Learning to Play Texas Hold’em Poker

Texas Hold’em Poker is one of the easiest versions of Poker to learn. But, the Hold’em Pro’s all agree it takes a lifetime to master. Learning the rules and general objective of the game is a simple task. Learning how to strategize is something entirely different, and must be practiced as well as tested. Playing for free first is highly recommended to all newbies in order to assure the safety of your hard earned cash.

The dealer and blinds

The game begins with one player designated as dealer and a white ‘dealer chip’ is usually placed in front of him or her to denote dealer status. Sitting on the dealers left is something referred to as the ‘small blind’, and to the left of the small blind is what’s referred to as the ‘big blind’.

The purpose and meaning of the blinds is forcing a bet before players see their cards. Thus, players are betting blind before actually seeing their hand. The cost of these blind bets is determined before play begins.
Hole cards and actions

Once the blinds have been placed, each player is then dealt two cards – these are referred to as the “hole” cards. Players can then look at their cards but make sure NOT to reveal what you are holding.

The player on the left of the big blind is the first to play and he/she has three options:
1.    Fold, meaning the player feels his/her cards are not good enough for play
2.    Call, meaning the player feels his/her cards have a good chance
3.    Raise, meaning the player feels his/her cards are better than average

So, if the player does not like the cards he or she will simply fold, by discarding the hand and taking no further action. If the player calls, they are then required to match the bet of the big blind. If the player chooses to raise, he or she must wager at least double the big blind.

If a player is playing ‘No Limit’ Texas Hold’em, the raise is only limited in size by the amount the player chooses to play.

The play then continues clockwise until all betting is complete.

The flop

After all bets are placed, three cards are then dealt on the centre of the table face up. This is referred to as the ‘flop’. Another round of wagering begins, this time starting with the small blind. If the player next to the small blind has folded, the play simply passes to the left to start off the round.

At this point a player may ‘check’ if they so wish or do nothing if they prefer not to bet. But if one player bets, opponents must call, fold or raise.

Upon completion the game moves onto the ‘Turn’.

The Turn

Once the play on the flop has concluded, the dealer then deals another card placed face up on the centre of the table. This card is referred to as the ‘Turn’.

Again another round of wagering follows in the same order as the flop.

The river

The final card is dealt face up in the centre of the table and is referred to as the ‘River’.

The final and last round of betting ensues and if more than one player still remains at the table, a showdown occurs. Players still involved will then reveal their two hole cards face up for every one to see. The player who can make the best five-card poker hand using the five face-up cards including his or her hole cards wins the pot.

As you can see, the basics of Texas Hold’em Poker are pretty simple and straightforward. The objective is to simply try and win the pot, keeping your wits about you and playing until the very end. Other factors will help determine if you win and one of those is the art of Bluffing. Grab yourself some cards and call over some friends and try your luck to see if you got what it takes to be a pro. Or, if you prefer, try it online today for free and build up some serious skills so you can win some extra cash in the future.