The following are a few excerpts (not relating to strategy) from my book:

*** Texas Hold’em in the World of Poker ***

Welcome to the world of poker. In the world of poker, Texas Hold’em is by far the most popular game. The most popular form of hold’em is without doubt, structured-limit. At the time of this writing (April 9, 2004) this form of limit hold’em is found in nearly every B&M cardroom within the US and Canada, as well as being offered on every single poker site in cyberspace.

Structured-Limit:

Structured-limit means the initial bet pre-flop and on the flop is equal to the size of the big blind and the initial bet on the turn and the river is equal to twice the size of the big blind. This applies to all players yet to act unless they want to raise, in which case the first raise is exactly twice the initial amount, the second raise would be exactly three times the initial amount and so on. For example, in a $10-$20 hold’em game, the big blind is $10 and therefore with no raise pre-flop and on the flop, the bet is $10 to call and all raises are in increments of $10. On the turn and the river with no raise, the bet is $20 to call and all raises are in $20 increments.

Other Betting Structures

Hold’em is also played with three other types of betting structures, which are: no-limit, pot-limit and spread-limit.

No-Limit & Pot-Limit:

No-limit hold’em (NLH) means the maximum a player can bet is determined by the amount of money he has on the table. Pot-limit hold’em (PLH) means the maximum a player can bet is determined by the size of the pot, including his bet (i.e. there is $60 in the pot including a $30 bet from a player; therefore, it is $30 to you if you want to call. If you want to bet the size of the pot you can bet $120. The following will clarify how you can bet $120: $60 + your $30 = $90, so now you can bet the size of the pot which is $90; therefore, your bet would be $30 + $90 which equals $120).

NLH and PLH games are not as scarce as they used to be in B&M cardrooms within North America, but these games are not readily found. However, online is a different story. Players can find NLH and PLH games on most poker sites, these games usually have a small blind structure (e.g. $2-$4, $1-$2, 50 cents-$1 or 25 cents-50 cents) and the maximum buy-in is also usually quite small (e.g. $200, $100, $50 or $25 respectively). Some sites offer a slightly higher blind structure as well as higher maximum buy-ins.

Spread-Limit:

Spread-limit means you can bet any amount (in increments of the smallest value chip at your table) between a specified minimum and maximum amount. For example, $1-$4 means you can bet between $1 and $4 in whole dollar increments and $1-$4-$8-$8 means you can bet any whole dollar increment between $1 and $4 pre-flop and on the flop and then $1 to $8 on the turn and river.

With the exception of Check ‘n Raise Poker.com, I have never come across spread-limit online. In B&M cardrooms spread-limit is most common at low limits like discussed in the above paragraph and many cardrooms don’t even offer this form of limit hold’em.

Strategy Differs With Betting Structure

Limit hold’em, NLH and PLH are completely different games and effective strategy for each form of hold’em often differs like night and day. Due to the mass popularity of limit hold’em, the material within these pages will only deal with this form of hold’em.

Mechanics of Texas Hold’em

Most hold’em games you will encounter, both in B&M cardrooms and online, will seat ten players. Some B&M cardrooms will seat only nine players in their hold’em games, particularly in California. Nine players per table will also be found on a couple of online sites. Eleven players per table is very rare but will sometimes be encountered in some hold’em games in Canada.

Small Blind:

A dealer button is moved clockwise to the next player at the end of every hand. The first player seated to the left of the dealer button is known as the “small blind” and must post a portion of the amount posted in the big blind which is pre-determined according to the limit being played. In some cases, if the limit is very small, the small blind is the same amount as the big blind but the most common small blind amounts are: half the amount of the big blind, two-thirds the amount of the big blind or one-third the amount of the big blind. Examples: (1) if the big blind is $10 then the small blind is $5. (2) if the big blind is $15 then usually the small blind is $10 but in some games the small blind would be $5. (3) if the big blind is $3 then usually the small blind is $1.

Big Blind:

The first player seated to the left of the small blind is known as the “big blind” and must post a pre-determined amount according to the limit being played. The big blind always equals the lowest amount quoted in the limit structure. For example, if the limit is $10-$20 then the big blind is $10, if the limit is $20-$40 then the big blind is $20.

The Deal:

Each player is dealt two cards face down (your hole cards) and then a round of betting takes place. The first player seated next to the big blind has the option to fold, to call the amount of the big blind or to raise. Each subsequent player has the same options. The last player to act pre-flop is the big blind. If there was no raise and if he wishes not to raise then they simply check.

The Flop:

After all action has been completed pre-flop, three cards are spread face up in the middle of the table. This is known as the “flop”. Now there is another round of betting and the first player to act is the first active player to the left of the dealer button.

The Turn:

After all action has been completed on the flop, one more card is placed face up next to the flop. This is known as the “turn” card or "fourth street". Now there is another round of betting.

The River:

After all action has been completed on the turn, one more card is placed face up next to the turn card. This is known as the “river” card. Now there is a final round of betting. The highest hand is determined by players using one or both of their hole cards, in any combination with the five cards on the board. In the event that neither hole card helps their hand, they will have to “play the board”. In this case, they will either lose the pot or tie with one or more players.

*** Playing Online ***

Necessary Assumption

Assume that all the cards dealt in cyberspace are totally random. In other words, assume the deck and all cards dealt are completely random and therefore assume the site you are playing on is honest. This is necessary in order for you to not drive yourself crazy by always wondering. You will therefore be more relaxed and being relaxed is a good thing especially while playing poker.

Collusion

Players would be very naive to think that collusion would never occur on any online poker site. With the ease of using a telephone or an Instant Messenger service, some players may be in collusion with one or more players. This fact may affect your hourly rate a little bit over time but certainly not enough to make you quit playing online. I have done very well online and I know for a fact that several of my friends have as well, so if collusion is rampant then the colluders are doing a lousy job of it. Unless you are playing in big limit games, don’t worry about collusion! If you are in a game and something seems out of line to you then change games or come back later. If you do encounter suspicious play, you should strongly consider reporting your suspicions to the site where the incident(s) took place. You will, however, most often find that the games you will be playing in are just fine (especially at lower limits).

Deciding Where to Play

At the time of this writing (April 2004), there are just under two hundred online poker sites; however, numerous poker rooms are part of a network and are merely a different skin or front end to games. In other words, not counting various skins all belonging to the same network, there are actually only thirty-eight poker rooms. You must choose the site(s) that best suits your needs.

Some Pros of Large Sites:

There are many types of games to choose from as well as numerous limits because of the large player base, therefore games can be found during any time period. This also means there is much less chance that the site will close down, at least for many years to come. Due to the vast number of players, many players will not know you and therefore will not know your play.

Some Cons of Large Sites:

Due to the large player base, most likely you will not know many of the players at your table until you have played an extended period of time on that site. This makes it a lot more difficult for you to track players and keep notes.

Some Pros of Smaller Sites:

Due to the smaller player base, you will have a much easier time getting to know the play of your opponents. Some of the smaller sites have friendlier games because it becomes not just a game but also a social club, this can be good for you because friendlier games are often easier to beat because of the relaxed atmosphere.

Some Cons of Smaller Sites:

Choices of games are often limited and there may not be a game to your liking when you want to play. Observant opponents will get to know your play faster because you will often be in the same game as them. Smaller sites are more at risk for not being able to survive.

Other Things to Keep in Mind When Choosing a Site:

Most sites offer player incentives but some incentives are better than others. Sites that are part of a network (a skin) may offer different promotions than other skins in the same network. If bonuses are important to you then it would make sense for you to do your homework.

Online Players

Some players are extremely good. Some may be seasoned pros with lots of skill in all aspects of the game. Many players are good players and manage to win or at least break even due to circumstance. But the greatest majority of players range from not so good to EXTREMELY bad. This is most likely due to the fact that lots of online players are very new to poker and are sitting in some little room somewhere out in the middle of nowhere. They can play as badly as they want and no one will actual “see” them do it. Players online have no faces and this fact alone gives the bad players unlimited opportunity to play bad and not be ridiculed by someone face to face in public. In the long run this is very good for the average or above average player, the more skilled you are, the more you will benefit.

Playing Multiple Games

Playing online offers one option that is not available to you in B&M cardrooms, the ability to play in two or more games simultaneously. The software on some sites will not allow a player to play in more than one game simultaneously but many sites allow you to play three or four tables at one time. There are pros and cons to playing in more than one game, whether or not you decide to is a personal decision.

Naturally, when playing in two or more games at once, you will not be able to focus on the play in each game to the same degree as you likely would if you were just playing one game. Forget about tracking the play of your opponents, this task would now be almost impossible. Continuously alternating between games and having to make fast decisions in each game can also be very stressful.

One positive aspect of playing in multiple games is that you see more hands during your session. More hands usually also means you will be dealt more quality hands over the course of your session.

Playing multiple games may enable you to earn a higher hourly rate during your session but you need to decide if earning a higher hourly rate is worth much bigger swings and the higher level of stress that you will no doubt endure.

Tracking the Players

Do not log on and sit right down in the first game you find with an open seat unless you know it’s a good game. Online poker offers great tracking opportunities if you want to take the time to take advantage of it. Being able to sit at home and make notes on players is of obvious value. Having some idea how a player plays before you are even dealt a hand can only be of benefit to your earning potential. TAKE THE TIME TO STUDY THE PLAYERS AND MAKE NOTES! Believe me, it takes lots of work and lots of focus but it’s worth it. Armed with some information on some players, first decide what game suits you best and then take a seat. If you are not sure then take an open seat but sit out for a round or two until you get a feel for the game.

Earning Potential

In B&M cardrooms a good player should earn one big bet per hour. In the world of online poker I believe a good player should earn more than one big bet per hour. This is partly due to facing a lower rake in most cases and saving money by not having to tip and in most cases you will be dealt a far greater number of hands per hour. The immense number of tremendously bad players found online also contributes to a higher hourly rate over time compared to the “live” cardrooms. How much more? It is hard to judge that exactly but I would guess that two big bets or more per hour is not far from reality for very good players.

To purchase a copy of my eBook ($14.95) or to initiate lessons which includes a FREE copy of my e-book, please click on ORDER HERE