The Basics of Texas Hold'Em Poker
Texas Hold'em is a type of poker game and it is by far the most popular of all other variants. The game typically involves 2 - 10 players (the upper limit varies at different casinos and note that you do not play against the house, but against other players on the same table) playing a standard deck of 52 cards. Each player will receive 2 cards dealt face down and then 5 community cards placed on the board face up. The objective of the game is make the best poker hand (5 cards) out of the 7 cards if the game managed to reach the Showdown round. The player may use 1, 2 or none of his Pocket card to form the best poker hand. At any round, if a player bets and all other players folded, then that player wins the pot without the need to show his Pocket cards unlike during the Showdown. During each round, the player may fold, check, call or raise the bet.
During the game, players will be given positions represented by a button (except for Under the Gun) that rotate in the clockwise direction after every game. The various positions are explained below:
Dealer - Player given the position will be the nominal dealer for that particular game. The dealer will dealt the first card to his left (or the Small Blind) and in a clockwise direction. The Dealer will also be the last person to make a bet for the Pre-Flop and the subsequent rounds.
Small Blind - Small Blind is the player immediately clockwise of the Dealer. The Small Blind has to make a forced bet that is half of the value of the Big Blind. Example for a $1/$2 Hold'em game, the Small Blind will have to contribute a $1 bet to the pot at the Pre-Flop round.
Big Blind - Big Blind is the player immediately clockwise of the Small Blind. The Big Blind has to make a forced bet that is the minimum size for the game. Example for a $1/$2 Hold'em game, the Big Blind will have to contribute a $2 bet to the pot at the Pre-Flop round.
Under the Gun - The player immediately clockwise of the Big Blind is known as Under the Gun, who is also the first player to make a bet after each player received their 2 Pocket cards during the Pre-Flop round.
Pre-Flop
The game begins with 2 cards dealt face down to each player. This is known as the Pre-Flop round and the 2 cards are called the Hole or Pocket cards. The Pocket cards will only be revealed at the Showdown. Each player (starting from the player Under the Gun in a clockwise direction) has the option to call (which is to match the bet of the Big Blind), fold (which is to exit that particular game and give up interest on the pot), or raise (which is to match the previous bet and increase the bet further). The betting continues until every player has folded or matched the amount by all other players.
Flop
After the Pre-Flop and if at least 2 players are still in the game, the Dealer will start to deal the "Flop", which is a series of 3 community cards face up. Then a second round of betting continues in a clockwise direction, starting from the player clockwise of the Dealer. Each player has the option to check (not betting when no one has previously betted), bet, call, raise or fold.
Turn
After the Flop and if at least 2 players are still in the game, the Dealer will start to deal the Flop, which is a single fourth community card face up. Then a third round of betting continues in a clockwise direction, again starting from the player clockwise of the Dealer. Each player has the option to check, bet, call, raise or fold.
River
After the Turn and if at least 2 players are still in the game, the Dealer will start to deal the River, which is the fifth and last community card face up. Then a fourth round of betting continues in a clockwise direction, again starting from the player clockwise of the Dealer. Each player has the option to check, bet, call, raise or fold.
Showdown
If at least 2 players still remain in the game after the River, then a Showdown occurs. Each player will show their 2 Pocket cards and play the best 5 cards poker hand out of the 7 cards available. The player with the best 5 cards poker hand (see below) will win the pot. In case that the best hand is shared by more than one player, then the pot is shared equally among them. Note that in Texas Hold'em, numerical value of the card is of sole importance and the suit values are not considered in determining the poker hand.
After the pot has been awarded, a new game will be played. The player positions (Dealer, Small Blind and Big Blind) will move clockwise to the next player.
Poker Hand Ranking in Texas Hold'em Poker
1) Straight Flush (Strongest)
2) 4 of a Kind
3) Full House
4) Flush
5) Straight
6) Three of a Kind
7) 2 Pair
8) 1 Pair
9) High Card (Weakest)
Variations of Texas Hold'em Poker
There are typically 3 different types of Texas Hold'em Poker, which differs on the limit of the bet and raise.
1) No Limit Hold'em
In a No Limit Hold'em game, the minimum bet will be the same amount as the Big Blind and there is no limit to the maximum bet. So the maximum of the bet can be all the player's chips or also known as "All-in". The minimum raise required will be the same as the previous bet, or a total bet that is double the previous bet. The number of raise in each betting round is unlimited.
2) Limit Hold'em
In a Limit Hold'em game, the amount of bets will be pre-determined and fixed. During the Pre-Flop and Flop round, all bets and raises will be the same as the Big Blind. Bets and raises will be doubled during the Turn and River round. Up to 4 bets are allowed in each betting round.
3) Pot Limit Hold'em
In a Pot Limit Hold'em game, the minimum bet will be the same amount as the Big Blind and the maximum bet allowed will be the size of the pot. The minimum raise required will be the same as the previous bet, or a total bet that is double the previous bet. The maximum raise will be limited to the value of the pot. The number of raise in each betting round is unlimited.
Playing Texas Hold'em Poker Online
Here are some of the benefits of playing Texas Hold'em Poker Online:
Many online poker sites now provide free play, which will be the best platform for you to familiarise with all the terminologies and game rules as explained above. You can also practise your strategies on the free play platform as long as you want before putting in your real money.
Since the play is now online, you can choose a spot in your house or a public cafe and play the hold'em game at your own comfort, anywhere and anytime.
In major poker sites, there are thousands of registered players from all over the world. You will be able to find large numbers of active tables, making the game always available at all times and convenient for you to switch tables at any time.
With lower operating costs of operating an online poker site, you can now enjoy the game with bets as low as $0.01 / $0.02. At the same time, the Rake or commission is also lower than the physical casinos.
The online version of Hold'em is fast and efficient. There will be no more misdeal, no more waiting for card shuffle and no more counting of the pot. Your best poker hand will be calculated automatically, calculation of the pot and shuffling of the card is almost instantaneous.
The best way of playing the Hold'em poker is analyse your winning chance mathematically. In the absence of facing your opponents directly on the table, you are less likely to be affected by emotions and feelings, which often leads to inaccurate decisions.
Most online poker sites offer attractive bonuses and tournaments. Make your name in the tournaments and win attractive cash prizes as high as $50,000!
Note that in online Texas Hold'em Poker, you do not play against the house but other real human players. The house will provide the gaming platform or the table and deal/shuffle the cards. In return, the house will collect a commission or Rake from every Hold'em game. The Rake will be collected from the winner of the pot, which will be a small amount of the pot. If the winner is emerged during the Pre-Flop, then no Rake will be collected.
Texas Hold'em is a type of poker game and it is by far the most popular of all other variants. The game typically involves 2 - 10 players (the upper limit varies at different casinos and note that you do not play against the house, but against other players on the same table) playing a standard deck of 52 cards. Each player will receive 2 cards dealt face down and then 5 community cards placed on the board face up. The objective of the game is make the best poker hand (5 cards) out of the 7 cards if the game managed to reach the Showdown round. The player may use 1, 2 or none of his Pocket card to form the best poker hand. At any round, if a player bets and all other players folded, then that player wins the pot without the need to show his Pocket cards unlike during the Showdown. During each round, the player may fold, check, call or raise the bet.
During the game, players will be given positions represented by a button (except for Under the Gun) that rotate in the clockwise direction after every game. The various positions are explained below:
Dealer - Player given the position will be the nominal dealer for that particular game. The dealer will dealt the first card to his left (or the Small Blind) and in a clockwise direction. The Dealer will also be the last person to make a bet for the Pre-Flop and the subsequent rounds.
Small Blind - Small Blind is the player immediately clockwise of the Dealer. The Small Blind has to make a forced bet that is half of the value of the Big Blind. Example for a $1/$2 Hold'em game, the Small Blind will have to contribute a $1 bet to the pot at the Pre-Flop round.
Big Blind - Big Blind is the player immediately clockwise of the Small Blind. The Big Blind has to make a forced bet that is the minimum size for the game. Example for a $1/$2 Hold'em game, the Big Blind will have to contribute a $2 bet to the pot at the Pre-Flop round.
Under the Gun - The player immediately clockwise of the Big Blind is known as Under the Gun, who is also the first player to make a bet after each player received their 2 Pocket cards during the Pre-Flop round.
Pre-Flop
The game begins with 2 cards dealt face down to each player. This is known as the Pre-Flop round and the 2 cards are called the Hole or Pocket cards. The Pocket cards will only be revealed at the Showdown. Each player (starting from the player Under the Gun in a clockwise direction) has the option to call (which is to match the bet of the Big Blind), fold (which is to exit that particular game and give up interest on the pot), or raise (which is to match the previous bet and increase the bet further). The betting continues until every player has folded or matched the amount by all other players.
Flop
After the Pre-Flop and if at least 2 players are still in the game, the Dealer will start to deal the "Flop", which is a series of 3 community cards face up. Then a second round of betting continues in a clockwise direction, starting from the player clockwise of the Dealer. Each player has the option to check (not betting when no one has previously betted), bet, call, raise or fold.
Turn
After the Flop and if at least 2 players are still in the game, the Dealer will start to deal the Flop, which is a single fourth community card face up. Then a third round of betting continues in a clockwise direction, again starting from the player clockwise of the Dealer. Each player has the option to check, bet, call, raise or fold.
River
After the Turn and if at least 2 players are still in the game, the Dealer will start to deal the River, which is the fifth and last community card face up. Then a fourth round of betting continues in a clockwise direction, again starting from the player clockwise of the Dealer. Each player has the option to check, bet, call, raise or fold.
Showdown
If at least 2 players still remain in the game after the River, then a Showdown occurs. Each player will show their 2 Pocket cards and play the best 5 cards poker hand out of the 7 cards available. The player with the best 5 cards poker hand (see below) will win the pot. In case that the best hand is shared by more than one player, then the pot is shared equally among them. Note that in Texas Hold'em, numerical value of the card is of sole importance and the suit values are not considered in determining the poker hand.
After the pot has been awarded, a new game will be played. The player positions (Dealer, Small Blind and Big Blind) will move clockwise to the next player.
Poker Hand Ranking in Texas Hold'em Poker
1) Straight Flush (Strongest)
2) 4 of a Kind
3) Full House
4) Flush
5) Straight
6) Three of a Kind
7) 2 Pair
8) 1 Pair
9) High Card (Weakest)
Variations of Texas Hold'em Poker
There are typically 3 different types of Texas Hold'em Poker, which differs on the limit of the bet and raise.
1) No Limit Hold'em
In a No Limit Hold'em game, the minimum bet will be the same amount as the Big Blind and there is no limit to the maximum bet. So the maximum of the bet can be all the player's chips or also known as "All-in". The minimum raise required will be the same as the previous bet, or a total bet that is double the previous bet. The number of raise in each betting round is unlimited.
2) Limit Hold'em
In a Limit Hold'em game, the amount of bets will be pre-determined and fixed. During the Pre-Flop and Flop round, all bets and raises will be the same as the Big Blind. Bets and raises will be doubled during the Turn and River round. Up to 4 bets are allowed in each betting round.
3) Pot Limit Hold'em
In a Pot Limit Hold'em game, the minimum bet will be the same amount as the Big Blind and the maximum bet allowed will be the size of the pot. The minimum raise required will be the same as the previous bet, or a total bet that is double the previous bet. The maximum raise will be limited to the value of the pot. The number of raise in each betting round is unlimited.
Playing Texas Hold'em Poker Online
Here are some of the benefits of playing Texas Hold'em Poker Online:
Many online poker sites now provide free play, which will be the best platform for you to familiarise with all the terminologies and game rules as explained above. You can also practise your strategies on the free play platform as long as you want before putting in your real money.
Since the play is now online, you can choose a spot in your house or a public cafe and play the hold'em game at your own comfort, anywhere and anytime.
In major poker sites, there are thousands of registered players from all over the world. You will be able to find large numbers of active tables, making the game always available at all times and convenient for you to switch tables at any time.
With lower operating costs of operating an online poker site, you can now enjoy the game with bets as low as $0.01 / $0.02. At the same time, the Rake or commission is also lower than the physical casinos.
The online version of Hold'em is fast and efficient. There will be no more misdeal, no more waiting for card shuffle and no more counting of the pot. Your best poker hand will be calculated automatically, calculation of the pot and shuffling of the card is almost instantaneous.
The best way of playing the Hold'em poker is analyse your winning chance mathematically. In the absence of facing your opponents directly on the table, you are less likely to be affected by emotions and feelings, which often leads to inaccurate decisions.
Most online poker sites offer attractive bonuses and tournaments. Make your name in the tournaments and win attractive cash prizes as high as $50,000!
Note that in online Texas Hold'em Poker, you do not play against the house but other real human players. The house will provide the gaming platform or the table and deal/shuffle the cards. In return, the house will collect a commission or Rake from every Hold'em game. The Rake will be collected from the winner of the pot, which will be a small amount of the pot. If the winner is emerged during the Pre-Flop, then no Rake will be collected.
