Texas Hold’em is a fairly simple game, though not necessarily easy, especially for those just starting out. Here, you can learn the rules of Texas Hold’em poker. The goal is to have the highest five-card hand at the end of the game. This is the simple explanation. It is important to note that these rules generally govern Texas Hold’em play.
However, there may be deviations to these rules depending on where you play. They may differ a bit, though not grossly, from casino to casino. Take this into consideration whenever you are playing at a new place, whether online or offline, and ask questions if necessary. Doing so will ensure that you are clear on the rules.
Basics
Texas Hold’em is played with 52 cards and a standard deck. Generally, the two players sitting to the left of the dealer will begin play. They will start betting. The first blind is made by the individual sitting on the left side of the dealer. He or she will wager half the minimum bet. The second blind will need to wager the full amount of the minimum bet.
During the first rounds of betting, individuals can fold, call or raise. After the flop, and for the remaining rounds, individuals can check, call fold or raise. During the showdown, the individual who made the first bet or the person that raised last will have to show their cards first. Whoever has the best five-card hand wins. In cases where players have equally strong hands, the pot will be split between them.
Dealer Button
Every player gets the chance to deal in Texas Hold’em poker. The first player to deal is usually determined by a short selection process where the dealer either deals each player a card or spreads the cards facedown and every player gets to pick one. The player with the highest-value card gets to be the first to deal. Then, the player to their left becomes the one to deal.
Blinds
This is a type of forced bet much like an ante. However, blinds are a rotating type of bet which means that not every player has to place that bet right away. There is a big blind and a small blind and their size is predetermined by the stakes of the game. Typically, the small blind is half the size of the big blind.
The player to the left of the player with the dealer button can choose to place one of them and the player to their left must place the other one. So, the two players to the left of the dealer for the round get to place the blinds.
Glossary
In this section, we will provide you with short definitions of the most commonly used terms associated with Texas Hold’em Poker.
- Action: The term action refers to the money in a hand or on the table. You may also encounter the expression “The action is on him,” which refers to a player whose turn it is.
- Air: An air hand means a hand with practically no value.
- Ante: This is a forced bet which must be made by all players in addition to the blinds. It is made before the cards have been dealt.
- All-in: This means using all your chips on a bet.
- Betting On the Come: This means betting before you actually have a hand.
- Big Blind: The larger of the two blind bets.
- Boat: Also referred to as Full House.
- Bullets: A pair of Aces.
- Call: Matching another player’s bet.
- Check: Choosing not to bet and passing the action onto the next player.
- Cut-off: This is the player position to the dealer’s right.
- Drawing Dead: This means to have bet all of your money or a substantial amount without a chance of winning, regardless of what cards are drawn.
- Fish: A newbie to poker.
- Fold Equity: This is the implied equity that a player can get by making a bet in order to get another player to fold. For instance, if there is a player with a small stack and another player raises enough to force them to go all-in or quit.
- Grinder: A player that makes small profits over time with minimum risk.
- Heads up: This can either mean that there are only two players remaining at the table or, in a poker tournament, it can mean the final and best two players.
- Kicker: The kicker is an extra card that is dealt when two players are in a tie. A second kicker can also be dealt in situations such as Three of a Kind.
- Laydown: This is another term for fold.
- Protect: This means making a bet to get other players to fold in order to improve your odds.
- Rainbow: A rainbow occurs when all cards dealt are of a different suit. This can happen during the flop and the turn.
- Short Handed: When there are only a few players left at the table.
- Squeeze: An aggressive raise after the same player has already placed a bet and it has been called.
- Tank: A player is in the tank when they are making an important decision and taking their time with it during a critical moment.
- Tight: A tight player is someone who plays very rarely, waiting for the right opportunity. However, once they enter the game, they make large and consistent bets and raises, intimidating all other players.
- Under the Gun: This refers to the first player to place a bet for the round.
- Villain: This can often refer to an opponent.
- Whale count: Another term for a high-roller.
How to Play Texas Hold’em Poker
In Texas Hold’em individuals will use their hole cards (2) and community cards (5) to make up their final five-card hand. Prior to the dealing of the hole cards, the blinds will be posted. The two players to the left of the dealer will post these. After the blinds are posted, the dealer will pass out the hole cards.
Players must use their hole and community cards to make up their final hand. The only exception to this is playing the board which occurs when a player uses only uses the community cards to make their final hand. Aside from that, the individual will use a combination of the hole and board cards. This might include both of their hole cards and three from the community board or one of their pocket (hole) cards and four from the board.
Pre-Flop
The pre-flop starts when all players receive their two hole cards. They take a look at them and then the player to the left of the big blind must decide how to act. That player has three options: to call, to raise, and to fold. To call is to simply match the amount of the big blind. To raise is to double the amount of the big blind, or raise even more. The last option is folding which means quitting.
The Flop
After each player has gone through the above, it is time for the next round. The dealer places three community cards on the table which are called the flop. After that, there is another round of betting in which only those players who have not folded beforehand can participate.
The Turn
After the flop round has been completed the dealer deals one more card face-up. The dealer will then place one more community card on the table. This is known as 4th St or the turn. All players will place their bets. Then, another round of betting begins. In this one, the minimum size of a bet is doubled and once again players need to either match or raise the amount staked by any other player.
The River
Once the turn has been concluded, if there is more than one player who has not folded yet, the game continues. Another card is dealt face-up and placed next to the others. The dealer then places another community card on the table. This is known as 5th street or the river. The betting round is the same as the turn betting round. It is the final betting round of the game.
Showdown
If there is still more than one player at the table, it is time for the showdown. After the last round of betting, everyone still in play will show their cards. Hands are revealed one by one, either by order of betting or clockwise, once again, beginning with the player closes to the dealer. The best 5 card combination wins the game and thus the pot.
Texas Hold’em Hand Rankings
Hand rankings in Texas Hold’em are no different from classic poker ones. Nevertheless, we will list them here for your convenience. Below, you will find all of them along with explanations, listed from the highest ranking to the lowest.
- Royal Flush: This is the highest ranking card combination in poker. It consists of the highest cards in poker, in sequential order, and of the same suit. Needless to say, it is quite hard to come by.
- Straight Flush: This is a hand made up of cards in sequential order, and of the same suit. The difference here is that those are not the top cards.
- Four of a Kind: This is the next hand that can get you a victory. It is pretty self-explanatory as this is a hand made up of four cards of the same kind.
- Full House: This hand is made up of three of a kind and a pair.
- Flush: It consists of five cards of the same suit.
- Straight: This is a hand made up of any five cards in sequential order.
- Three of a Kind: This hand consists of three cards of the same kind.
- Two Pair: It is made up of two pairs.
- One Pair: This hand consists of two cards of the same kind.
- High Card: Having a High Card means simply having no other hand, so the highest card from your hand is your points.
Texas Hold’em Tips
Poker is not an easy game but you must remember that being passive will not get you a win. If you only call or check, that means you are being passive. You need to either raise or fold in order to be active and decisive. You need to be clear on what your chances of winning are and act accordingly.
On that note, you need to be selective when it comes to the hands you play. It is understandable if you want to play a hand with great potential but if you simply want to bluff your way to victory, you may want to reconsider playing Texas Hold’em. You should only bluff when you only have one or two opponents and when you are in late position.
Being in late position certainly gives you more options and freedom, so naturally, when you are in early position you need to become more careful. When playing in early position, you will have to become even more selective of which hands to play. You need to have some highly stringent requirements for your hand in that position.
If you want to start playing Texas Hold’em online, we always recommend you start playing some free online games first. This will help develop your skills and, if you wish to start playing live Texas Hold’em, you might want to try playing with friends with low or no stakes.
Conclusion
Texas Hold’em has become the most popular variation of poker and is adored by millions of players worldwide. It is a simple game but definitely not an easy one. All you need to do is practice and study the current masters of the game to become a formidable player. It is best to start off by playing free games and then, once you have advanced, move on to games with real stakes.