1: Categorize your opponents based on their betting tendencies. Hellmuth identifies four main types of players:

The jackal - an extremely aggressive and unpredictable player.
The elephant - a loose player who will call many bets with weak hands.
The mouse - a timid player who only plays premium hands.
The lion - a tight player who bets aggressively with good hands.

2: Only play the top ten starting hands: AA, KK, QQ, AK, JJ, TT, 99, 88, AQ, 77.

3: Before the flop, play your hands aggressively. Raise and reraise whenever possible.

4: After the flop comes, raise if you believe your hand is the strongest. Even if the flop did not improve your hand, you should raise anyway, just to test how strong your opponents are.

5: On fourth street, bet again if you think you have a good hand. However, if a tight player (mouse) reraised on the flop and reraised again on fourth street, you should consider folding.

6: You should almost always call on the river. The only exception is when there are two or more opponents left, and one opponent raises while the other calls or reraises. It is a good idea to fold in this situation, for you are most certainly beat, regardless of pot odds.

Good luck to all as always!

USC