No-limit Hold’Em is a strategic game that utilizes basic tactical skills found in all forms of poker, and it’s a game of intense pyschology to boot. As you progress as a poker player, you’re almost guaranteed to be interested in no-limit, so here are some very brief tips to consider before you start:

General no-limit Hold’em tips

First of all, learning what the implied odds are as well as the odds for catching draws (straights, flushes, etc) will really help you to play no-limit Hold’em well. Be sure to check out our huge Poker Odds section for everything you need to know about odds and numbers.

Always try to be aware of how obvious your hand is when making calculations in no-limit poker. A flush draw, for example, is quite transparent, so your opponent will need a very good hand, or be a bad player, to call all those raises.

It also helps to vary your play, since playing in a predictable fashion will make you easier to read and you won’t get any action when you do hit the good hands. Don’t only raise pre-flop with A-A, K-K, A-K, etc—mix it up a little and keep your opponents guessing. Varying your play also means that you can find out how tough your table is. For example, is it a tough game that requires you to play good cards, or a weak passive game that allows you to play lower valued hands pre-flop?

Another essential skill is to avoid traps. Always bear in mind that after the flop, anything can win, and there’s no need to chase those pocket aces all the way to the river. One thing you’ll notice is that better players are very unlikely to give lots of action after the flop with only one pair. They will call you, but to raise, re-raise and go all-in is rare (and if they do this often you’ll be able to pick up on it). If you have A-A and you have a player going all-in against you after you’ve raised pre-flop, it’s likely that you are beat. That doesn’t mean fold every time, but it does mean that you shouldn’t consider A-A or K-K a hand that you’ll always go to the showdown with.

As confusing as it all sounds, no-limit Hold’em will become much easier the more you play, so get out there and give it a shot!