There are four betting rounds, and thus four decisions you may have to make in a Hold'em hand:

1. Before the Flop- The first betting decision (after 2 cards have been dealt before the flop) is whether to play your hand or pass. It affects the nature of the other decisions. When you play an A-K you're going to be up against a different set of problems as compared to when you have a 6-5.

2. The Flop- The decisions you make as the 3 cards are turned over for the Flop are by far the most important, once you have decided to play your hand.

3. Fourth St. (also called "the Turn") is the fourth card turned over on the board for all to see) presents fewer intricacies, although there are still a number of difficulties which consistently appear at that point.

4. Fifth St. (also called "the River") The fifth and final decision you make is when the last card is turned over, when all the cards are out. It is almost always simple and relatively mechanical.

   We'll organize the material that follows so you can recognize and solve the problems that you'll face in Hold'em Limit play for each of these decision times. The first one we'll look at is knowing when you have a Starting Hand, according to the position you are sitting at, which means first examining strategies before the flop.

   That said, there is no substitute for experience. Only by playing, at first in the 'safer' environment of PokerSchool Online's tournaments, and later with your own money at stake in local games and card rooms, will you develop the confidence in your judgment and the self-control and discipline which will eventually enable you to be an advanced player that places in live tournaments, or lives the dream to participate in the WSOP (World Series of Poker).

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