Basics of Poker Strategy in a Cash Game

In this article we will talk on the basics of the game on the turn and river in Texas Hold'em . Should not be regarded as comprehensive tips below guide - rather, we tried to create a set of basic rules that you need to know every beginner player. They allow you to successfully play their hands at the lower limits, but will be more expensive than your game, the more tricks you have to add to your arsenal for the turn and river.

Divide the game on the turn and river into two categories, as well as the game on the flop aggressor strategy and strategy for callers. It is worth noting that when you were on the turn, you already should have a representation of the approximate range of the opponent - what he could equalize or bet on the flop. It is difficult to overestimate the importance of this information, as the turn and river are the most creative streets in the entire game.

Playing on the turn as the aggressor:

On the turn, you usually make a decision about what the bank to play big or small. If you bet, then on the river bank will lay 30-40 big blinds. If you make a check - 17-20. In this connection is especially important to remember the key rule for low limits: large hands - the big banks, the weak hands - small.

If you were the aggressor preflop and on the flop, the game on the turn and river are rarely put you in a difficult position. One has only to be guided by a simple idea: do not ever check with strong hands, never try to play their "monsters" slowly, and never bluff with garbage.

All recommendations on the size of bets on the turn and river are no different from those for the flop - if you decide to bet, its size should be 2/3-3/4 of the pot.

With good hands like top pair, a set, two pair on the turn should be made only when the check came fourth card to flash or straight. In all other cases, it makes sense to bet, even if you have an overpair and the turn mated highest card on the flop - opponents at the lower limits very often will give you money with weak combinations like the second pair.

Remember that if you check on the opponent out of position , behind it must necessarily follow the fold - never try to equalize rates with weak combinations ( on the relative strength , such as 66 to 76Q2, where all four cards of the same suit) without position , " not believing " in the strong arm of the opponent. It will not bring you anything but huge losses, because you are breaking the basic principle of the game - to give the initiative and position in your opponent's hand.

The exception may be except that top pair with a weak kicker on a completely secure message boards without core - they are sometimes allowed to do check and call bets out of position because you are almost always better , but not a very strong hand .

Someone might say, but what about the top pair and overpair when the turn came to the third card or flash card to the Third Street? You should not be afraid of such boards and still to bet, because your opponents may well be no flash, but only a flush draw. Flash - it's quite rare hand from a mathematical point of view. Typically, medium and weak hands your opponent (provided that you hold top pair) is 2-2.5 times larger than flash on a similar turn. And your competitors are much more likely to equalize with a weak hand than put it themselves.

In terms of average hands, like the second and third pairs, at this stage you should be doing with them in the position of the check. OOP - check with the intention to fold his hand in response to a bet from your opponent. Weak pairs, you will often rely on a cheap showdown against the same weak combinations. We should not think that all your opponents will bet with their weak hands on the turn in response to your check. Do not forget that such weak hands in their range is not much , because they did call on the flop , and then call on the flop - it still need a fairly good hand . Therefore, your second pair may well be weaker than your opponent's hand after his bet on the turn.

The only exception is a situation where you had top pair on the flop and the turn was the highest card. For example, the flop JT3, and the turn came A. In this case, you should make a bet on the turn with his jack (say , KJ), as older cards very rarely help your opponent , except for rare hands like AJ or AT, so there is no no reason to fear them .

It's time to ask the question: what if you did a good bet with a hand, and the opponent responded with a raise?

If, on the turn or river you bet and get raised, you should throw everything except arms mentioned below. ALWAYS overpair and fold their top pair on the turn to a raise opponent. If you're holding a senior two pair or better, you should go by the all-in raise in response to the opponent. With the following hands worth to fold to a raise opponent:

• Weak flushes on the boards with four cards to flash (weak here will be considered not to flash any K or A)
• Weak straights on the boards with four cards to a straight, (here will be considered weak and faint any non-nut straight).
• Any straights when the turn was the third or fourth card to flash
• Any set or two pair on the board, where are the three or four cards to flash

If your opponent's stack size is so small that is 1.5-2 pot size on the turn before your bid, it is permissible to equate all-in, or go to the same all-in for the remaining money with hands like top pair with a good kicker and a strong draw or better, if only on the turn did not come to the fourth card flush or a straight.