Texas Holdem has been one of the most played games in casinos and online poker rooms for years. The game is simple to follow – each player gets two cards, the community cards are dealt face-up in the middle of the table, and the best hand wins.
It is an easy game to learn but challenging to master because of the number of Texas Holdem rules variations and the many strategies employed during the game.
In this article, we’ll give you a quick guide to the rules of Texas Holdem, along with some key terms and concepts you need to know to play the game.
Texas Holdem Poker Games Overview
Texas Holdem is one of the most popular poker games today, but it wasn’t always this way. The game has its origins in Texas, and it was only in the mid-1900s that it began to grow in popularity. Today, many poker players enjoy the game worldwide, and the rules are the same, whether you’re playing in person or virtually.
The number of players for the game ranges from two to ten players, but it can also be as many as 22. The game starts with each player receiving two hole cards kept secret from the other players.
After the hole cards are dealt, there is a round of betting where players can bet, call, raise or fold. The player to the dealer’s left starts this and plays, then proceeds clockwise around the table.
Once all betting rounds are complete, it is time to show your cards. The best possible hand using any combination of your hole cards and the community cards wins the pot. The pot is divided between two or more players if they have the same hand.
Some things to remember when playing Texas Holdem Hands
It’s okay to be lost at first when learning how to play Texas Holdem. To guide you, below are some of the rules to remember:
Card ranking is vital to winning the game
The essential thing when playing is to create the best hand, and the suit of the cards doesn’t affect this. So there’s no need to worry about whether the cards are spades, hearts, clubs, or diamonds. All that matters is their rank.
From highest to lowest, the rank of the cards is Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, and 2.
Decide when to bet or fold
Texas Holdem has four rounds of betting. In each round, the players have the option to check, bet, or fold.
If no one has bet in the current round, then a player can check, which means they stay in hand without putting any money in the pot. Players who put money in the pot are said to bet. Finally, if a player doesn’t want to stay in hand, they can fold and forfeit their chance of winning the pot.
Betting or folding usually depends on two factors: your poker hand’s strength and the pot’s size.
The stronger your hand is, the more likely you are to bet. You must be strategic in deciding when to play your cards. If you have a weak hand, folding and waiting for the next round might be better.
The size of the pot is also crucial in deciding whether to bet or fold. It will all come down to how much you are willing to risk. If the pot is small, you might as well bet since you have nothing to lose. But if the pot is large, you might want to think twice before putting all your money in.
Know when the game is over
The game of Texas Holdem ends when one player has all the chips in the pot. It can happen in two ways: either all the other players have folded, or one player has bet, and the others have called.
If all of the other players have called, then the game ends, and the player with the best hand wins the pot.
If one player has bet and the others have called, the game goes to a showdown. All players show their cards in a showdown, and the player with the best hand wins the pot.
The Best Possible Texas Holdem Hand Ranking
You need to combine your hole cards and community cards in order to create the best possible poker hand. Try memorizing the Texas Holdem hand ranking, to know what beats what. Here is a list of the different poker hands that you can encounter in the game:
- Royal Flush: This is the best possible hand, and it consists of the Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten of the same suit.
- Straight Flush: This hand is a Straight, with all five cards being the same suit.
- Four of a Kind: This hand consists of four cards of the same rank (e.g., Four Aces) plus any other card.
- Full House: This hand consists of three cards of the same rank (e.g., Three Aces) plus two other cards of the same rank (e.g., Two Kings).
- Flush: This hand consists of any five cards of the same suit, but not in sequential order.
- Straight: This hand consists of any five cards in sequential order, but not all of the same suit.
- Three of a Kind: This hand consists of three cards of the same rank, plus any other two.
- Two Pair: This hand consists of two cards of the same rank, plus two other cards of the same rank, plus any other card.
- One Pair: This hand consists of two cards of the same rank, plus any other three cards.
- High Card: If no other poker hand is made, then the hand with the highest rank is the winner.
Texas Holdem Basic Terms You Need to Know
There are several key terms that you will always encounter when playing Texas Holdem. Check out the list below to make sure you’re up to speed.
- Action: Action is a term used to describe the various options that a player has on their turn. The options are to check, bet, call or fold.
- All-In: This is when a player bets all of their chips on a hand.
- Bet: A bet is when a player puts money into the pot.
- Blinds: Blinds are bets made before cards are dealt to players. The small blind is usually half of the big blind.
- Board: The board refers to the community cards in the middle of the table.
- Button: The button is a marker that indicates the player currently dealing with the cards.
- Buy-In: The buy-in is the minimum amount of money a player needs to join a game.
- Call: A call is when a player matches another player’s bet.
- Check: A check is when a player decides not to bet, but they stay in hand.
- Chip: Chips are the currency used in poker games, each with a specific value.
- Community Cards: Community cards are cards dealt in the middle of the table, and players can use them to create a hand.
- Flop: The flop is the first three community cards that are dealt face up in the middle of the table. All players can use these cards to make their hands.
- Fold: A fold is when a player decides to forfeit their hand and give up any chance of winning the pot.
- Hand: A hand is the card combination that a player currently holds.
- Position: Position is the term used to describe where a player is sitting in relation to the button.
- Pot: The pot is the money that all the poker players have bet in the current hand.
- Raise: A raise is when a player increases the amount of money another player has betted. A raise is usually double the size of the original bet.
- River: The river is the fifth and final community card thrown face-up in the middle of the table. All players can use this card to make their hands.
- Showdown: A showdown is when all of the players show their cards, and the player with the best hand wins the pot.
- Small Blind: The small blind is a forced bet before dealing with any cards. It is usually half of the big blind.
- Stack: A stack refers to a player’s chips in front of them.
- Turn: The turn is the fourth community card that is dealt face-up in the middle of the table. All players can use this card to make their hands.
Every beginner can learn poker hands at Texas Holdem
Texas Holdem is a game of strategy and patience. There is no one correct way to play each hand. The best way to begin is by watching other players and seeing how they play their hands. You can gradually increase the stakes as you get more comfortable with the game.
Now that you know the basics of Texas Holdem, itโs time to put them to the test. GG Poker, the world’s largest poker room, is the perfect place to learn and play Texas Holdem because of the variety of tournaments and cash games for players of all skill levels.Kickstart your journey to becoming a successful Texas Holdem player. Log in at GG Poker and start practicing today!
