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Poker: Texas Hold'em Strategies and Plays
Plays are, essentially, a pre-determined set of actions given certain stimuli or variables. While uncontrollable variables are indeed the heart of gambling and Texas Hold'em, there are certain things that remain constant. This is why there are still poker tips, despite no two rounds being exactly alike. Knowing what to do or having a method to fall back on can prove bankroll-saving is a game as intense a Hold'em. Perhaps these few poker tips will help you develop a game that you can't on.
Protection plays are classic and inevitable in Texas Hold'em. There are plays that any player ends up doing at some point, especially when they are beginners. It's made to deny other players cards when they are drawing in order to protect your own made but easily beatable hand. Its purpose is not to plump up the pot, as with many other betting based strategies in Texas Hold'em. This tip's purpose is to give the people across the table enough rope to hang themselves with, usually by folding their cards. This is a poker tip that should be used with extreme care as if their opponents stay in the round, it'll probably become a gamble more than a smart play.
In Texas Hold'em, the protection play can easily be compared and contrasted with the bluff in that their desired outcomes are similar to each other. The bluff however, usually does not stand a chance if the opponent decides to force the issue, while the Protection play requires that you have something to play with to begin with. Usually, the best protection plays are made with the best possible hand at the current round, but with the threat of other stronger hands developing down the turn and the river.
Slow play is another example of a Texas Hold'em play that many employ sparingly. Usually, aggressive play is a strong symbol of strength. However, this can work against any tight-aggressive player as their opponents may play the waiting game by folding whenever the tight-aggressive player pushes the issue. Slow play is the response to this - this move essentially feigns weakness through cold calling and checking to provoke opponents into betting too much in a round where you have the advantage through superior card strength. The inherent and obvious danger in slow play is that it offers opponents the chance to get cards and potentially draw into a winning card, which is always a dangerous proposition.