Poker Cheat Sheet | Poker Tips & Strategies

Poker Hand Cheat Sheet

1. Hand Rankings

Understanding hand rankings is fundamental to playing online poker. Here's a quick rundown of the standard hand rankings from highest to lowest:

• Royal Flush: A, K, Q, J, 10 of the same suit.


• Straight Flush: 5 consecutive cards of the same suit.


• Four of a Kind: 4 cards of the same rank.


• Full House: 3 of a kind + a pair.


• Flush: 5 cards of the same suit.


• Straight: 5 consecutive cards of any suit.


• Three of a Kind: 3 cards of the same rank.


• Two Pair: 2 pairs of cards of the same rank.


• One Pair: Two cards of the same rank.


• High Card: When no other hand combination is achieved, the highest-ranking card in a player's hand determines the winner.

2. Starting Hands

Having a strong starting hand is crucial to increasing your chances of winning. Here are some starting hands that are generally considered strong:

• Pocket Aces (AA): The best-starting hand in Texas Hold'em.


• Pocket Kings (KK): The second-best starting hand.


• Pocket Queens (QQ): A powerful starting hand, but be cautious of potential King or Ace on the board.


• Ace-King (AK): Known as "Big Slick," this hand has great potential but requires careful play.


• Pocket Jacks (JJ): A strong hand, but be aware of higher pairs on the board.


• Ace-Queen (AQ): A solid hand, but it can be dominated by stronger hands.

3. Positional Play

Understanding that position in poker is key to making strategic decisions is crucial. The later your position yourself, the more information you have about your opponents' actions. Some key points to remember:

• Early Position: Play cautiously, as you have the least amount of information about other players.


• Middle Position: More information is available, allowing you to play a wider range of hands.


• Late Position: The best position at the table, giving you the advantage of acting last, allowing for more strategic play and stealing blinds.

4. Poker Odds

Poker odds are a fundamental aspect of the game that players use to assess the likelihood of making specific hands or achieving desired outcomes. Understanding poker odds allows players to make informed decisions, assess risk versus reward, and ultimately improve their chances of winning.

• 1. Probability and Odds: In poker, odds refer to the ratio of the number of ways an event can occur to the number of ways it cannot. Probability and odds are closely related concepts, but odds are typically expressed as ratios or percentages, while probability is expressed as a decimal or a fraction.
• 2. Outs: In the context of poker odds, outs are the no. of cards left in the deck that can improve your hand. For example, if you hold two hearts and two more hearts on the board, you have nine outs remaining (there are 13 hearts in a deck, and four are already accounted for).
• 3. Calculating Odds: To calculate the odds of making a particular hand, you can use the concept of "outs" and the number of unknown cards. The general formula for calculating odds is as follows:
  
  Odds = Number of Outs / Number of Unknown Cards
• 4. Pot Odds: Pot odds are the current size of the pot compared to the cost of a call. They help determine whether a particular call is mathematically profitable in the long run. You can make rational decisions based on potential profitability by comparing pot odds to the odds of making your hand.
  
  If the pot odds are higher than the odds of making your hand, making the call is generally favourable. Conversely, folding may be more advantageous if the pot odds are lower than the odds of making your hand.
• 5. Implied Odds: Implied odds consider potential future bets or winnings you may acquire if you make your desired hand. It involves estimating the additional chips you might win from opponents if you hit your hand compared to the existing size of the pot. Implied odds allow you to make decisions based on long-term profitability rather than immediate pot odds.
• 6. Rule of 4 and 2: The popular rule of 4 and 2 is a simplified method to estimate your odds of making your hand after the flop or turn. It quickly approximates your odds by multiplying the number of outs by either 4 or 2.

• After the flop: Multiply the number of outs by 4 to get an approximate percentage of making your hand by the river.
• After the turn: Quickly multiply the number of outs by 2 to get an approximate percentage of making your hand by the river.

5. Bet Sizing

Proper bet sizing is crucial for maximising value and controlling the pot size. Consider the following factors when determining your bet size:

• Hand Strength: Adjust your bet size based on the strength of your hand and the possibility of your opponent's calling or folding.
  
  
• Pot Size: Consider the current pot size and determine the amount that gives your opponents unfavourable pot odds.
  
  
• Player Tendencies: Observe your opponents' behaviour and adjust your bet sizing accordingly.