to do is just fold and live on to play the next day.
6. Your opponents are pressuring you
Being pressured in Texas Hold em means your opponents are constantly betting or raising, forcing you to make a move. It’s undoubtedly a tough spot to be in, but stay calm and make the best decision possible.
If you think your hand is good, you can just call and see what the turn brings. But if you don’t have a good hand, just fold and save yourself some money.
7. The flop misses you
This is when you have a hand that didn’t hit the flop. For example, if you have an ace-king and the flop comes ten-nine-eight, you have missed the flop.
The reason it’s a tricky spot is because you usually don’t have a strong hand anymore. The best way to play this situation is to check and fold if you get raised. If no one raises, you can try to take down the pot with a small bet.
8. The turn card is a scare card
This is a Texas poker situation where the turn card is a rank that could give your opponents a better hand than you. For example, if you have an ace-king and the flop comes ten-nine-eight, and the turn is a queen, that’s a scare card.
It can be tricky because you don’t want to get too aggressive and risk getting outdrawn. In this situation, play the way you would if you missed the flop.
9. You’re up against a tight player
An opponent that plays very few hands is annoying and difficult to handle because they are likely to have a strong hand if they are betting or raising.
The best way to deal with one is to be patient and wait for a good hand. Once you have a good hand, you can be more aggressive and try to take down the pot.
10. You’re on a short stack
This is more of a tournament situation, but it’s still worth mentioning. Being on a short stack means you have less than 20 big blinds in your stack. It’s a dangerous spot because you can be out of the tournament if you make one wrong move.
The best way to play a short stack is to be very aggressive and take down pots. If you get raised, you should usually just fold and wait for a better spot.
Thrive during tricky Texas Holdem times!
No matter how good you are, there will always be times when you run into bad situations. The important thing is to stay calm and make the best decision possible. With these tips and enough experience, you’ll be able to get through these rough spots and come out ahead in the long run.
And speaking of practice, if you’re looking for an online poker room to test these tips, sign up at GGPoker, the world’s largest poker room, where you will surely have many matches.