Poker strategy is the backbone of successful poker play. Suppose you want to become a winning player or an experienced pro. In that case, you must understand and apply effective poker strategies in your gameplay to improve your win rate overall and get the necessary edge to win profits over the long term. In this complete poker strategy guide, we will cover all the major concepts, principles, and tactics that will help you become a good poker player and, hopefully, a winning player.
Core Concepts of Poker Strategy
There are a lot of strategies used in poker from the basic one to the advanced which help players to take the best decisions and boost their winning chances. The crucial components of poker strategy are:
- Tight and aggressive play
- Hand selection
- Position
- Pot odds and equity
- Hand reading
- Bankroll management
The fundamental theorem of poker, introduced by David Sklansky, states that every time you play your hand the way you would if you could see your opponents’ cards, you gain, and every time your opponents play their cards differently from the way they would play them if they could see your cards, you gain.
The theorem is the basis for several poker strategy topics. Pot odds and expected value are two basic concepts that derive from the fundamental theorem of poker. Few games involve more statistics than poker. Once players have disciplined themselves to apply such fundamentals as pot odds and expected value, it is not difficult to graduate to more advanced concepts.
Pot Odds and Implied Odds
Pot odds and implied odds will help you become a better poker player. Pot odds compare the size of the pot to the size of the bet you must call. Knowing your pot odds will help you decide if a call is correct over time.
| Bet Size Relative to Pot | Pot Odds (%) | Required Equity to Call (%) | Example Scenario |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 of Pot | 20% | 17% | Opponent bets $10 into a $40 pot |
| 1/2 of Pot | 33% | 25% | Opponent bets $20 into a $40 pot |
| 3/4 of Pot | 43% | 30% | Opponent bets $30 into a $40 pot |
| Full Pot | 50% | 33% | Opponent bets $40 into a $40 pot |
| 2x Pot | 67% | 40% | Opponent bets $80 into a $40 pot |
Implied odds consider future bets that you can win if you hit your draw. By understanding implied odds, you can make more profitable calls with drawing hands when the potential payoff is big.
The Fundamental Theorem of Poker
The fundamental theorem of poker, coined by David Sklansky, is a statement that essentially says: whenever you play your hand differently from the way you would have played it if you could see your opponents’ cards, they gain; and whenever you play your hand the same way you would have played it if you could see their cards, they lose. This theorem underscores the importance of playing strategically with incomplete information as well as adjusting that strategy based on your read of your opponents’ playing styles and their likely holdings.
For instance, if you have a strong hand, like top pair with a good kicker, and your opponent is very tight and never going to bluff, you can bet your hand for value because it’s very unlikely that your opponent has a hand that can call a bet. On the other side of the coin, if you have a weak hand and you know your opponent is aggressive and likely to fire a lot of bluffs at you, then you should contemplate folding your weak hand – one that would normally be ok to play – against their bet because they’re not really betting against your bad hand but instead using it as an opportunity to win the pot.
Hand Selection and Preflop Strategy
The first part of our guide explains the Texas Holdem pre-flop strategy so that you understand which hands you should be playing and in which positions in the game. This point in the game, where you make decisions before any community cards have been dealt, is pivotal, as it sets the tone for how the hand is going to be played out and how aggressive each player will play.
Starting Hand Selection
Your starting hand selection should centre around your position at the poker table and particularly those hands when you’re one of the first to act, that is the player seated immediately after the big blind. Let’s look at how this impacts on your hand selection from each position at the table:
| Position | Premium Hands | Strong Hands | Speculative Hands | Marginal Hands |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early Position | AA, KK, QQ, AK (suited) | AQ, JJ, TT, AK (off-suit) | 99, 88, KQ (suited) | AJs, ATs, KJs |
| Middle Position | AA, KK, QQ, JJ, AK (suited) | AQ, AJ (suited), KQ | 99, 88, 77, QJs | ATo, KQo, 65s |
| Late Position | Any hand from Early/Middle | KJs, QTs, JTs | 66, 55, T9s, 87s | A8s, KTo, QJo |
| Blinds | Any hand from Early/Middle | Any hand from Late | 44, 33, 22, Axs | Any suited connectors, low pairs |
Preflop Raising and Calling
Entering the pot preflop, in general, it would be better to make a raise, not a limp (since making a raise you take the initiative and may win the pot before flop). The size of preflop raise depends on your position, your opponents’ play and table dynamics.
Three-betting (re-raising a preflop raise) is a great way to isolate and win the pot with hands. When you do face a 3-bet, think about your positional disadvantage, tendencies of your opponent and if you’re getting the right odds to continue in the hand.
Postflop Strategy
Postflop play is where all of the action and the decision-making process really happens in a poker hand. The main components of postflop strategy are:
- Continuation betting
- Reading the board and opponents
- Hand strength assessment
- Pot control and value betting
Postflop Hand Strength Guide for Texas Hold’em
| Hand Strength | Example Hands | Best Scenarios to Play | Typical Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monster Hands | AA, KK, QQ, AK (top pair with top kicker) | All board textures, especially dry boards | Bet for value, raise opponents, build a large pot |
| Strong Hands | Top pair, overpairs, sets | Relatively dry boards with few draws available | Bet for value, protect against draws |
| Medium Strength Hands | Middle pairs, weak top pairs | Boards with limited threat of stronger hands | Bet cautiously, consider pot control, fold to aggression |
| Drawing Hands | Flush draws, open-ended straight draws | Wet boards, where your draw equity is high | Semi-bluff, call bets with good pot odds, fold to large raises |
| Weak Hands | Low pairs, underpairs | Limited board connections, opponents showing weakness | Check/fold, bluff only with good reads |
Continuation Betting
Betting the flop after being the preflop aggressor is called a continuation bet (c-bet). C-betting allows you to take control of the hand and win the pot right away. You should c-bet when:
- Board texture (dry vs wet)
- Number of opponents
- Opponent tendencies
- Your hand range
Most of the time you’ll want to see a continuation bet on a dry unconnected board against 1 or 2 opponents that you think have probably missed the flop.
Reading the Board and Opponents
Reading the board and your opponents is key to making postflop decisions. Pay attention to:
- Flush and straight draws
- Connected cards that can make strong hands
- Opponent betting patterns and sizing
- Physical tells (in live games)
You can combine the information provided by the board and your opponents to approximate their hand and thus make better decisions.
Bankroll Management
A good bankroll management is a prerequisite for successful poker players. On average you should have about 20-30 buy-ins for the poker stake you’re playing, that way you can easily survive a few sessions of downswings even at the highest stake (worst case scenario).
Key aspects of bankroll management:
- Choosing the right stake levels
- Setting stop-loss and profit goals
- Avoiding tilt and emotional decision making
- Moving up in stakes as your bankroll grows
Advanced Poker Concepts
After mastering the fundamental techniques of poker strategy, you can graduate to the use of advanced concepts in your game. These concepts are in the following:
- Pot control
- Slow playing
- Equity and implied odds
- Fold equity and bluffing
- Overbetting
Pot Control
Pot control is the practice of keeping the pot small when you have a moderately strong hand or if you’re unsure about your opponent’s hand. By keeping the pot manageable you can: limit your losses when you’re behind and get value when you’re ahead. Some tactics for pot control are:
- Checking and calling instead of betting and raising
- Smaller bet sizes
- Not getting too aggressive on wet boards
Slow Playing
Slow playing is a risky strategy in which you check or call with a strong hand to disguise its strength, hoping your opponents will keep betting or bluffing. When done correctly slow playing can win you some big pots but don’t over do it as it can allow players to catch up and beat your strong hand.
Equity and Implied Odds
Equity is your share of the pot based on the chances of your hand winning at that point in time. It’s what we’re trying to make decisions based on, and the more you know how to extract this information or use software to do so, the easier it will be for you to make correct or profitable decisions and avoid mistakes.
Implied odds are the money that you can win from future bets if you happen to make your hand. Implied odds is another important factor to consider when deciding whether or not to play a drawing hand as sometimes the money you can win from future bets, more than compensates for what you would be making an incorrect call paying now.
Fold Equity and Bluffing
Fold equity is the equity you gain based on the chances of your opponent folding to your bet or raise. When you bluff, you do it to exploit that fold equity by making your opponent fold a better hand.
Effective bluffing requires a balanced approach, considering factors such as:
- Your perceived hand range
- Opponent tendencies and skill level
- Board texture and potential draw completions
- Pot size and bet sizing
Overbetting
Overbetting is betting over the size of the pot, sometimes purely as a bluff or to get maximal value from a very strong hand. This can be an effective way to apply pressure on opponents and get them into difficult spots, but it shouldn’t be done too often and only in particular situations where you are likely to succeed.
Bluffing and Deception
By bluffing you make the other player fold without having the best hand, which helps you win pots. Yet, bluffing has to be done in a smart way as frequent bluffing could let your opponents read your game too easily. There are two main categories of bluffs:
Pure Bluffs: Betting or raising with a hand that cannot beat any of the hands your opponent is calling with, in the hope that he will fold the best hand.
Semi-Bluffs: Bet or raise with a drawing hand that, if it improves, will probably be the best hand (a flush or straight draw). Semi-bluffing gives you two ways to win – if your opponent folds right away, great – you’ve just won the pot (and didn’t have the best hand anyway). If your opponent calls, you can still hit your draw and win the pot.
Adapting Bluffing Strategy to Opponent Types
| Opponent Type | Bluffing Frequency | Common Bluffing Spots | Best Bluffing Strategies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tight Player | Moderate to High | Dry boards, where the opponent likely missed | Use frequent small to medium-sized bluffs, especially in position |
| Loose Player | Low to Moderate | Wet boards with high potential for draws | Focus on semi-bluffs with equity, avoid pure bluffs |
| Aggressive Player | Moderate | Paired boards or scare cards (e.g., overcards) | Use check-raises and trap bluffs to exploit aggression |
| Passive Player | High | Any board where the opponent checks | Bet frequently, as passive players tend to fold to aggression |
| Calling Station | Very Low | Almost never, except in extreme situations | Avoid bluffing, focus on value betting against this type |
Adjusting Strategy Based on Opponents
One of the most important poker skills is adapting your strategy depending on the players you are playing against, their tendencies and playing styles. If you can pinpoint these flaws in your opponents’ games and then exploit them, you can increase your win rate and decrease the likelihood of losing money.
Exploiting Tight Players
Against tight players who play only premium hands, you can:
- Bluff more frequently, especially on dry boards
- Value bet thinner, as they will fold medium strength hands.
- Apply pressure with raises and re-raises, taking their game away from their desired comfort zone
Exploiting Loose Players
Against loose players who play too many hands and chase draws, you can:
- Value bet your strong hands heavily, since they will call you with their weak hands
- Don’t bluff too much because you are more likely than not going to be called.
- Play more pots in position, because when you play in position you get to control the final size of the pot (assuming you want to play for stacks post-flop), and it’s also easier to exploit your opponent(s) post-flop.
Game Theory Optimal (GTO) vs. Exploitative Play
Game Theory Optimal (GTO) play is a strategy that aspires to play perfectly. Perfect play means making unexploitable decisions, which relies heavily on using balanced ranges and bet sizes. In other words, you’re making it so your opponents can’t beat you no matter what if they know your cards.
Exploitative play, on the other hand, means we deviate from GTO to exploit our opponents’ mistakes and tendencies. It can be more profitable in the short term but is easily exploitable by observant opponents.
Fundamentals of GTO Play
- Use balanced ranges for betting, checking, and raising
- Mix strategies with bluff and value bets to be unpredictable.
- Make decisions based on the estimated value of each action
Switching to Exploitative Play
While GTO play is a good starting point, if you want to take your game to the next level, you’ll need to know when to veer off and adjust in order to maximise on your opponents’ mistakes. Some signs that you should start using exploitative strategies are:
- Observing consistent mistakes or biases in your opponents’ play
- Playing against weaker, less-skilled opponents
- Playing in soft, passive, low rake games that GTO play isn’t necessary.
Combining GTO and exploitative play, you will have a strategy opponents can’t beat.
Poker Variants and Their Strategies
The fundamentals of poker are based on proper starting hand selection, positional play, pre-flop and post-flop decisions, and knowledge of basic poker concepts; applying this against different types of players and the various low stakes games you will encounter.
Texas Hold’em Strategy
Texas hold’em is the most popular of all poker games, a fact that’s true to be told and it strategy is based on:
- Position
- Hand selection
- Aggression
- Hand reading
Some of the most important things to consider will be what kind of opponents you’re up against, how aggressive they tend to be and finally, whether you really know the rules for Texas Hold’em hand rankings.
Omaha Strategy
Omaha is a variant in which players are dealt four hole cards, and must use exactly two of them, together with three of the five community cards, to make a hand. Omaha can be played as Limit or Pot Limit and can also be played for high and low. Bet sizes differ on each betting round.
- You need stronger starting hands because more players will show down with strong hands
- Bluffing is less effective as players are more likely to have strong draws
- The position is critical, as being last to act can be very advantageous position
Comparison of Key Differences Between Texas Hold’em and Omaha
| Aspect | Texas Hold’em | Omaha |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Hole Cards | 2 cards | 4 cards |
| Hand Strength | High-card hands can often win | Stronger hands are required, e.g., two pair minimum |
| Bluffing | Bluffing is common and effective | Bluffing is less common, requires strong hand-reading |
| Draws and Equity | Fewer draws, more straightforward equity calculations | More draws, complex equity with multiple possibilities |
| Winning Hand Frequency | One pair or two pair often wins | Straights and flushes are more common winning hands |
| Best for Aggressive Play | Yes, aggression is rewarded with fewer opponents’ strong hands | Less so, because more players often have strong drawing hands |
Seven-Card Stud Strategy
Seven-Card Stud is a variant that deals each player seven cards, three face-down and four face-up, with which they must play the best possible five-card hand. Key strategies for Seven-Card Stud are as follows:
- Paying attention to exposed cards and live cards
- Adjusting play based on the information gained from upcards
- Exploiting your opponents’ weaknesses by interpreting their betting actions and exposed cards.
Razz Strategy
Razz is a lowball version of Seven-Card Stud, where the lowest hand possible is the best hand. Razz strategy has you:
- Playing tight and aggressive, especially in early position
- Stealing blinds and antes when possible
- Identifying and preying on opponents’ weaknesses according to their upcards and manner of betting.
Poker Tournament Strategy
Poker tournament strategy is different from that of cash games. In this chapter of our guide, we will discuss the specific strategies behind poker tournaments, touch on how you should approach each different level, your bankroll management in general, and the psychological factors related to it.
Differences between Tournament and Cash Game Strategies
Poker tournament strategy is different from cash game strategy. One of the main reasons for this is that the objective in a tournament game is to outlast your opponents and make it into the money. Therefore, chip preservation is very important and can really affect your place in the tournament in the early stages. Also, as a general rule, blinds increase at set intervals in most tournaments and this means managing your stack becomes more important towards the middle and end of the tournament, while in a cash game the blinds simply never go up so you have much more flexibility with how you want to play at all stages of a cash game.
Online Poker Tournaments
Online poker tournaments can be an incredibly convenient way to play poker with a minimum risk of losing all of your hard earned cash. In fact, many players use this to build up their bankroll before venturing into playing for real money. One thing to watch is that traffic in Lowball games can become very sparse and it is highly recommended that you familiarise yourself with the winning hands before you start playing.
Managing Tournament Stages
Poker tournaments are divided into three distinct stages. As you move to a new stage, your strategy needs to evolve and change with the game.
Early Stage Strategy
In the early stages of a tournament, you want to make sure you play very tight and conserve your chips. You have deep stacks and the blinds are so low that there is no need to take any unnecessary risks. Play good starting hands, and look for opportunities to chip up versus weaker players. Be wary of marginal spots where you could lose a good chunk of your stack though and remember that accumulating chips should not be your focus at this stage. Survival is key.
Middle Stage Strategy
As we move into a tournament’s middle stage, it’s time to start shifting gears and playing more aggressively. Blinds are going up, and our stacks are getting shallower in relation to the blinds. Winning pots is crucial as you begin to see that other players tighten up their ranges. Look for spots where you can take advantage of this and your position at the table and be flexible with your play based on your stack size and the dynamics at your table.
Late Stage Strategy
Late in a tournament, the blinds are high and stack sizes are usually relatively short. That’s when you’ll need to be familiar with the push/fold strategy. When there isn’t much room to manoeuvre, you’ll have to be willing to take some risks in order to either build up your chip stack or get yourself back in contention. Playing a short stack well is very lucrative, and mastering bubble and final table play can help you reach your goals very quickly.
Dan Harrington’s Zone System
Dan Harrington, a famous poker strategist, created the Zone System in order to help players play optimally based on how many chips they have relative to the blinds. There are multiple zones and each of them requires a drastically different strategy. Using this framework, you will be able to think clearer and know how you should ideally be playing based on your chip count during any tournament stage.
Bankroll Management for Tournaments
Proper bankroll management is necessary if you plan to become a tournament regular. That means having a dedicated tournament bankroll that’s separate from your regular cash game bankroll. As a general rule, make sure you have at least 100 buy-ins for the level you’re playing to insulate yourself from variance and keep your roll healthy. Don’t be in a hurry to play higher levels and always play levels that are comfortable to your bankroll and skill level.
Final Table Dynamics
The last table of a poker tournament is unlike any other you’ll experience. When there’s so much money at the top, and a spotlight that makes the pressure feel even more intense, it’s all about making the right strategy adjustments. Use the Independent Chip Model (ICM) to guide your decision-making since it considers how much money you actually win from each payout spot. Take advantage of short stacks when you can and adjust your play based on your opponents’ skill level and tendencies.
Identifying and Exploiting Weak Players
One of the things you must be able to do in poker tournaments is identify and exploit the weak players. Look for bad bet sizes, bad hand selection, or just an overall weak table presence. Once you have identified a bad player or two, you need to start playing more pots with them, playing more aggressively than normal, and also looking to double through them when given the opportunity.
Balancing Aggression and Caution
In poker tournaments, you have to be aggressive but also cautious. Early on in a tournament, you want to play it safe and protect your chips, so you should be looking for spots carefully. Later in the tournament when the blinds get higher, you want to be aggressive to gather chips and put pressure on your opponents. However, don’t become recklessly aggressive and always weigh risk versus reward.
Adjusting Bet Sizing
Bet sizing is something that takes time to get right but is a critical part of every good poker players’ game. Bet sizing considerations at each stage of the hand can make the difference between winning or losing any given pot and could well be the one of the main reasons why you are not crushing the games yet. By simply being more mindful of how much you are betting (or checking/calling) from one street to the next, you will put yourself in a position where you are well ahead of most recreational players.
Controlling Tilt
Tilt is a destroyer of worlds for many poker players, and being on tilt in a tournament is even worse. Tilt is the term given to the state of mental and emotional confusion or frustration that can result in poor decision-making. The only way to combat tilt is: to recognize it early, figure out what elicits your response, and develop strategies for dealing with it. Get up and walk away if you have to; take deep breaths; remind yourself that this sort of thing happens to everyone on occasion. The best players can consistently make rational decisions regardless of short-term results.
Reading Opponents
First, you’ll need to learn how to read your opponents. Pay attention to their betting patterns, any physical tells they may be giving off, and what their timing tells might be. Beyond that, try to find spots where you believe your opponent may be acting consistently or inconsistently and use that information accordingly in a hand. Note, however, that it’s not wise to rely too heavily on physical tells, as many of the better players will give off false tells intentionally in an attempt to throw you off their scent.
Position and Its Influence on Strategy
In poker tournament strategy, position is a crucial variable. Your seat relative to the button dictates when you will act and thus how much of an impact that will have on your thinking and your strategy overall.
Early Position Strategy
Having a tight hand selection is very important when you play from an early position. Playing first, means you have to play with good starting hands that can hold against multiple opponents. Stay clear from marginal spots, and be ready to let your hand go if someone shows significant aggression.
Middle Position Strategy
Middle position has more flexibility than the early position. You can start to open up your hand range a bit and also gain some information from the players who have already acted. But don’t get too aggressive with a mediocre hand – remember what position you’re in and consider the table dynamic and your opponents.
Late Position Strategy
Late position is the best position to be in. You get to make more decisions because you act last on every betting round. You can play a wider range of hands because you have positional advantage post-flop. And late position is conducive to bluffing and putting pressure on your opponents since so many players have yet to act behind you.
Poker Tools and Resources
In today’s era of poker, many tools and resources are available for players to improve their game and start separating themselves from the competition.
HUDs and Tracking Software
Heads-up displays (HUDs) and tracking software provide online poker players with abundant information on their opponents, from their preflop raising tendencies to their aggression frequency and fold-to-steal percentage. By analysing and processing this information, you can start to develop reads on your opponents and make better decisions at the table, whether that’s related to profiling how they play, or taking advantage of specific weaknesses.
Poker Solvers and Equity Calculators
Poker solvers are highly advanced pieces of software that run simulations on a given hand, or even a whole game, and will return the optimal solution to that situation from a game theory perspective. Basically you can input hand ranges and board textures and they will give you insights into the most profitable lines of play. In contrast, equity calculators let you quickly calculate the equity (your expected share of the pot) vs your opponent’s range. These tools help you to check your work and calculate things in real time at the table.