Texas Holdem Poker

Texas hold em poker is the most popular played poker game in casino poker rooms across the world and is used to determine the world champion at the ‘World Series of Poker’. It is also the most popular game you will find played at online casinos, because whilst it takes great skill and practice to play expertly, the basics are easy to learn. It will not take long to learn the basic rules and strategies of the game so you reach a point where you are able to play a good level of poker and be confident in your abilities to take that pot.

The aim of Texas Hold’em poker is to make the best hand out of the two cards you are dealt and only you can see and the five community cards which are dealt onto the board. For a list of all the poker hand rankings see here.

Key Points To Know:

The Dealer – Whilst in a casino a dealer will deal the cards, or it will be done by the computer online, the identification of the dealer must rotate between the players at the table. This is done by a dealer ‘button’ which moves round the table after every hand. This ‘button’ is of great significance as the position you are in will dictate how you should play many of your hands. (position will be dealt with later)

Basic Rules

Blinds

The first thing to happen is that the first player to the left of the dealer will be required to post a small blind. This will be half the minimum limit of the table so if you are playing a $10-$20 Hold’em game the small blind will be $5. The second player to the left of the dealer is then required to post a big blind. This is twice the small blind or the minimum limit of the table, and so in the game above the big blind will be $10. These bets are called “blind bets” because they are posted before the two players see their cards. The reason to for blind bets is to stimulate action; otherwise players would simply wait for an amazing hand before making a bet. If a player is playing too tight (not playing enough hands), then the blind bets will eat away at his chips. In a tournament game the blinds typically increase after a set number of hands or length of time and by the end of the tournament they can be of a very substantial size.

The Deal

The next thing to happen will be the dealer dealing two cards to each active player at the table. These cards are referred to as the hole or pocket cards.

First Betting Round

Once all players have received their initial hands there is the first betting round. In limit poker the size of the bets will be limited to the minimum limit of the table. In a $10-$20 game each bet will be $10. The player to the left of the big blind is the first person to make a decision and the play continues clockwise around the table with the last person to act being the player who posted the big blind. A player has four options (possibly a fourth, although rare in this betting round);

1. Call – If a player calls he matches any bet that has already been placed on the table before him. For example if he is straight after the big blind of $10, to call, would be to post a bet of $10.
2. Raise and Reraise – If a player raises or reraises he increases any bet that has already been placed on the table before him. You can increase the bet by levels equal to the minimum limit of the table, so to raise a bet of $10 on a $10-$20 table would be to post a $20 dollar bet. Typically there is a limit on the number of raises and reraises that can be posted in each round. Usually this is 4 times the minimum limit, so in a $10-$20 game the maximum bet that could be posted is $40.
3. Fold – If a player folds he does not call, raise or check and throws away his cards. He plays no further part in the hand.
4. Check – If a player checks he does not bet because he has already posted a bet equivalent to the highest bet posted on the table. The turn simply passes to the next player at the table. This can happen when a player joins a table and in order to join in play must post a bet equivalent to the big blind regardless of his position before he receives his hole cards.

Once the betting round has finished all those players who are still active go onto the next stage.

The Flop

The dealer then deals three ‘community cards’ face up onto the table. These cards are typically referred to as the ‘flop’ and can be used by anyone in order to make their best hand.

Second Betting Round

The second betting round follows the same structure as the first betting round. The first player to go is the first active player to the left of the ‘dealer button’. Each player has the same options as for the first betting round, (see above). Checking is a lot more common in this round because there are no blinds, or forced bets that must be posted. If a player is unsure about whether he has the best hand and he is the first player to act or everyone in front of him has checked he will often check to, even though this might not always be the right thing to do (see strategy).

Once the betting round has finished all those players who are still active go onto the next stage.

Turn Card

The dealer then deals a fourth community card face up onto the table. This is often called the turn card or fourth street.

Third Betting Round

The third betting round follows the same structure as the first and second but each bet is increased to the maximum limit of the table. For example in a $10-$20 game each bet would be $20. After all the allowed raises and reraises the maximum bet would be $80.

Once the betting round has finished all those players who are still active go onto the next stage.

The River

The dealer then deals a fifth community card face up onto the table. This is often referred to as the river or fifth street.

Fourth Betting Round

The fourth betting round follows the structure of the third betting round with the same maximum limit bets.

Showdown

If there are still two or more active players left in the hand after the fourth betting round than the players must show their cards. The superior hand then wins the pot.

Only One Player Remaining

(If at any stage all but one of the players has folded then the remaining active player collects the pot there and then and the hand goes no further)

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