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Texas Hold’em Poker is probably one of the most simple versions
of Poker to play, and is certainly the best version to start as a Beginner.
The rules can be picked up quite easily, but as with anything, good playing
comes through practice and experience whilst playing Texas Hold'em online.
Step One:
Most games of Texas Hold’em Poker will start with the 2 players
to the Dealer’s left “posting the blinds”. The first
player to the left (known as the Big Blind) will have to post an amount
of money equal to the smallest betting limit of the game. E.g, if the
limit is $5/$10, the Big Blind will have to post $5 into the pot. The
Second Player to the left will only have to post half of this amount,
i.e. $2.50 and is known as the Small Blind. These monies contribute towards
the first round of betting.
Step Two:
The Dealer will shuffle the 52 card deck and deal each player 2 cards,
both face down. These cards are known as “hole” or “pocket”
cards. The first round of betting will then begin, with the Third Player
to the Dealer’s left making an opening bid. This is known as “Pre-flop”
and at this stage, players can check, raise or fold if they wish.
Step Three:
The dealer will now discard the top card of the deck (a “burn card”
and deals the next 3 cards in the deck face up onto the table. These cards
are known as “the flop” and players can use these cards in
combination with their “hole cards” to form a poker hand.
The Player on the Dealer’s left is now allowed to start another
round of betting.
Step Four:
After the betting, the dealer once again “burns” the top card
of the deck and deals one more card face up onto the table. This is the
“turn” card or “Fourth Street”, and once again,
this can be used to form a five card poker hand. Once again, the Player
to the Dealer’s left will start a round of betting.
Step Five:
The Dealer will burn another card, and places one final card face up onto
the table. This card is known as “The River Card” or “Fifth
Street”. The Players are able to use any of the 5 cards on the table
or the “hole” cards to create a 5 card poker hand. This is
followed by the final round of betting.
Step Six:
This is the Showdown stage. All of the players must now reveal their hands,
beginning with the Player on the left of the last person to make a call.
The Player with the best hand wins, and it is even possible to share the
pot if there are players with equal hands.
Hand Rankings
The hand rankings for Texas Hold’Em Poker are similar to Classic
Poker and are as follows:
Royal Flush – High Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Ten all in the same
suit
Straight Flush – a straight run of cards in the same suit, e.g.
five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten
Four of A Kind – (Quads) 4 cards of the same rank
Full House – this is 3 of a kind, plus a pair
Flush – 5 cards all in the same suit, but not necessarily consecutive
Straight – 5 cards in a run, but in different suits (Hold’Em
allows the Ace to be played High or Low)
Three of A Kind – 3 cards of the same rank
Two Pair – 2 pairs of cards of the same rank, e.g. 2 Jacks and 2
nines.
One Pair – 1 pair of cards of matching rank
High Card – if there is none of the combinations above in the hand,
the rank is determined by the highest card held.
Texas Holdem
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