How to Play Texas Hold Em Poker - Keep Them Guessing

How is your poker face? No one wants to be predictable in life or in poker. Keep them guessing and take command of the game. Texas hold em poker is a game of skill and luck; to win you will need a fair share of both. Texas hold em, like any other version of poker is a game where playing the players is as important as playing the cards.

Texas hold em poker, Keep em guessing.

Poker Face:

Anytime you are playing Texas hold em poker, you want to keep your poker face in check. Many people believe that making a "poker face" means becoming stone faced and not blinking or twitching. This method of thinking is simply not true. A successful poker face is basically and expressions or movements that cannot be read by players. You want to act the same way no matter what cards you have. In your opponents mind, they wont know whether you have a high card or a royal flush.

Betting:

Everyone has different ways to bet when playing a game of Texas hold em poker. The best players however, will mix it up a bit to throw off their opponents. They might call with quad aces or raise with a seven deuce off suit. It's all about throwing of your opponents.

Bluffing:

Bluffing is a huge part of any Texas hold em poker game. There have been many, many times that I've scared people off of a hand by betting at the pot without having so much as a descent high card. Bluffing is an art form, and it takes a bit of practice to master. Use the bluff right, and you can triple your stack in just a few short hands. Use it wrong however, and you will be out of the tournament before it even begins.

When bluffing in a game of Texas hold em poker, one of the tricks is to show the bluff about a third of the time that you use it. This is going to include the times that you get caught. Doing this will put your opponents on edge and keep them guessing as to if you are actually sitting on the best hand. Be sure to show the bluff now and then after a winning hand as well.

Check Raise:

The check raise is a very potent tool rather you have the best hand or not. This technique is especially useful against players that you are familiar with. After sitting across the table from a player for hours and hours, you begin to get a feel for how they bet. Many people get a bit aggressive when they are chip leader. Use this to your advantage by checking into them, this will keep them in hands that they otherwise might have folded. Use this technique when you know you have a great hand. You check, they make a bet, and then you raise it up even higher. This will force them to fold (which they will hate doing), call, or re-raise.

The check raise is especially effective after going on a mini bluff streak. You will have them on edge and they will practically give their money to you.