Game Types: Texas Hold'em
Texas Hold'em is the most popular form of poker played in poker rooms today, both land-based and online. As the chosen game of the World Series of Poker Finals, it is the game by which ultimate poker skill is measured.
Texas Hold'em is a fast-paced, exciting type of poker, with lots of betting action. Each player is dealt 2 cards, and then 5 communal cards are dealt to the board, over the course of 3 betting rounds. This means that all the players at the table can see 5 out of the 7 possible cards that everyone will use to build their strongest hand for the showdown. Contrast this with 7-Card Stud where each person only has two cards visible, and 5 cards cannot be seen by the other players. The upshot is that it is easier to predict what hands your opponents could be holding. This, on the one hand, is an advantage, but also means that it can be harder to bluff. This makes for a fast, aggressive game in which you'll need to know your stuff to survive.
Sequence of play
1. The two players immediately to the left of the Dealer begin by posting the blind bets.
2. Two pocket cards are dealt to each player, face-down
3. First round of betting - options are to fold, bet, or raise.
* Only one bet, and three raises per player are allowed on the first round.
* Players cannot "check" in the first round, as Blinds are live bets, not antes. The only player with the option of checking is the one who posted the big blind, as long as no one else has raised.
4. Three communal cards (the "flop") are dealt face-up in the center of the table. All communal cards are active for all players and can be used in combination with each player's two cards.
5. Second round of betting - options are to check, fold, bet, or raise.
6. Fourth communal card (the "Turn") is dealt face-up.
7. Third round of betting - options are to check, fold, bet, or raise.
8. If at this stage there are still at least two players in the remaining in the hand, the fifth and final communal card (the "River") is dealt face-up.
9. Final round of betting follows.
10. The Showdown! All remaining players then create the best five-card hand possible. You can use:
* Both pocket cards and three communal cards
* One pocket card and four communal cards
* All five communal cards
11. The best hand wins the pot. If two or more Players have the same winning hand, the pot is split equally between them.
Texas Hold'em Tips
Although the Texas Hold'em rules are easily learned and deceptively simple, it is still a game that requires a certain amount of skill.
* Five of the seven total cards can be seen after the flop. At this point, you will have a good indication of how strong your hand will be in the final round. Consider your cards, and bet carefully. Staying for the Turn and the River demands that you either have a strong hand, a draw to a potentially winning hand, or good reason to believe that betting aggressively in a future round may cause your opponents to fold.
* As a general rule, don't continue beyond the flop without diverse possibilities - a strong pair with a decent side-card, strong over-cards, or a straight or flush draw. If you flop a draw, stick with it as long as the pot promises a greater payoff than the odds against making your hand.
* Although Ace-King is a terrific starting combination, it generally needs to catch a flop with either an Ace or King in it to play aggressively.
* When you must act before most of your opponents, play few hands. Acting last in Hold'em is like batting last in baseball. It's a big advantage. In fact, hands that you'd routinely fold from early position might be raising hands if you are last to act.
* Carefully consider how the communal cards can combine with your two hidden pocket cards to create a winning hand. By the same token, consider what possible hands your opponents could be holding.
* Call it quits when necessary. You haven't lost much if you have a worthless hand and fold early in the game. It's good practice to err on the side of caution; it costs less.
* Success at Texas Hold'em demands that you be patient, pay close attention to position, and take comfort in the knowledge that good hands are run down less often than the best seven-card stud hands.
Texas Hold'em requires patience & discipline. Be selective on what hands you play, and when you do decide to play a hand, be as aggressive as you can.