Learn How to Play Texas Holdem

If you could only learn how to play one form of poker, Texas Holdem would definitely be the best pick. This game can be found just about anywhere in the world and is the game of choice in all the biggest poker tournaments. There is no other poker game in the world with more potential for its players than Texas Holdem.

The rules of Texas Holdem look more complicated on paper than they actually are so don’t be turned off by this page of rules. Just run through a few sample hands with these rules in front of you and you’ll have the basics down. You can also play online with fake money to get in as much free practice as you need.

The Object of the Game

The object of Texas Holdem is to win as much money/chips as possible. This is accomplished through a combination of winning pots with strong hands, stealing pots with buffs and not losing money with weak hands.

During the course of each hand, the players may bet money by placing it in the middle of the table. This money is called the “pot.” At the end of the hand, the player with the best five card poker hand wins the pot. Any player may also win the pot by betting and causing everyone else to “fold,” or quit the hand.

Texas Holdem Game Play

• The two players to the left of the dealer pay the blinds. The first player to the left of the dealer pays the small blind, which is equal to half of a minimum bet. The player to the left of the small blind pays the big blind, which is equal to a full minimum bet.
• Each player receives two cards face down. These are called the “hole” cards.
• There is a round of betting. This round begins with the player to the left of the big blind. The first player must either call the minimum bet to stay in, fold or raise. The option to bet moves to the left around the table.
  
  The blinds are considered “live.” For example, if nobody makes a raise, the small blind only has to pay half a minimum bet to stay in and the big blind only has to check to stay in.
• The flop is dealt. Three cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table. These cards are shared by all the players at the table.
• There is a round of betting. This round and all subsequent betting rounds begin with the first remaining player to the left of the dealer. The players may check, bet, raise or fold.
• The turn is dealt. One community card is dealt face up next to the flop.
• There is another round of betting. This betting round is the same as the last round. In fixed-limit game, all bets would now be made in increments of the upper betting limit.
• The river is dealt. One last community card is dealt face up next to the turn.
• There is a final round of betting. This betting round is the same as the previous round.
• The remaining players have a showdown. The player with the best hand wins the pot. If there is only one player remaining, that player may take the pot without showing his hand.

Texas Holdem Hand Values

Hands in Texas Holdem are ranked according to the same ranking system used in most forms of poker. This list of hands starts with the strongest hands listed on top and the weakest hands listed on the bottom.

• Royal Flush
• Straight Flush
• Four of a Kind
• Full House
• Flush
• Straight
• Three of a Kind
• Two Pair
• One Pair
• High Card