Texas Hold ‘em Beginners Guide

First played in Robstown, Texas in the early 1900s, the past decade has seen Texas Hold ‘em evolve into the most popular card game in casinos around the world. With its simple rules and opportunities for strategic analysis, Texas Hold ‘em is now preferred over traditional 5 and 7 card stud poker amongst the majority of poker players.

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How to Play Texas Hold ‘em Poker

Texas Hold ‘em is a community card game, which means that players are required to put together a winning poker hand using the cards dealt to them as well as the community cards laid out on the table. Players are dealt two cards at the start of each round, and up to five community cards are laid out on the poker table as the game progresses.

The object of Texas Hold ‘em poker is to control and eventually win the pot that accumulates as players wager bets on their hands. The pot can be won by a showdown, which sees players compare cards to determine the strongest hand, or by players forfeiting their rights to the pot, leaving one player to claim it.

A game of Texas Hold ‘em begins when each player at the poker table is dealt two cards. The player can check their cards before deciding whether or not to play. Depending on table position a player may have to contribute a stake to the pot (when playing big or small blinds) or may opt out of the hand altogether.

Each game of Texas Hold ‘em poker can be broken down into four rounds of betting. The role of each player in the hand is rotated clockwise with each new hand.

• The first round of betting takes place once the players have been dealt and seen their cards. The first player (small blind) and the next player (big blind) make compulsory contributions to the pot, starting off the betting process.
• The next round of betting follows the flop. The flop involves the dealer revealing the first three community cards.
• Another round of betting follows the turn, or the 4th community card revealed by the dealer.
• A final round of betting takes place once the dealer has dealt the river, the 5th community card on the table.

Players make use of several betting options during each round of play. Which options are used depend on the betting behaviour of other players, the strength of the player’s hand and the size of a player’s bankroll. The betting options are:

• Calling the bet. This takes place when a player stakes the same amount as the last player on the right. Players refusing to call a bet are out of the hand, forfeit all their bets and relinquish their claim to the pot.
• Raising the bet. This involves the player matching the previous bet and then increasing it. The next player is then required to call or raise this bet to remain in the game.
• Checking the bet. A check takes place when a player is not required to call another player’s bet to remain in the game, and makes the decision not to raise. In other words when a player checks, no further amount is staked.
• A player may fold at any time. This means that a player has the option of forfeiting any contributions to the pot by handing in their cards. Players take this option when their odds of winning appear too small, or when the betting threatens their bankroll.

The size of the bets placed by participating players depends on the Texas Hold ‘em format being played. Limit Hold ‘em places limits on the size of the bets placed, with bets restricted to multiples of the big blind. No Limit Hold ‘em allows players to stake their entire bankroll during any round of play. Pot Limit Hold ‘em forces a showdown once the pot has reached a specified limit.