There is a fifty percent chance that you will not better your opening hand however if you do not have a pair or better, or four cards to a flush or straight then fold. Remembering always to keep your best poker face as other players will be reading your body language and see how you react to different hands.

Community Board Poker

Texas Hold'em
You can bet with just an ace or two minor over-cards on the flop but if someone bets before you on the flop you can call with two over-cards, but fold them at the turn unless your hand improves. You can call with two major over-cards and if someone raises your bet on the flop you can then also check the call and bet on the turn with that hand, unless of course the board looks threatening.

A small pair with an over-card kicker is a strong hand that you can cold-call a raise on the flop. Although it is best that you probably fold it on the next round if it was raised on the flop and you have not been able to improve your hand and someone has bet before you. If everyone checks on the flop you may then bet on the turn even if you have nothing. Your opponent's will often fold in this situation.

You can sometimes bluff-bet if the flop contains an ace however, your opponents will often fold in this situation especially if they don't have any pairs or an open ended straight, as it is impossible for them to have any over-cards when the flop contains an ace. Please note that this will only work if you don't have too many opponents.

Should someone bet or raise you and you are considering folding, be sure to consider the amount of chips that the player has in front of him. If he is out of chips it's likely that he is bluff raising and betting because he knows he will go 'all-in' on that hand.

Omaha
Omaha is mathematically simplistic and if you play only good starting hands and your opponents see fit to play almost every hand, and don't care whether they play for one bet or for four, soon the math of that will work in your favour. Omaha is the best game to make money, especially when you have a small bankroll. In Omaha High Low the high hand winner has to split the pot with the player who is holding the lowest hand. There is always a winner for the high hand but not always for the low hand. To qualify for a low hand you must have five numbers no higher than eight. Any of your two facedown cards are played for high and two are played for low. Players play out two of their hands for each direction. Aces can be used for high and low. The most important point to remember in split pot games is the profit difference.

It is also vitally important to pay attention to your cards as it can get confusing and mistakes can be very costly. When you play to scoop the pot, remember that after the flop, if your high hand is not a certain winner and will more than likely have to split with the low, or if you are playing for low and don't have a decent high hand it is recommended to fold your hand.

Draw Poker

Five Card
The amount of visible cards makes it easier for players to estimate the strength of your opponent's hand. As there are only four rounds of betting you need to know when your cards are worth holding or folding.

The object of the game is to have the best poker hand and to win the pot. Skill and patience will see you through. Remember there are thirteen cards in a suit and as you can see most of your opponents cards, you can work out their strongest hand. If you cannot beat the exposed cards then fold.

If you need to make a flush or a straight make sure the other players are not holding any cards you need to make your strongest hand. Aim for flushes and straights. You cannot win many hands by holding an Ace high or a pair. When holding a pair you can make three of a kind, full house and four of a kind.

Stud Poker

A good starting hand increases your percentage mostly at low limit tables and the bets are called all the way to the 'river' prompting a showdown. Winning hands establish you as a respected player and you will win decent pots. Once you know your game it is most likely that other players will not call your bets beyond 'Sixth Street' without a competitive hand. At low stake tables, stud players are honest and will not raise in later rounds with a pair unless they have Kings or better and wont fold once they have two pairs with no flushes or straight showing on the board.

All low stake tables you will play to break even or stay ahead with your chips. To win large pots you need to use advanced betting strategy.

Seven-card/Stud hi-lo/8b
Stud hi-low is Stud 8/b which means eights or better. The only rule that is different between stud hi-low and stud 8/b is that a 'fourth street' pair does not allow for a double bet. The strategy for stud 8/b is more complicated because the plays are more multi-way with heavy action.

Highest hands win the pot as they do in stud hi however to play low a low hand has to qualify. A hand of any five cards is equal to or lower than the number eight to qualify for a low hand. The object of the game is to scoop the pot with best high hand as well as the best low hand.

The best way to play hi-low is at a full table and to begin with combinations that play for low contention. For hi-low games you need to be looking at the door cards for the following to determine which hand is best to play:

• Who raises with a low door card
• How many low cards are on the table
• How may of each suit is showing
• How many high cards are on the table
• How many duplicated cards are on the table
• Who is calling on a high

Any combination of cards can turn into a good hand and starting hands with more outs available is better. Look for a table when determining which side you want to play that is high or low. If there are players taking stabs at playing for high with door-cards of nine of higher when low cards have been called and look for players calling 9-10-J-Q-K you will want to get the feel for which type of hand you need to compete against.