What is Texas Hold’em? The basics, fast and clear
Texas Hold’em in Spain is a variant of community card poker in which each player receives two hole cards and tries to form the best possible five-card hand by combining his hole cards with the five community cards. The action consists of four phases: preflop (the initial deal and bets), flop (three cards), turn (fourth card) and river (fifth card), with bets after each phase.
Two alternating mandatory bets – the small blind and the big blind – start the action. On your turn, you can fold, check, bet, call or raise. You win when everyone else folds or shows the best hand in the showdown. Now, the hierarchy of hands: from the royal flush to the highest card. Learn the rhythm of the game first; strategy will develop naturally later.
226Poker: Your training ground for Texas Hold’em
To master these concepts, practice is essential. 226Poker poker online offers a dynamic platform where you can apply these beginner tips in a real-world playing environment, without the pressure of high stakes. Whether you’re looking to perfect your preflop strategy, improve your postflop reading or simply familiarize yourself with the rhythm of the game, 226Poker provides you with the tools and community to help you progress – start your journey with us and turn theoretical knowledge into winning habits!
Explanation of the positions at the table (and their importance)
“Position” refers to the time at which you act in relation to others. Acting later gives you more information, cheaper bluffs and higher value bets. The button (BTN) acts last postflop and is the most profitable position; play with a wide range in that position. The cutoff (CO) can attack frequently, especially if the button is conservative.
The hijack (HJ) is still a strong position, but requires a little more discipline. Lojack (LJ) and Under the Gun (UTG) are starting positions; ranges must be tighter because many players act later. In the blinds, you have invested chips, but you face tricky postflop situations out of position; defend selectively with hands that have good play. Rule of thumb: early position = tighter range; late position = wider and more aggressive range, especially against weak opponents.
Fundamentals of fund management: Set limits before you start playing.
Consider poker as a game of skill with variance. Set aside a bankroll exclusively for poker: money you can afford to lose without stress. For cash games, keep between 20 and 40 full buy-ins for your level of play (e.g., €1/€2 with a €200 buy-in → a bankroll of €4000 to €8000). In tournaments, the variance is greater; try to have 50 to 100 entries or more. Set stop-loss and stop-win rules to avoid tilt and choose levels where losing some entries will not affect your decisions.
Track results, not just sessions, and reduce your fund when it falls below a level you are comfortable with. Never try to recoup losses, lend your money or mix it with your expenses. Disciplined money management protects you from losing streaks and helps you play at your best.
Beginner’s hands: A simple board for beginners
Use tighter ranges at the beginning and wider ranges on the button. To start quickly:
- UTG/LJ (initial): AA-TT, AK-AQ, AJs-ATs, KQs.
- HJ (medium): Add 99-88, A9s-A5s, KJs, QJs, JTs, T9s.
- CO: Add 77-66, ATo, KQo, KTs-K9s, QTs, 98s, 87s.
- BTN: Add 55-22, A9o-A2o, KJo-KTo, QJo, same suit holes as 97s, 86s.
- SB/BB: Defend more against weak openings with connectors and broadways of the same suit; fold to weak hands without partner.
Raise first with hands from your range table; avoid the limp. Against raises, 3-bet with premium pairs and AK/AQ; call with playable hands of the same suit when your stack and position allow. Retreat with marginal hands with no club, especially out of position. This simple scheme avoids costly preflop mistakes.
Pre-flop strategy: Open, call or fold?
Start by thinking about position first. Open when you are the first to enter with hands from your range table: more conservative at the beginning, more open at the end. Use a consistent opening size (e.g., 2-2.5 times the big blind online; 2.5-3 times live). Call when you have hands that play well in multiple players or give you equity in position (same suit connectors, hand pairs, strong same suit aces), especially against small openings. Avoid calling without much precision out of position. 3-bet for value with premium hands (AA-QQ, AK) and add some late position same suit bluffs against players who open frequently.
Hold back with weak unpaired hands that complicate the game: dominated aces, king-low, disconnected junk cards. When facing a raise and a draw, play more conservatively: your hand needs to be more playable. Always consider the depth of the stack: shorter stacks favor high card strength; longer stacks reward hands of the same suit and connected. Leave emotions aside; your rule of thumb should be “fold until there is a clear reason not to”.
Post-Flop Plans: Reading the Tables and Developing Smart Cards
Start by classifying the table: dry (A♣7♦2♠), semi-wet (Q♠9♦4♣), or wet (J♥T♥9♣). Dry tables favor the range of the player who raised pre-flop; small continuation bets work well. Wet tables hurt those who called; bet harder with value and be selective with bluffs. Ask yourself: who has the range advantage; who has the most threes/double pairs/best possible hand?
With top pair, focus on the kicker and vulnerability; with top pair, watch out for hands in multiplayer play. For projects, count outs and plan ahead: call with check-call with good equity, make semi-bluffs when folds are plausible and avoid chasing hopelessly.
Increase the bet size in dynamic turns; reduce it if you have nothing to do. In position, control the size of the pot and take free cards when the odds don’t favor you. Out of position, simplify: bet for value with your strong hands, check and fold with weak hands with nothing to do, and combine check-raises with premium draws. Each street should have a purpose: to extract value, to deny equity or to realize yours.
