Texas Hold'em - Popular Poker Game

For serious poker players – or those who want to get serious – understanding how to play Texas Hold’em is the key to the door.

What Texas Hold’em Poker Is All About

For those who like to play poker, Texas Hold’em poker is not only one of the most common and popular poker games to play, but is also a very easy poker game to learn. If you want to be a serious poker player on any level, you need to know how to play Texas Hold’em before anything else.

How The Game Begins

You have a dealer. He/she shuffles the deck of cards. If you’re playing at a casino, the dealer will just deal (not play). While rules vary, in general, these poker games begin with the two players sitting at the left of the dealer putting their bet into the pot before any cards are dealt. This guarantees that there is money to play for on every hand. The terminology for this is “posting the blinds.” Next, the players are dealt two face down cards (known as “hole cards”).

Betting in Texas Hold’em Poker

After the cards have been dealt, bets are placed. This starts with the player to the left of the two who posted the blinds. Players are given the option at this time to call, raise or fold.

Burning the Card and The Flop

After the first bets have taken place, the dealer gets rid of the top card from the deck (known as “burning the card”). The reason the card is “burned” like this is to make sure no one actually saw that card (this could give them an unfair advantage). The next three cards are then put face up on the table (known as the “flop”).

Community Cards

By the end of the game, a total of five community cards will be faced up on the table. These are for any players to use, along with their own hole cards, to try and form the best possible five card poker hand, which is the ultimate aim of Texas Hold’em Poker.

Next Betting

The next round of betting takes place after the flop, this time beginning with the player to the left of the dealer. All players are entitled to call, raise, check or fold at their betting turn.

The Turn and The River

Another card is burned and one faced up on the table, known as “the turn” or “fourth street.” Again the player sitting at the left of the dealer begins this round of betting. Another card is burned and another is placed face up. This time it is known as “the river” or “fifth street.”

The Game’s Winner

At this point of the game the final betting take place and a winner emerges. Now, players get the opportunity to use any of the seven cards available (five community cards and their personal two hole cards). This round of betting also begins with the player at the left of the dealer. Once the betting has been undertaken, the remaining players reveal their hands with the player who made the first bet or the last raise, doing so first. The one with the best hand, is the winner!