How to Play Texas Holdem

If you don’t yet know how to play Texas Holdem, now is the time. It’s the biggest poker game around right now and is played by millions of people around the world. The rules of Texas Holdem are fairly simple even though they look long written on paper. All it takes is a little practice and you’ll be able to join any poker game in the world.

Many people say the object of Texas Holdem is to end up with the best possible poker hand. That’s almost correct, but it’s not quite true. There’s nothing you can do to affect which poker hands you receive over the course of a session. Instead, the goal of the game is to win money with your strong hands and avoid losing money with your weak hands.

Texas Holdem poker hands are ranked according to traditional poker rules. The player with the strongest poker hand at the end of the round wins the pot. A typical hand involves the players betting, raising and folding until the final card is dealt. Any players remaining at the end of the hand enter the showdown and reveal their hands. The player with the best hand wins.

Rules of Texas Holdem

Each round begins with the two players to the left of the dealer. Those players must pay the antes, which are called “blinds” in Texas Holdem. The binds are set at some predetermined amount and are required. The dealer’s position moves one spot to the left each hand so all the players at the table must take turns paying the blinds.

The first player to the left of the dealer is responsible for paying the small blind. The next player to the left is responsible for paying the big blind. In a $2/$4 no limit game, the small blind would be $2.00 and the big blind would be $4.00.

Preflop

First, each player receives two cards face down.

The player to the left of the big blind begins the action. This player must decide whether he wishes to stay in or fold. If the player wishes to stay in, he/she can “call” for the minimum bet or raise it up. Otherwise, that player must fold. The action moves to the left around the table and ends with the player who paid the big blind. If any player raises during this point, the other players must match that raise, re-raise, or fold their hands.

Flop

Next, three cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table.

The first remaining player to the left of the dealer begins the action this time. That player may “check” and bet nothing or he may place a bet. The option to act moves to the left around the table. If any player bets, the other players must match or raise that bet if they wish to stay in the hand.

Turn

Next, one card is dealt face up next to the flop.

Once again, first remaining player to the left of the dealer begins the action. This betting round is played in the same manner as the last betting round.

River

Next, one final card is dealt face up next to the turn card.

One more time, the first remaining player to the left of the dealer beings the action. There is one more round of betting.

Showdown

The remaining players now reveal their hole cards. The players may use any combination of their hole cards and the community cards to make the best possible five card hand. The player with the best poker hand wins the pot.