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In
Texas
Holdem, players get two down cards and five community cards, which
are placed face-up in the middle of the table. The objective is
to
make your best five card hand using any combination of
the five cards on the board and the two in your hand.
There are four betting rounds in the
game. In Limit
Holdem, one bet and three
raises are allowed for each betting round. To continue to play,
players must act on each betting round and call all action. Betting always proceeds in a clockwise rotation.
When
played in casinos,
Texas Holdem
is played with a dealer button to mark who the dealer would be if the
casino weren't providing one for the table. The button rotates
clockwise around the table between every hand. This is important as
the "dealer" is the last to act, and thus
has the greatest advantage for that hand.
In the first two rounds of betting, all bets must be equal to the size
of the low limit bet. In the last two rounds of betting, all bets must
be equal to the high limit bet. If,
for example, you're playing 2-4
Texas Holdem,
all bets in the first two rounds will be in increments of 2 dollars,
and all bets in the last two rounds will be in increments of 4
dollars. A maximum of 3 raises are allowed per betting round. Note:
In a heads up match, some
poker rooms
will allow more than the customary 3 raises per betting round. 5 is
common, as is unlimited raises.
Texas
Holdem Terms:
Blinds -
A
forced bet that is made before the cards are dealt. It is posted by
the two players to the left of the Dealer. A "Small Blind" is placed
by the Player to the Dealer's left. The "Big Blind" is placed by the
Player left of the Small Blind.
Note: In a heads up match (1 on 1), the dealer posts the small blind, and
the other player posts the big blind. this is the fundamental money at
stake in the contest. The dealer is the first to act before the
flop, but acts after his opponent in the three betting rounds to
follow.
Flop
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Three cards are
dealt face up in the middle of the table. In this round, and in the
following two rounds, the player to the immediate left of the dealer
button is the first to act. Play proceeds in a clockwise manner around
the table. All bets and raises must be equal to the low limit bet
size.
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Limit versus No Limit - Most of
the big
Texas Holdem Tournaments on
television are No Limit games.
No limit
Texas
Holdem
rules are the same as fixed limit
Texas
Holdem
rules, with the exception that there is no maximum bet. A player may bet
or raise any amount they wish, up to the amount they have in front of
them. However, there are still minimum bets.
Preflop Action
- The player to the immediate left of the dealer is forced to post the
small blind. The player to the left of him, or two to the left of the
dealer, is forced to post the big blind. Two cards are dealt to every
player face down, starting with the small blind. The action begins with
the player to the immediate left of the big blind, who must decide to
fold, call (by putting in the low limit bet), or raise (by putting in
twice the low limit bet). Action proceeds clockwise around the table. The
small blind may call (assuming nobody has raised) by adding the other 1/2
of the low limit bet he was already forced to put in. The big blind may
simply check (assuming nobody has raised), as he has already put in the
full size of the first round bet.
Puck/Back/Button
- A moving disc which indicates the Dealer, and moves in a clockwise
direction
The Turn
- The fourth community card dealt is dealt face up in the middle of the
table. Also referred to as "Fourth Street."
The River
- The fifth, and final, community card dealt face up the middle of the
table.
Play proceeds as in the previous round, except
now all bets and raises must be equal to the high limit bet size. Also referred to as "Fifth Street."
Showdown -
Anyone who has not folded after the last round of betting will now have
the option of showing their hand and possibly winning the pot. The person
who bet last is the first to show their hand, and then it proceeds
clockwise to the other active players, with each remaining player either
choosing to show their hand, or muck it. Often times a player will muck
their hand if they aren't going to win the pot, and don't want their
opponents to see what they played.
Texas Holdem Rules:
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Prior to dealing the cards, two blinds (The
small blind and the big blind) are placed in the pot by the two players
to the immediate left of the dealer. The blinds are put in to
start the action. The player left of the dealer bets one half of
the lower limit (small blind.) The player who sits left of the
small blind, wagers an amount equal to the lower limit.
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Everyone is dealt two down cards (hole
cards) and the action begins with the player to the left of the Big
Blind folding, calling, or raising. Action continues with all
players making one of these decisions. Players cannot "check" in
the first round, as blinds are active bets. This is the first betting
round.
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Upon completion of the first round of
betting, the dealer then turns over three community cards (known as "The
Flop”.) This is the second betting round where players have the
option to check, fold, bet or raise.. Beginning with this round of
betting (and throughout the remainder of the hand,) the player to the
left of the the button acts first. A player may now check (not bet
or fold) or bet if there is no betting in front of them. If there
is betting and/or raising in front of them, they may call, raise, or
fold.
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Following the completion of action on the "flop,” the
dealer turns over another card (known as "The Turn” or "Fourth Street.” This is the third round of betting. (In Limit
Holdem, the amount bet doubles
on "The Turn.”) The betting again starts with the player closest
to the left of the button.
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Following the completion of action on "the
turn,” the dealer turns over the last card (known as "The River” card or
"Fifth Street.”) This is the final round of betting.
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Upon completion of the final round of
betting, the best hand wins the pot. When players have the same
winning hand, the pot is split equally between them.
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For online
Texas Holdem players, new
participants entering the game are required to post the equivalent of
the big blind. This prevents players from entering
poker games in a late position and
leaving before they're required to post the blind.
Texas Holdem
Strategies:
Although
Texas Holdem is easy to learn and
simple to play, it still requires a certain amount of skill that will
increase your chances of winning.
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Five of the total seven cards can be seen
after the flop so by then you will have a good idea of how strong your
final hand will be. Staying to see the final two cards demands that you
either have a strong hand or a draw to a potentially winning hand.
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As a general rule, fold your hand at this point unless you have a strong
pair, very good side-card, or a draw to a straight or flush.
Strong pairs include sevens through aces and good sidecards would
include Ace/King or Ace/Queen in the same suit. See more on
starting hands by clicking
HERE.
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Keep in mind that an Ace/King generally needs to catch another Ace or
King on the flop to play aggressively.
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When forced to act before your opponents,
due to your position at the table, play fewer hands and when you are one
of the last to bet, play more hands. Some hands that you
fold when in an early betting position, might be keepers when you are
betting last.
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Be patient and remember that good players
will fold 70% of their hands. You haven't lost much if you fold early in
the game.
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Do not be a "calling
station.” (a weak-passive player who calls a lot, but doesn't raise or
fold much.)
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Most online
poker rooms offer the option of automatically
mucking your losing hands, so the other players won't see what you
played. Practice this rule if it is available.
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