Limit Texas Hold’em on Pokerstars. Strategy play on the turn
When playing in Pokerstars Limit Texas Hold’em, one must remember that the game becomes more difficult on the turn, as the stakes are now doubled, and opponents who have somehow “hit” the flop are usually left in play.
Playing the turn depends on whether or not you have the initiative after the flop. By this term in poker we mean the following:
- If you were the last player to bet or raise on the flop, you are considered to have initiative;
- If you weren’t, you don’t have the initiative.
So, poker starters must remember a hand strategy for the turn, which boils down to the following standard lines.
No one has bet before you and you have the initiative
In such a situation, you should bet with all of your ready hands no lower than top pair. You should also bet with a hand that is a draw if no more than two opponents are playing against you. You must check if you only have a hand-dro and more than two opponents are playing against you, in order to call. You should also check if you have a middle or bottom pair, but if your opponents are betting against you, in most cases you will have to fold your hand.
No one has bet before you and you have no initiative
In such a situation, you should bet with combinations of two pairs or higher. You must check with any other hand. If your check is followed by a bet, you should consider a fold or an equalizer, depending on the strength of your prepared hand or hand-drops.
If a bet is made before you
You must raise with combinations of two pairs or higher. You must call an overpair or top pair, strong hand-drops. You can also call with a gatshot, but only if the pot odds are at least 10 to 1. The rest of your hands must be folded.
If there have been bets and raises before you
In this situation you have to assess the strength of your hand very carefully. With combinations of two pairs and up you can re-raise if you are sure that your combination is the strongest. If you’re not sure, you can just call and navigate further on the river card. The rest of your hands are better to fold. With strong hand-drops, you should only continue to play with the concept of odds and outs.
If you are followed by raises
In this situation, you play as you would if you bet and raise before you did.
Above you have been given a strategy for playing your hands on the turn. This strategy is geared more towards beginners at PokerStars, but it’s an important one nonetheless. You can’t become a pro without knowing the basics.
