Categories: Cash Game Strategy
| On Updated : Jul 18, 2020 3:42 PM IST

Back to Basics, No Limit Hold’em Cash Game Strategies You Need To Revive

By Nimisha Popat

We all love No-Limit Hold’em Poker to its core. Somehow over time, the game has lost its basic strategies. People now simply try to imitate the complex strategies they witnessed during a poker battle used by professionals. But more often this becomes your biggest flawed strategy and makes you lose big time. Instead, you need to dig deep and get back to the basics of No-Limit Hold’em poker. Play it the way it was intended to, while it was invented.

If you take a close look at the low stakes cash games, you will find the field full of amateur players. Complicated strategies, bluffs, plays all are essential to poker but people often forget to hit the bull’s eye,i.e., making a profit.

If profit is your main motive as a beginner, just take the basic route. If this interests you, read on to learn some basic cash game strategies that, when used right, can help you win big rewards.

Buy-In

Buy-ins are a must.

But how much to invest in and how deep to dive is a strategic move on the player’s part. Usually, at low stakes cash games, players prefer the lowest big blind buy-ins.

But wait a moment.

Take a deep breath and think.

Don’t forget that buying-in more or less has its own set of pros and cons that needs to be taken into account if you want to bank larger profits.

  • Playing the Short Stack (50 Big Blinds) :

When you opt for this route, you have the advantage of multiplying your current chips compared to other players. This is because, after a couple of moves, the opponent becomes bound to call your all-in even though they are aware that they might be left behind. That’s how the cookie crumbles. But there is also a con to this. You miss an opportunity to see the raised flops with suited connectors along with pocket pairs.

  • Playing the Deep Stack (200 Big Blinds)

When you opt for this route, you have not one but two advantages to your credit. The first one being an exclusive authority to become the big stack bully where you can master the game like puppets show. You can play coin-flops, pre-flops or follow-up draws, post flops. You name it and you have the power of manipulating the move.

Another bonus is that you can raise with a wider range pre-flop leaving your opponent puzzled on how to proceed further. This move is rather expensive but it usually plays out well.

Spotting the Fish from the Pros

Almost everyone bluffs at the poker table. You need to keep an eye for them and learn to identify who is the fish and who is the shark. This is an essential skill you need to possess while excelling at poker. To do this first no matter how good a hand you have, don’t rush to call.

Wait…

Observe…

Judge how every player reacts when they have a good hand and when they have a weak hand.

Here is a quick hack that always works: Amateurs play a lot of hands and often complain a lot more than necessary. Keep this in mind and it becomes easier to spot the bluffer.

Pre-Flop Play

This move is such a crucial point that there are hundreds of books out there helping you get more clarity on this factor alone. Even though it is a bit difficult to summarize here are some factors you need to keep an eye on during a pre-flop:

The most basic tip I have in store for you here is to go against an amateur rather than a poker pro. It will be more likely to pay off.

The next important thing to consider while at pre-flop is the position. The right position gives you an edge against your opponent who has called pre-flop out of position. In this case, the player who currently possesses this position earns a chance to act in the end. This way while going last you can closely observe other players at the green table and gather as much information as possible from their physical tells or by their betting styles.

Always try to score the perfect position at the poker table as it gives you an edge against others.

Post-Flop Play

The two golden rules you need to keep in mind is never bluff against calling machine amateur player and never value bet against a champion. This is because if a pro gets the hang of your bluff he will attack you with re-raise and if you are bluffing against a calling amateur, he will keep calling you down with him winning and you having nothing at the end.

Also, keep in mind, do not make hero bets and calls against low and medium stake players. Because every once in a while even they have the upper hand.

When to Quit

When to step out of the market before you lose your entire stake is a crucial aspect you need to ponder upon. It is what determines your profitability as a poker player.

  • Step out if you feel you are too tired from long hours play and this starts affecting your judgment.
  • If you feel the fish have nothing more to offer and won’t give anything to your benefit, it’s better to leave and move on.
  • And the final reason for you to step out of the game is when you have reached your goal for the day. It’s better to step out with some profit than losing big bucks.

Take these back to basic strategies into account while playing No-Limit Hold’em Cash games and you will soon master the art and steadily build your bankroll. Stay tuned for more No-Limit Hold’em strategies.

Nimisha Popat

Happy little birdie who is obsessed with content creation, online gaming and her warm cup of tea.