Poker
You see it on TV. Your friends play it all the time. And you see it at all types of Casinos – including online ones.
But what exactly is Texas Hold ’Em poker? And how is it different from regular five-card poker? Keeping reading and you’ll know how to play in just a few minutes.
OBJECT OF THE GAME
Like five-card poker, the goal in Texas Hold ’Em is to defeat your opponents by posting the best five-card hand. Players bet money based on how strong they feel their hand is – or can use their bets to “bluff,” pretend they have strong hands, and try to scare opponents out of the game. When the betting ends, the best hand wins the money. Or, if someone bets big enough to make everyone else stop betting, or “fold,” he or she buys the pot without ever having to show his or her cards.
BUT HOW IS TEXAS HOLD ’EM DIFFERENT FROM FIVE-CARD?
The key difference in Texas Hold ’Em poker is that you “share” your best five cards with your opponents. At the beginning of each hand, you’re dealt just two cards for yourself instead of five. The dealer then “flops” multiple cards in the middle of the table. The goal is to combine your two private cards with the group of shared public cards to make the best possible poker hand.
The hierarchy of hands works just like regular poker. From best to worst:
Royal Flush (10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace, same suit)
Straight Flush (Five cards in sequence, same suit)
Four of Kind (Four of the same card, different suits)
Full House (Three of one card, two of one card)
Flush (Five cards of the same suit)
Straight (Five cards in sequence, different suits)
Three of a Kind (Three of the same card, different suits)
Two pair (Two of one card, two of another card)
One pair (Two of one card)
High card (Highest single card)
PLAYING THE GAME
Texas Hold ’Em follows a specific step-by-step sequence every game:
1. The deal
The dealer dishes out two cards to each player. Each hand has a minimum bet. This bet is represented as the “big blind”; one player must make a big blind bet every hand, and the honor rotates from player to player every hand. This ensures that no player folds every hand. Another player must bet half the big blind – the “small blind” – and can choose to bet the other half or fold.
Other players around the table can then match the minimum bet, fold or, if they’re very confident in their hand, can raise the bet and try to push other players out.
2. The flop
The dealer “flops” three cards at the middle of the table. Remaining players then combine those cards with their two personal cards to form a five-card poker hand. Betting continues.
3. The turn
The dealer flops a fourth card onto the table. Now, remaining players can “eliminate” the worst of the six possible cards and form the best possible five-card poker hand. Betting continues.
4. The river
The dealer flops a fifth and final card, allowing remaining players to make their best five-card poker hand out of seven available cards.
5. Turn ’em over
If at least two players match each other’s bets, they must reveal their hands. The top five-card hand wins the money; if two players have the identical hand, they split the pot.
So there you have it – a brief introduction to Texas Hold ’Em poker. Remember – don’t be afraid to play aggressively and go all in with your bet to intimidate opponents if you like your hand. The longer you let them stay in the game, the greater their odds of burning you with the river card. Good luck!
