Texas Hold'em Tips: How to Be a Poker Star

Do you ever wonder why you always find yourself being the first to leave the table at a ten player Texas-Hold'Em tournament? Having an overall understanding of the game isn't all you need. If you're playing for the pure fun of the sport, and you don't mind losing your twenty five dollar buy-in each time you play then maybe this article isn't for you. But if you're interested in taking your friends' money, earning the respect of those around you, and having the pride of an accomplished poker player then pay attention. It's not really that complicated of a game. Do you really think a guy like Phil Hellmuth is a mathematical genius? Use these simple steps and you'll be guaranteed to improve your chances at taking the big pot.

Don't play too many hands.
It's easy to get excited, especially during early rounds, and feel the need to play your hand each time. It never fails, even on a 3-5 off suit, many beginning players want to feel the electricity so they'll throw their chips in, walking into a huge trap. Minutes later they find themselves out of the game, playing Playstation 2 and waiting until the pizza is delivered. Be patient. Remove luck from the equation. Play only 30% of your hands. In a tournament, you want the "It's a marathon, not a sprint" mentality, therefore you need to solely concentrate on the higher starting hands.

Watch your opponent's physical and strategic habits.
The best time to study your opponent is when you are not involved in a hand. When emotions are involved and you have chips thrown in the pile then most of the time you are worried about what signs or indication you are giving away to your opponent. If you've already folded a hand, don't leave the table for a beer. Stay at the table and watch how your opponents bet, how much they bet, and how aggressive they are once the flop hits.

Betting for reactions
Sometimes betting is not always because you have the higher hand. A defensive bet is one used early to prevent later mishaps with a bigger future bet. For instance, a re-raise could be used to probe the strength of your opponent's hand. Ask questions to yourself about your opponent. Why did they re-raise me? If he's holding a pair of Aces then why did he only call me? Does he have a weak kicker?

Bluffing is overrated.
Use it with caution. If there is a low risk of being called by your opponent, then it could be used wisely, but again it's only right against the right players. Most beginners use bluffing as a way to make up for the lack of knowledge in better. These beginners conclude that their hand is defeated but choose to use "charm" to outwit the opponent. If I'm a shark, I'm tasting blood in the water about right now.

Understand player position.
The ideal spot on the table is the Dealer button, because you are the last person to act, and you have the advantage of watching the betting action before you have to make a decision. If the action before you sees a call, a bet, a raise, and a re-raise, and your hand is a 4-8 off suit, then you might want to think about folding before you lose your entire stack of chips.

Fold'Em.
This is the golden rule. You have to know when to fold your hand. Don't be a calling fool. Be aware of the other betting patterns of your opponents. Most top players will admit that it's the lay downs that have saved their tournament lives. Two pocket aces may seem great, but on a board with a 5, 6, 7, and a 9 then you're more than likely to get busted if you decide to play along. Don't be dumb.

If you're just looking to have fun on a Saturday night then twenty dollars and a few beers might just be worth your time. But if you want to bring home $200 and have a weeks worth of bragging rights, then know what you're playing. It's what separates the men from the boys.