Different Types of Texas Holdem Games: What's Your Type?

by Bodog Poker | Jan 13 2009

The game of Texas Hold’em can come in many forms. Being a good player goes far beyond knowing how to play the game; you also have to play the right way for the right game. Each Hold’em setting usually requires its own strategy, and knowing how to adjust to the variations will have a big effect on your final take. There is multi-table tournament Texas Hold’em, sit-and-go Texas Hold’em, short handed, full ring cash games, and head-to-head play. Each of these types can come in a limit, no limit, or pot limit betting structure.

Multi-table tournament Texas Hold’em is the most common type of Texas Hold’em televised. We’ve all watched the WPT and WSOP coverage of the big events. This poker setting has elevating blinds, so as the tournament goes on longer, the cost to entering a hand will increase. This setting is usually better for players who can play a tight style and are able to calculate their stack sizes into their decisions. The idea is to get as deep into the tournament as you possibly can to collect the bigger amounts handed to the final table players. If you do specialize in this style of poker, you should practice the 15% money management rule: Never spend more than 15% of your entire playing bankroll on a single tournament.

Sit-and-go Texas Hold’em is similar to tournament poker but the number of participants is fewer. Sit-and-go games usually only have one to three tables of players enrolled, so you’ll usually have to finish in the top two or three places to win anything. These events become very aggressive in the late-middle stages. Players are constantly trying to steal pots, so aggressiveness is usually the key to success late in these games. They’re good practice for final table strategy, and often are a good choice for an experienced player who likes to play a lot of hands aggressively.

Short-handed Texas Hold’em, whether it’s a cash game or tournament setting, is an aggressive game where it’s required that you get in there and force the action periodically. With so few players in the hand, the value of your cards goes up. Often many players miss flops in these games, so the first to bet is often rewarded. These games suit players who like to control the action through aggressive betting and raising.

Full ring cash games have nine or 10 players at the table and blinds always stay the same. These games require patience and a good-size bankroll to play. Your chances of running into a big hand are increased because there are so many hands in play. These games have the best and most experienced players playing in them, and should be played with a tight/aggressive style in mind.

One of these games will be better for a certain type of poker player. Figure out which game best suits your playing style and specialize within that type of game until you become an expert and build a good-size bankroll with which to play.

Got it already? Play Texas Holdem online at the Bodog Poker Room!