An Introduction to Texas Holdem Strategy

Online poker distinguishes itself from other Internet gambling in that it's less a question of luck or chance than a matter of skill; more than any casino or sports bet, successful poker plays require an intense amount of preparation and well-informed decision making. Strategy is an absolutely vital part, if not the defining characteristic, of any good Holdem player's game plan.

But strategy isn't as straightforward as a simple list of instructions. In fact, knowing when to use a specific tactic is just as important as knowing how to use it. Accordingly, we’ve broken down the following section into a variety of topics addressing the full scope of Holdem strategy. Whether you’re a greenhorn, intermediate or advanced player, we've crammed a little something for everyone into these pages:

Texas Holdem Basic Strategy

Texas Holdem Introduction
Maybe you don't know what a "flop" is, or maybe - dare we say it - you had no clue a game called Holdem even existed. If so, click on this link for a short, breezy introduction to the game and why you should play it.
Holdem Basic Rules
Holdem can get pretty complicated, and before you get into the real nitty-gritty, you'll need a firm foundation in the basics. Luckily, GP Poker's put this nifty little Holdem 101 section together to give you just that.
Holdem Positions
When folks start asking you about your "position" in Holdem, they aren't worried about your views on off-shore drilling or your favorite page in the Kama Sutra. Click here to find out what they're really asking and how position can affect your whole Holdem experience.
Holdem Tells
We've all seen poker gods like Brunson and Hellmuth pull off feats of premonition, but believe it or not, the pros are no more mind readers than they are pink posies. All they're really doing is reading their opponents, and thanks to GP Poker, you can learn this skill for yourself by clicking the link above.

Texas Holdem Advanced Strategy

Top Pair Strategy
In Texas Holdem, sometimes everybody's having a bad hand at the same time. This section will show you how to take advantage of a table-wide funk - and how to keep your opponents from stopping you.
Semi-Bluffing
When is a bluff not exactly a bluff? Find out by clicking this advanced Holdem-strategy link.
Slowplay for Sub-Normals
Slowplay is all about taking it slow. How slow? Like getting-to-first-base-with-your-high-school-girlfriend slow. Like snail-race slow. Like your-dear-old-granny-when-she-runs-out-of-prune-juice S-L-O-W! And just in case we still haven't made ourselves clear, here's a whole page dedicated to helping you figure it out.

Game-specific Texas Holdem Strategy

Holdem Starting-Hand Strategy
Every Holdem game you'll ever play starts and ends with your hole cards. So how do you get the biggest bang for your starting-hand buck? Click here to find out.
Holdem Post-Flop Strategy
Post-flop strategy is kind of like Forrest Gump's box of chocolates: It's just impossible to preplan anything because "you never know what you're gonna get." What you can do, however, is start thinking like a good post-flop player - which is exactly what this section will help you do.
Out and Pot Odds
Technically, out and pot odds apply to every type of poker. But because each variant exposes a different number of cards, Holdem odds are a realm unto themselves. Click here to find out how to get a mathematical edge in your next Holdem match-up.