I hope you remember that there is no 100 % winning strategy in Texas Holdem poker. Even pocket aces do not guarantee you win. Simple example, you have got pocket aces. The flop brings AJ 2. Turn gives 8 and the river 3. So, now you think that your opponent doesn’t have a chance against your three of a kind and raises. But the opponent shows you 45 and takes the pot with a straight from ace to 5. This is an example of bad beat.

Bad beats are quite common in Texas Holdem poker. And they are extremely painful. Sometimes bad beat is a real disaster which can lead to elimination from a tournament. In such cases we usually say that the reason of defeat is the bad luck. But it is not an absolutely correct statement. Probably some information is missed . And I am going to prove it. I bet that our poor Texas Holdem player made a huge mistake – gave his opponent free card or very cheap card.

So, what does it mean to make a gift of free card? It means that a Texas Holdem player doesn’t place bet or raise when he has got strongest cards. Of course sometimes it is almost impossible to evaluate strength of your cards, especially if you have weak pair like 88. But you still have to place bets in such cases. Presenting free cards to your opponents is a mortal sin of Texas Holdem poker. Giving cheap card is a mistake as well. You should not place small bets if you have got best cards at the moment. Your opponent with a drawing hand can easily call your bet and receive needed card.

Why it is a mistake?

Texas Holdem poker hand is a series of bets. Obviously, it is right to place bets when you are a favorite. But what’s about the size of bets? According to the theory of No-Limit Texas Holdem poker such bets have to be expensive for your opponents. In such cases you will definitely get benefits:

•  Your opponent might fold

•  Your opponent might tie himself to the pot without good chances for success.

How to avoid the mistake of giving free card?

Very often beginners do not place reasonable bets when they get good cards from the flop. Of course sometimes it is wise to establish traps for your opponents. In such cases you should not raise. It would be better to use check-raise approach. And your opponent will get caught in your trap. But if you want to use this Texas Holdem strategy you have to be absolutely sure that your opponent won’t outclass you with help of any extra cards.

Most Texas Holdem experts advice to attack if you have strong cards. It will help you to protect your cards from possible drawing hands. You should always remember that even three of a kind can be easily outclassed. There are many various drawing hands and it is a mistake to let the others complete drawing hands without paying for it.

Keep in min one important rule of No-Limit Texas Holdem poker. Do not use slow play if there are at least two cards of the same suit on the table! It is very dangerous.

The main reason to place big bets when you have strong cards is to increase the size of a pot. Of course it is a pity to lose huge pot because of the bad luck. But if you place small bets or don’t raise at all you won’t be able to win much. And it is very likely that you won’t win anything at all! Therefore place bets if you are favorite at the moment. Try to pull as many chips as possible from your opponents.

Bluff is another tool of preventing free cards or cheap cards. For example if the flop brings Q92 and you have got AK you can place a bet with the size of 3-4 blinds. Your bet will push out players with drawing hands and lower pairs.

Also recommended:

1. No-Limit Texas Holdem: what cards can be considered good ones?
2. Importance of ability to read cards in Texas Holdem
3. Importance of the time your opponents spend to make decisions in Holdem
4. Heads Up Texas Holdem Tips: Blinds and High cards
5. DO NOTS of Texas Holdem tournaments: part 1