Texas Hold'em Basics
Texas hold'em poker is a fast-paced and fun game that is relatively easy to learn. Once you've read the rules play for free at one of our two preferred online rooms PacificPoker.com and PartyPoker.com. Both are safe, fair and allow players to play as long as they'd like for free using a "play" account. After some practice try your hand at the real deal by adding some cash to your account and playing for "real".
One note regarding play vs. real. Play games are usually more loose and feature players making very odd and silly bets. The real games are usually faster and more realistic in terms of betting and folding bad hands. What works in the play rooms will need to be adjusted when dealing with real money. And always bet with your head not over it. It just isn't worth the heartache.
GENERAL RULES FOR TEXAS HOLD'EM
The goal of Texas hold'em is to simply make the best 5 card poker hand possible using your "pocket cards" and the 5 face-up "communal cards". The game structure is as follows.
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Each player is dealt two cards face-down called the "pocket cards" followed by the first round of betting. You may fold at anytime.
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The Dealer turns over three community boardcards ("the flop") face-up followed by a second betting round.
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Dealer turns over 1 more community boardcard ("the turn") followed by a third betting round.
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Dealer turns over 1 final community boardcard ("the river") followed by a final betting round.
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Showdown. At the showdown for texas holdem, poker rules indicate that players may use either:
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Both pocket cards & three boardcards
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One pocket card & four boardcards
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All five boardcards (playing the board)
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It's that easy. Now let's take a look at the betting structure and rules.
TEXAS HOLD'EM BETTING STRUCTURE AND RULES
There are four possible betting rounds in texas holdem poker, shown in the poker rules above.
Texas Hold'em games generally have a stakes structure with two levels. Each bet and raise during the first two rounds (after "pocket cards" are dealt and "the flop") is set at the lower limit of the stakes structure. For example in a $5/$10 texas holdem game, all bets and raises are $5 for the first two rounds. Betting and raising during the last two rounds (after "the turn" and "the river") is set at the higher limit of the stakes structure. In a $5/$10 game all bets after the turn card is dealt are $10.
The maximum allowable number of bets per player during any betting round in texas holdem poker is four. This includes a (1) bet, (2) raise, (3) re-raise, and (4) cap. The term cap is used to describe the 3rd raise in a round since betting is then capped and can't be raised further. Once capped, players will have only the option of calling or folding. Check-raising is allowed in most online poker games, with these rules including texas holdem.
After each hand has completed, as with standard poker rules, the button (the position that bets last) moves clockwise to the next active player. This player will be considered to be playing "the button" for that hand. In texas holdem the player to the left of the button is first to receive a card and is required to post a small blind. The small blind is equal to half the lower limit bet rounded down to the nearest dollar. The player to the left of the small blind is required to post the big blind, equal to the lower limit bet. The term "blind" refers to the fact that you must bet before seeing your cards. Everyone takes a trun being the small and big blind. The blind bet keeps the game moving along and prevents someone from sitting out for hours waiting for a pair of pocket kings or aces.
Both blinds in texas holdem poker are considered live bets and therefore, according to poker rules, have the option of checking, calling, raising or folding when the betting action returns to their position. After the flop and each subsequent betting round, the first active texas holdem player to the left of the button is first to act. The button bets last throughtout the entire hand.
When a player first sits at an active texas holdem table they'll be required to post the equivalent of the big blind, an important feature of online poker rules. All players have the option of sitting out and waiting for the actual big blind before starting to play texas holdem poker. Fairness is ensured to all poker players with these rules. By preventing players from constantly entering poker games in late position and leaving before they're required to post, these rules stop potential abuse of the online environment.
The best way to learn is to play at PacificPoker.com or PartyPoker.com for free. The game may seem difficult at first but will be seem quite easy after a couple of practice hands.
