Poker Strategy: No Limit Hold’em

What are the two most powerful words you can say in poker? I’m “ALL IN”.

You can win or lose entire stacks in a single hand of No Limit Hold’em, and this excitement accounts for much of the popularity of the game. It’s not just a contest of having the best hand when all the chips go in the middle though. Well before that point, you should have created a plan for every street of the hand and formulated – in advance – your responses to every action your opponent takes. This isn’t magic but rather a science, and we’ll show you how to do it right. The articles below cover starting hand selection, the advantages of being aggressive, the stack-to-pot ratio, preflop three-betting, and the other concepts that you must master before you can truly become a proficient practitioner of NLHE. Once you achieve a certain level of skill, you’ll find yourself with numerous opportunities to practice it because No Limit Texas Hold’em is currently the most commonly spread form of poker in the world.

  • Featured No Limit Hold'em (3)



  • EV Calculations Tutorial 1: Introduction

    EV Calculations Tutorial 1: Introduction

    When dealing with complicated poker decisions, it's often helpful to make expected value (EV) calculations. If the decision is a close one, you might not be able to tell at a glace what the correct play is, so these calculations can help you determine what you should do.
    Does Your Poker Game Suit You?

    Does Your Poker Game Suit You?

    the importance of selecting a poker game type that aligns with one's personality and preferences, highlighting that success in poker is not just about mastering the game's mechanics but also about finding a format that resonates with the player's mindset, ensuring both enjoyment and profitability
    Playing Small Pairs in NL Full Ring

    Calling with a Small Pair

    mathematical analysis of the profitability of calling a pre-flop raise with a small pair, emphasizing the importance of understanding the odds of flopping a set and the potential risks of facing a better set
    ISF – Revision Of ISF Theorem

    ISF – Revision Of ISF Theorem

    revisits the original ISF Theorem, emphasizing the importance of understanding the strength of poker hand ranges in relation to opponents' ranges, and highlights the need for players to adapt their strategies based on the dynamic interplay of these ranges
    Delayed Continuation Betting

    Delayed Continuation Betting

    the strategy of deferring the continuation bet by checking the flop and opting to bet on the turn or river, highlighting its effectiveness in situations where the opponent's range is stronger on the flop, and providing examples in both 2-bet and 3-bet pots to illustrate the concept

    Tactical Thinking – Is It Enough?

    the distinction between tactical and strategic thinking in poker, highlighting that while tactical knowledge about playing individual hands is essential, it's the broader strategic approach, including game selection, seat selection, and time selection, that will determine long-term success in the evolving online poker landscape
    Why is SPR Important?

    Why is SPR Important?

    the significance of the Stack to Pot Ratio (SPR) in poker, emphasizing that its importance varies based on game texture and player dynamics, and discusses the intricacies of SPR in relation to aggressive history, game strategy, and the challenges of certain bet sizes in various game situations, highlighting the nuanced nature of SPR in decision-making
    Why is SPR Important?

    Half-Stack Appraoch to NLHE

    The article from Flop Turn River outlines the half-stack approach to No Limit Hold'em, detailing its advantages and drawbacks, and emphasizing the strategy's simplicity, the perception it creates among opponents, and the adjustments required when playing with a 40-60bb stack depth
    ISF – Strategic Bet Sizing

    ISF – Strategic Bet Sizing

    the strategic importance of bet sizing in poker, highlighting that while many players have a "standard" bet size, adjusting bet sizes based on opponent behavior and one's own strategy can be more effective, with considerations for pot odds and manipulating probabilities
    Playing Big 8 or 9 Out Drawing Hands

    Playing Big 8 or 9 Out Drawing Hands

    strategies and considerations for playing drawing hands in poker, particularly focusing on the nuances of playing 8 or 9-out drawing hands, the implications of implied odds, the subtleties of straight draws versus flush draws, the tactic of the free card play, and the potential pitfalls of tainted outs
    Going After Multi Tablers

    Going After Multi Tablers

    the strategic implications of multi-tabling in poker, emphasizing that while multi-tabling can increase a player's earnings per hour, it also makes them more vulnerable to solid single-table players who can exploit the reduced attention and default strategies of multi-tablers
    Poker Aggression Guide

    Poker Aggression Guide

    the importance of understanding and utilizing aggression in poker, emphasizing the concept that if a player has decent equity against a range and perceives some fold equity, they should be inclined to bet or shove
    The Basic Concepts that Drive Continuation Betting

    Pre-flop Strategy – Starting Hand Rankings: Group 5

    he intricacies of playing Group 5 hands, which include low pocket pairs and certain combinations like KJ and QJ, emphasizing the importance of seeing the flop for a low cost, understanding the potential risks of being dominated, and making informed decisions based on the table dynamics, opponents' actions, and one's own chip stack
    Cbets, HUD Reads and Problem Solving

    Poker Starting Hands with Deep Stacks

    Deciding what range of hole cards you’re going to play depends largely on your stack size. If your stack equals 60BB or less, you should aim to hit big pairs. If it’s between 60BB-150BB, you can play suited connectors and gappers. Above 150BB, you can play cards with flush or straight potential.
    Back to Basics (Part 2): Reverse Implied Odds

    Exploitation and the FTC Theorem

    concept of the FTC (Fold-to-Continue) Theorem in poker, emphasizing how players can exploit opponents with high FTC ratios by making strategic bets and raises, while also cautioning players to maintain balance in their own play to avoid being exploited
    ISF – Revision Of ISF Theorem

    ISF – Forming Ranges: Part 2

    the complexities of forming postflop hand ranges, emphasizing the importance of strategically grouping hands to maximize profitability, understanding the interplay between hands within a range, and making informed decisions based on the strength and potential of hands relative to an opponent's range
    Back to Basics (Part 2): Reverse Implied Odds

    Renton Theorem aka ABCD Theorem

    When playing No Limit Texas Hold'em poker, it's common to try to make the best play with the hand you're given. However, you should also be considering how to maximize the value you get out of your whole range of hands. Usually, your range will be divided into four parts.
    Does Your Poker Game Suit You?

    ISF – Why Being OOP Sucks

    being in position provides players with an additional street of information compared to being out of position, allowing for better pot control, and highlighting that the strength of a player's hand can often be overshadowed by the advantages of position, even when facing stronger hands
    Why is SPR Important?

    Using Pot Control or Not

    the strategy of pot control in poker, highlighting the balance between extracting value from strong hands and managing the pot size, the challenges of pot control against skilled players, and the importance of balancing bluffs with value bets to avoid being too predictable
    Back to Basics (Part 5): Poker Reads Made Simple

    Leveling by Gametight

    the psychological strategy of "leveling" in poker, which involves thinking multiple steps ahead of your opponent to predict their moves and reactions, illustrated through various levels of thought processes and exemplified with a detailed hand scenario between two players
    The Reality of Online Poker

    The Reality of Online Poker

    while poker has been heavily marketed to the masses, it has attracted not just enthusiasts but also cheats, con-men, and other unsavory characters, making it crucial for players to be vigilant and aware of potential pitfalls
    Texas Holdem Position

    Texas Holdem Position

    the critical role of player position in Texas Hold'em poker, explaining that having a favorable position allows you to gather more information on other players' actions, thereby enabling better decision-making
    Exploiting Your Image

    Player Types

    various strategies and post-flop tendencies of different poker players, classifying them based on their actions such as "call, fold, raise," and offering insights on how to exploit each player type's weaknesses and tendencies for optimal gameplay
    Back to Basics (Part 2): Reverse Implied Odds

    ISF – Adjusting Your Poker Play

    importance of adaptability in poker, emphasizing that players should make specific adjustments based on their opponents' high and low frequency moves, rather than generalizing them into categories like "tight-aggressive" or "loose-aggressive"
    Continuation Betting in NLHE Full Ring

    Continuation Betting in NLHE Full Ring

    nuances of making continuation bets in full-ring No-Limit Hold'em games, particularly at lower stakes, emphasizing that players often make mistakes in deciding when to continuation bet and suggesting that understanding the table dynamics and opponent behavior can help in making more informed decisions
    Expanding Your Pre Flop Range

    Preparation in Poker

    the importance of preparation in poker, discussing how planning ahead for various betting scenarios and potential stressors can improve both strategic and psychological aspects of the game
    Why is SPR Important?

    No-Limit Hold’em… A Flaw in Design

    argues that the game of No-Limit Hold'em has inherent design issues, particularly in cash games, where skilled players can find themselves handicapped when facing novices who buy-in for the minimum, rendering many of the skilled player's strategies ineffective