In this free texas hold em article I'd like to show you why you must play your hands in relation to the number of players on your table. If you don't, well, you won't win so much, sorry!

Player numbers and hand strategy does, I'm sorry to say have a math component. But don't worry, as long as you can do basics you'll be fine.

A good point to note here if you are a free texas holdem poker or low stakes player is that many of your opponents will not know this stuff and most of those who do will only do so vaguely…so learn well and you will have a great edge.

I have 4 different size tables that I place into categories.

1. Heads up

2. 3 and 4 people

3. 5-7 people

4. 8-10 people

Essentially what we are looking to do here is avoid coin flip situations e.g., all-in’s Preflop. An integral part of being a consistently successful Online poker player is risk reduction in every aspect of your game. Here now is how I advise you apply risk reduction to hands play depending on table size.

1 - Heads up

Basically any 2 cards are live in heads up games and I generally like to see a flop. If however I have 2 cards that i do not like coupled with a raise I'll fold . I really like it whenever they make a big raise because it’s easy for me to fold.

If I have decent cards, unless it’s a very big raise I'll call to see the flop after that it all depends on the feel of the player and what they do. If I suspect it’s a tight player and I'm on the button I'll raise just to see where I'm at. Many times if they don't have anything they fold but if they're drawing or have a pair they may call so I would be careful from here on out.

2 - 3 and 4 players

With so few people at the table any cards with "letters" on them get played to see a flop. Most times when you are at a table like this the players are mostly tight players. So if you are on the button call most of the time and aim to steal pots by betting on into the pot.

3 - 5-7 players

Now this is really where it gets tricky. Only pocket pairs and very high cards should be played. Small pocket pairs should be limped into the pot hoping to hit a set.

With medium pocket pairs aim to limp into the pot. If you can call a small raise you can hope to hit a set.

Now with high pockets you should be raising same deal with any 2 cards that have letters on them (J-A).

4 - 8-10 players

Here you have to play real tight. I only try to play the top 10 hands which are pockets thru 10s and then the letter cards. Anything less than a 9 in my hand is almost non playable. I will limp into a pot with any pockets however.

This is why knowing the position and math is so key, you need to know the number of people on the pot and people left to act after you.

The reason why you play a shorter table different is the amount of cards left in the deck.

In Heads up money or free Texas Holdem poker games there are 48 cards left in deck so anything can come out on the flop.

In 3 and 4 player scenarios there are at most 44 cards left in deck thus a better % of your cards hitting.

With 5-7 players there are at the least 38 cards left in deck and therefore more chance that someone else has some of the cards you need or folded them.

At 8-10 now you are down to 22 cards left in deck and it is most likely that some or most the people folded cards you need or have the cards thus the reason for mostly playing pockets.

This all being said when the river is dealt if there is a four card straight or flush on board you don't need to be in the hand if someone bets.

If it’s folded to you then you can sometimes bet to try and steal pot. If they check raise you just fold and live to play another hand.

I realise that this may sound complicated but if you focus and try to break it down logically I hope you can see that more players = more cards in play and therefore you must play tighter with better cards as player numbers increase.

I hope this was not too tough going! Keep in mind that the principles here apply equally in free poker as they do to high stakes card room games with only the monetary risk differing! Stay safe by only playing at a level you can afford and start of on free texas hold em sites if you are new.