Texas Hold ‘Em is the primary version of draw poker, and has been played in saloons and casinos since the nineteen fifties.
Since the game first hit the internet Texas hold’em has become an online sensation. Its combination of luck and skill, keeps the players and the audience on their toes till that last turn of the last river card, to see who gets to take home the major prizes in tournaments, held either on or off line.
The rules of Texas hold’em poker are pretty straightforward and here is a brief rundown of the basics:
At each Texas hold’em poker table, before the game begins, there should be now more than 6 players and no less than 2.
The dealer shuffles a standard 52-card deck. Both in live casinos and online, the dealer is not a player. His or her function is to deal the cards only on behalf of the players. A dealer button, indicating which of the player’s turn it was to deal is moved around the table accordingly.
The two players to the left of the dealer button have to place a blind bet, so that there will be a pot in every hand. This level of bets is pre-determined according to the amount of money at stake, and rises as the game progresses.
The hole card deal.
Once the blinds have been posted, each player is dealt two cards known as the “hole cards†These cards, for obvious reasons, are dealt face down.
The first round of betting.
The player at the left of the second blind is the first to bet. Players can opt to call, raise, or fold, but only on their turn.
The flop round
Before dealing the flop round, the dealer discards the card at the top of the deck. This is to prevent the very remote possibility of any of the Texas hold’em poker players having seen the card during the hole card deal.
The dealer then deals another three card face upwards on the table, known as the “flop” cards
The flop cards round of betting
Another round of betting takes place, after the flop. The first player to bet is the one to the left of the button, remaining from the first round. Again players can either checks, call, rise, or fold in their turn.
Fourth Community Card.
Again before Fourth Community Card, the dealer discards the card at the top of the deck. This is to prevent the very remote possibility of any of the Texas hold’em poker players having seen the card during the flop card deal.
This card is called either the “turn” or “Fourth Street.” in Texas hold’em poker colloquialisms
Fourth community card betting.
The first player to bet is the one to the left of the button, remaining from the flop round. Again players can either check, call, raise, or fold in their turn.
Fifth Community Card.
Again before Fifth Community Card, the dealer discards the card at the top of the deck. This is to prevent the very remote possibility of any of the Texas hold’em poker players having seen the card during the fourth community card deal.
This card is called either the “river” or “FifthStreet.” in Texas hold’em poker colloquialisms
Fifth community card betting.
The first player to bet is the one to the left of the button, remaining from the flop round. Again players can either check, call, raise, or fold in their turn.
The showdown
Any combination of the seven cards that have been dealt can now be used by players who remained in the hand, to make up the best possible five-card Poker hand
The showdown round of betting.
The first player to bet is the one to the left of the button, remaining from the fourth card round. Again players can either check, call, raise, or fold in their turn. After this round of betting, all players who have remained reveal their hands. The hands are displayed and the player who has the strongest hands wins.
This is a very dry description of the order of play and betting in Texas hold’em poker.
It does not begin to describe the tactics or strategies to play and win at the game.