When I think back to the early days of video games, one of my favorites was always Pitfall. Over the years, the games have become much more complicated and today you need a joystick with 10 buttons and triggers just to compete. It wasn't like that with Pitfall. On the surface, the game seemed so simple. All you had to do was swing on a vine or jump over some alligators and you could stay alive. But, the more you played, the more you realized that the game was filled with secrets that could take you to a higher level. In it's own way, Texas Holdem is a lot like Pitfall. When you first watch people play, you think that the game is pretty simple. You have your 2 cards, and the 5 on the board, and you just have to have make a better hand than the rest of the players. Simple! …not quite. Like the video game, Poker pitfalls await you at every turn and one bad move can cost you everything.

You have undoubtedly heard the saying "any 2 will do" at the poker table. This refers to a player who plays every hand, so any 2 hole cards are good enough for them to want action. A statement that may more accurately reflect plenty of today's players would be "nearly any 2 will do." And it's these types of players that can portray the alligator and eat you alive if you lose focus for a second by thinking the game is too easy.

Many who use the "Any 2" style of play will fold at the first sign of strength from another player. They like to see a flop, but don't want to risk a lot of money in the process. So, what do you do when you are up against an "Any 2" player that stays in for your raises? Against this type of player, you must pay close attention to every hand he plays after calling a raise. Make note at the end of each hand as to what types of cards he was playing. Even the craziest player will generally toss hands like 9-4 offsuit if someone raises, but you may see them calling with hands like:

• 2 Suited Cards - Players often place far too much value on suited cards. When holding 2 suited cards, your odds are only 16.3 to 1 of making your flush by the river. Just be cautious if 3 of a suit hit the board and an "Any 2" player starts betting into your pair of aces.



• Connecting Cards - Suited or unsuited, "Any 2" players don't care. They see connecting cards and their eyes light up. I can't begin to tell you how many times I've seen large preflop bets called by players with low unsuited connecting cards. When they catch their straight, they pat themselves on the back for a job well done.



• Face Cards - It can be J-Q offsuit. When there is "paint" (nickname for face cards) in their hole cards, no preflop bet is big enough to get them to lay it down.



• The Ace - The most painful play to watch in Texas Holdem is to see a player chase to the river with nothing more than an ace in the hole. No matter the odds, or the bet, they just can't let go of the magic overcard.

Watch your "Any 2" opponents carefully and learn their pitfalls. No matter how many they have, their betting habits will guide you safely through the poker jungle. ...OK, that's about enough cheesy analogies for one article. Texas Holdem is a beautiful game. Learn to play it well and it can make you feel like a kid again.