Your Guide on How to Play Texas Hold’em Poker
Texas Hold’em poker, more commonly known as ‘Holdem’, is the most popular online poker game that can be played. The game gives players two-hole cards and three community cards in the middle of the table. The goal is to make the best five-card poker hand; a winning hand. There is no exchanging your poker hand in Texas Hold’em, so you’ve got to work with the poker hand you’ve been dealt.
Poker Rooms with Texas Hold’em
Supplies You Need to Play
If you’re playing with other people, live, you’ll need a dealer (or a dealer button), cards and betting chips. If you’ve decided gameplay for you is best online or on mobile, you need an internet connection/data and a device to play poker on.
How to Play the Game
The basic rules of Texas Hold’em poker goes as follows: Each active player will be dealt two-hole cards face down. The first player will look at their cards. Each player is to look at their cards and then decide whether they will call the big blind, raise, or fold. Based on this decision, the other poker players will make the decision to call, raise or fold. This is known as the pre-flop bet. The dealer will then take the top card and put it to the side or “burn it”, and show the flop.
Next, the players will bet again, or they can check. Once all the players have made their choices, the dealer will burn another card and show the turn card.
Again, the players will bet or check, dealer will burn a card and finally, show the turn. The final round of betting follows the same format as the previous rounds.
To finish, we have the showdown. This is when the remaining players show their cards and the best hand wins.
Texas Hold’em is easy to learn at its core, but we need to remember there are different poker strategies and versions of the game.
Variants of the Game
There are four variants of Texas Hold’em that can be played online and live.
No-Limit Texas Hold’em |
No-limit is not recommended for beginners as it’s more aggressive and carries higher stakes.
You can bet whatever you want, and remember the minimum bet is usually the same size as the big blind. |
Limit Texas Hold’em |
Bets and/or raises are the same size as the big blind for the pre-flop and on the flop.
Bets and/or raises are the same size as are double the big blind on the turn or river. |
Mixed Texas Hold’em |
Mixed just switches back and forth between limit and no-limit hold’em.
Bets and raises match each game type. |
Pot Limit Texas Hold’em |
Minimum bets are the size of the big blind, however, bets are limited to this size of the pot (e.g., if the pot is $100, the maximum bet that can be placed is $100).
As well, there is a minimum raise amount, and that will be dependent on where you’re playing. |
You need to make sure you double check which variation you are playing and understand how it works so you don’t get yourself into a mess.
Hand Rankings
The following are the Texas Hold’em hand rankings:
| Ranking | Hand | Description | Example Hand |
| #1 | Royal Flush | A straight from 10 to Ace, all the same suit. |  |
| #2 | Straight Flush | Any cards in consecutive order that are all the same suit. |  |
| #3 | Four of a Kind | Four of the same card. |  |
| #4 | Full House | One pair and three of the same card. |  |
| #5 | Flush | All cards are the same suit. |  |
| #6 | Straight | Cards are in consecutive order. |  |
| #7 | Three of a Kind | Three of the same card. |  |
| #8 | Two Pairs | One pair of one card and one pair of another card. |  |
| #9 | Pair | Two of the same card. |  |
| #10 | High Card | None of the hands above, relying on the highest card in your hand. |  |
Strategies and Things to Remember
The most important strategy and thing to remember when it comes to any poker game is to play responsibly. Know what your limit is, keep a budget, do not bet emotionally, and make sure to keep your wits about you.
Secondly, learning how to play Texas Hold’em and understanding poker rules is easy; mastering the game is an entirely different ballpark and takes time and practice. Anyone can become an expert with the right motivation and dedication to understanding and playing this card game. Good things take time, be patient, you’ll get it!
The last important thing to remember, folding is not the same thing as losing. When you fold, you only show that you understand the game and how to play it within your limit, especially if you’re playing for cash games or real money online.
Community Terms
Small blind: Usually half the size of the big blind, the small blind is placed by the player sitting to the left of the dealer.
Big Blind: Usually the minimum bet, the big blind is placed by the player to the left of that who played the small blind.
Check: A pass on betting, but still in the game if the next players decide to check as well (note: if just one player wants to raise, it goes back around the table for those to call, raise or fold).
Call: Matching the amount that’s already been bet during that betting round.
Community Cards: Dealt face up, these cards are seen and shared by everyone at the table.
Pre-Flop: Once the players have been dealt their face down cards, but community cards have not been shown yet.
Flop: The first three community cards to be shown.
Turn: The fourth community card to be shown.
River: The final community card shown.
A Fun Game for Everyone
There’s a reason Texas Hold’em is one of the infamous online poker games and with the information provided here, you can confidently buy-in, play and experience the thrill first hand (no pun intended). Good luck!
More To Play
Have you mastered Texas Hold’em? Master another poker variant and become an all-around pro!
3 Card Poker – 5 Card Draw – Stud Poker – 5 Card Stud – 7 Card Stud – Mississippi Stud – Caribbean Stud – HORSE Poker – Omaha Poker – Omaha Hi-Lo
Frequently Asked Questions
The worst hand a player can have in Texas Hold’em is a 3 and a 2 of different suits. It is suggested that if dealt this hand, to fold at the first opportunity.
Texas Hold’em is the most popular game, so it’s good to know how to play it if you plan on frequenting casino/poker circles. It’s fun, fast-paced and exciting, keeping players always on the edge of their seats.
It is not illegal to this game online in the United States. No one individual has ever been prosecuted for playing for Texas Hold’em on the internet.
The cards are face up in the middle of the table because they are community cards. They are shared by everyone – the two cards dealt should be kept to the player that’s holding them until showdown.