Texas Hold’em is a very easy game to learn and it will take five minutes to learn the basics. To master the game is a different concept as the game has a constant learning process connected to it. In simple terms each player is given two cards which are combined with five community cards and the aim is to make the best five card poker hand.
The deal The two players situated to the left of the dealer posts the small and the big blind (forced bets). Each player is dealt two cards (hole cards) face down. This is followed by the first betting round which starts with the player to the left of the big blind.
Betting rounds In a betting round a player can select to call (match a previous bet), raise (increase a previous bet), check (it's like calling a bet of zero and can only be done if no one has opened the betting yet) or fold. A betting round is over when all remaining players have contributed an equal amount to the pot and this includes when all players have checked.
Flop, turn, river The first round of betting is followed by the flop - three community cards are placed face up on the board. This is followed by a second betting round. It starts with the first player to the left of the dealer who can choose to either check, bet (or fold). The betting round is over when all remaining players have contributed an equal amount to the pot.
Then a fourth card, the turn, is placed face up on the board, followed by another round of betting. Then the fifth and final card, called the river, is dealt face up. Followed by a last betting round and the showdown.
Showdown The player that placed the last bet shows the cards first and the rest of the hands are showed clockwise. A player can choose to use either one, two or none (play the board) of his/her hole cards and combine them with the five community cards on the board. The object in Texas holdem is to make the best possible five card poker hand. The player with the best hand wins the pot and if two or more players have the same five card hand the pot is split. (Suits don't count.) After the showdown the dealer button is moved clockwise and a new hand is dealt.
These are the basics of Texas Hold’Em and they can be learnt in a few minutes. All you need now is to read up on some basic strategy and you'll be ready to play.
The deal The two players situated to the left of the dealer posts the small and the big blind (forced bets). Each player is dealt two cards (hole cards) face down. This is followed by the first betting round which starts with the player to the left of the big blind.
Betting rounds In a betting round a player can select to call (match a previous bet), raise (increase a previous bet), check (it's like calling a bet of zero and can only be done if no one has opened the betting yet) or fold. A betting round is over when all remaining players have contributed an equal amount to the pot and this includes when all players have checked.
Flop, turn, river The first round of betting is followed by the flop - three community cards are placed face up on the board. This is followed by a second betting round. It starts with the first player to the left of the dealer who can choose to either check, bet (or fold). The betting round is over when all remaining players have contributed an equal amount to the pot.
Then a fourth card, the turn, is placed face up on the board, followed by another round of betting. Then the fifth and final card, called the river, is dealt face up. Followed by a last betting round and the showdown.
Showdown The player that placed the last bet shows the cards first and the rest of the hands are showed clockwise. A player can choose to use either one, two or none (play the board) of his/her hole cards and combine them with the five community cards on the board. The object in Texas holdem is to make the best possible five card poker hand. The player with the best hand wins the pot and if two or more players have the same five card hand the pot is split. (Suits don't count.) After the showdown the dealer button is moved clockwise and a new hand is dealt.
These are the basics of Texas Hold’Em and they can be learnt in a few minutes. All you need now is to read up on some basic strategy and you'll be ready to play.
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