Do you want to learn how to play Texas Hold’em Poker? This beginner’s guide will teach you the rules of the game, as well as the different hands and their rankings. You’ll also learn different betting rounds and how to win or lose a hand.
So, whether you’re a complete novice or have some experience playing poker, this guide has everything you need to get started. GGPoker, the world’s largest poker room, features outstanding poker guides for beginners and seasoned players alike.
Let’s get started!
How do you play Texas Hold’em Poker?
Texas Hold’em is a community card game, meaning players share some of the cards on the table. There are two types of cards in Texas Hold’em:
Community cards: These cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table and can be used by all players.
Hole cards: These are the cards that are dealt face down to each player, and only they can see them.
Texas Hold’em has four betting rounds: pre-flop, flop, turn, and river. The game aims to make the best possible five-card hand using your hole cards and the community cards. Let’s take a look at each betting round in more detail.
Preflop: After the hole cards are dealt, the first betting round starts. The player to the left of the big blind (the big blind is 2 spots to the left of the dealer) starts the betting, and then it continues clockwise around the table. Players can either call, raise, or fold.
Call: This means that you match the amount of the bet made.
Raise: This means that you increase the amount of the bet that has been made.
Fold: This means you give up your hand and don’t play any further in that round.
The betting continues until all players have either called or folded.
Flop: The flop is when the first three community cards are dealt. These are dealt face up in the middle of the table; all players can use them to make their hand. After the flop has been dealt, another betting round starts, with the player to the left of the dealer leading the betting. The same rules apply in the pre-flop round (call, raise, or fold).
Turn: The turn is when the fourth community card is dealt. This is also dealt face up in the middle of the table; all players can use it to make their hand. After the turn has been dealt, another betting round starts, with the same rules as in the previous rounds.
River: The river is when the fifth and final community card is dealt. This is also dealt face up in the middle of the table; all players can use it to make their hand. After the river has been dealt, the final betting round starts with the same rules as in the previous rounds.
Showdown: If two or more players are still in the hand after the final betting round, there is a showdown. All players reveal their hole cards, and the best hand wins.
What are the different hands in Texas Hold’em Poker?
There are ten different hands that you can make in Texas Hold’em Poker, and they are ranked from highest to lowest. The ranking of hands is as follows:
Royal Flush: This is the highest hand, consisting of an Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten, all of the same suit.
Straight Flush: This is the second-highest hand and consists of any five cards in a row of the same suit.
Four of a Kind: This hand has four cards of the same rank.
Full House: This hand consists of three cards of the same rank, plus two more cards of the same rank (for example, three Aces and two Kings).
Flush: This hand consists of any five cards of the same suit.
Straight: This hand consists of five cards in a row (for example, Ace, Two, Three, Four, and Five).
Three of a Kind: This hand consists of three cards of the same rank.
Two Pair: This hand consists of two pairs of cards (for example, two Aces and two Kings).
One Pair: This hand consists of one pair of cards (for example, two Aces).
High Card: If none of the above hands are made, the highest card is the winning hand.
Knowing the poker hand rankings is important because this will determine who wins the pot if there is a showdown and how much you can bet in certain situations.
Texas Hold’em Poker is a great game for beginners because the rules are relatively simple and easy to understand. Of course, there is more to the game than understanding the rules and hand rankings. There is also some strategy involved, which you will need to learn to be a successful player.
If you want to start practicing your skills before hitting the casino or joining an online poker tournament, sign up with GGPoker today.
