Texas Holdem is a community card game played by 2+ players. Most home poker tables have seating for 6-8 people.
Before a single card is dealt, players have to place money in the "pot". This means everyone has something at stake. This is called "posting". It is done by Ante (each person puts in a small amount to get the pot started), and is sometimes called "ante up". The other method is "to pay the blinds". This is used when the dealer spot rotates clockwise and the two people to the left of the dealer "pay the blinds". The person immediately left the dealer pays the small blind and the person to their left pays the big blind. These positions rotate with the dealer and amounts will be set before hand depending on the game.
The dealer shuffles a standard 52 card deck and deals each player 2 cards face down. These cards are known as "pocket cards" or "hole cards".
Your hand is made up from the two cards dealt to you and the 5 face up cards that will be dealt called the "board". Your hand will consist of the five best cards from your two hole cards and the five "board" cards.
The play now passes to the person to your left.
This person has 3 options right now. They can match your bet (call), raise the bet (raise) or they can give up their hand and their ante (fold).
This process now moves to the next person to the left. They also have 3 options, call, raise of fold.
This first round of betting is called the "pre-flop" betting round.
After the round of betting ends, the dealer discards the top card of the deck. This is called the "burn card". This is to prevent cheating.
The dealer then turns the next 3 cards FACE UP on the table. This is called the "flop". These are "communal cards" meaning they are part of everyone's hand.
The player to the left of the dealer starts another round of betting.
After the betting is done, the dealer burns the top card then turns another communal card onto the table face up. This is called the "turn" or "the turn card".
The player to the left of the dealer starts another round of betting.
This concludes when the dealer burns another card and places the final community card face up on the table. This card is called "the river".
Now there are 5 communal cards on the table. These cards are called "the board". It consists of the 3 "flop" cards, the "turn" card and the "river" card.
You should also have your two private "pocket" or "hole" cards.
You now use the 7 possible cards to make the best possible 5 card hand.
Now there is one last round of betting.
This process continues around the table until everyone calls to check the highest betters' cards or has folded leaving just one winner left.
Anyone who is still in or hasn't "folded" reveals their cards. This is called the "showdown".
The best hand is the winner. In some cases the board or the community cards are the best hand. If that is the case everyone who didn't fold shares the pot.
What you need to play Texas Holdem
• 52-Card Deck
• Poker Chips
• 2-20 Players
• A dealer button
A great way to learn and practice poker playing is by playing online. There are many great sites where you can play for free while you learn. Online sites look after many of the tedious tasks like calculating winning hands, shuffling cards and are a great place to practice.
Texas Holdem poker is a great game that is increasing in popularity. Whether you plan on playing online or hosting your own games, you now know how to play Texas Holdem Poker!
Before a single card is dealt, players have to place money in the "pot". This means everyone has something at stake. This is called "posting". It is done by Ante (each person puts in a small amount to get the pot started), and is sometimes called "ante up". The other method is "to pay the blinds". This is used when the dealer spot rotates clockwise and the two people to the left of the dealer "pay the blinds". The person immediately left the dealer pays the small blind and the person to their left pays the big blind. These positions rotate with the dealer and amounts will be set before hand depending on the game.
The dealer shuffles a standard 52 card deck and deals each player 2 cards face down. These cards are known as "pocket cards" or "hole cards".
Your hand is made up from the two cards dealt to you and the 5 face up cards that will be dealt called the "board". Your hand will consist of the five best cards from your two hole cards and the five "board" cards.
The play now passes to the person to your left.
This person has 3 options right now. They can match your bet (call), raise the bet (raise) or they can give up their hand and their ante (fold).
This process now moves to the next person to the left. They also have 3 options, call, raise of fold.
This first round of betting is called the "pre-flop" betting round.
After the round of betting ends, the dealer discards the top card of the deck. This is called the "burn card". This is to prevent cheating.
The dealer then turns the next 3 cards FACE UP on the table. This is called the "flop". These are "communal cards" meaning they are part of everyone's hand.
The player to the left of the dealer starts another round of betting.
After the betting is done, the dealer burns the top card then turns another communal card onto the table face up. This is called the "turn" or "the turn card".
The player to the left of the dealer starts another round of betting.
This concludes when the dealer burns another card and places the final community card face up on the table. This card is called "the river".
Now there are 5 communal cards on the table. These cards are called "the board". It consists of the 3 "flop" cards, the "turn" card and the "river" card.
You should also have your two private "pocket" or "hole" cards.
You now use the 7 possible cards to make the best possible 5 card hand.
Now there is one last round of betting.
This process continues around the table until everyone calls to check the highest betters' cards or has folded leaving just one winner left.
Anyone who is still in or hasn't "folded" reveals their cards. This is called the "showdown".
The best hand is the winner. In some cases the board or the community cards are the best hand. If that is the case everyone who didn't fold shares the pot.
What you need to play Texas Holdem
• 52-Card Deck
• Poker Chips
• 2-20 Players
• A dealer button
A great way to learn and practice poker playing is by playing online. There are many great sites where you can play for free while you learn. Online sites look after many of the tedious tasks like calculating winning hands, shuffling cards and are a great place to practice.
Texas Holdem poker is a great game that is increasing in popularity. Whether you plan on playing online or hosting your own games, you now know how to play Texas Holdem Poker!
