How to Play Texas Holdem
An Introduction to Poker
Poker is a card game in which players with fully or partially concealed cards
make wagers into a central pot, after which the pot is awarded to the remaining
player or players with the best combination of five cards. Most poker variations
are played with a standard 52-card deck, divided into four suits (clubs, hearts,
spades, diamonds) with thirteen values (from lowest to highest: 2-10 plus Jack,
Queen, King, Ace). On each round of betting, players have the option to match
the preceding bet, raise the preceding bet, or fold their hand. At the last
round of betting, the remaining players show their hands, and the player with
the highest ranking hand wins the pot. If everyone but one player has folded,
then that player wins and is not required to show his/her cards.
Texas Holdem Rules
Texas holdem is a fast-paced poker game with four betting rounds. It can be
played with two to eleven players; the traditional poker hand rankings apply.
In texas holdem,
players are dealt two cards each, which they do not reveal to the other players,
and five community cards are placed face-up in the middle of the table. Your
hand is determined by using the best five of those seven cards in any combination,
and the best hand wins the pot. Learning the basic texas
holdem strategy can give you a big edge in online poker games. Here is the
basic structure of a texas holdem game:
Pre-Flop: Beginning with the dealer, players are dealt two
pocket cards. The first round of betting occurs.
The Flop: Three community cards are dealt onto the center
of the table. The second round of betting occurs.
The Turn: One community card is dealt to the center of the
table. The third round of betting occurs.
The River: A final community card is dealt to the center of
the table. The final betting round takes place.
Showdown: The remaining players reveal their cards and the
player with the highest 5 card hand, formed from any combination of pocket and
community cards, wins the pot. When all five of the community cards make the
highest hand, everyone shares the pot.
Poker Hand Rankings
Royal Flush: A-K-Q-J-10, all same suit
Straight Flush: any five consecutive cards, all same suit
Four-of-a-Kind: four cards, same value (e.g. four 7's)
Full House: three-of-a-kind and a pair
Flush: any five cards of the same suit
Straight: any five consecutive cards
Three-of-a-Kind: three cards, same value
Two Pair: two pairs
Pair: two cards, same value
No Pair: five dissimilar cards, mixed suit
Texas Holdem Games
