- Basics of Hold'em Texas
Texas Hold'em Poker is a type of poker variants known as flop games. Also Hold'em is a High game which means that the highest hand in the showdown wins.
First, each player is dealt 2 hidden cards, the pocket cards, and then the Flop, the Turn and the River are shown. The Flop, the Turn and the River are open cards which all players can use to make their highest hand. The community cards are also called the Board.
The Flop is the first set of 3 cards of the board, also called 3rd street
The Turn is a fourth card, also called 4th street
The River is the fifth and final card of the board, also called 5th street
You can build the best combination of 5 cards using your 2 private cards and 3 cards from the board, or 1 from your private cards and 4 from the board or even use the whole board if it constitutes the best combination.
- Hand ranking
Combinations are listed below from the lowest to the highest:
* High card
None of the combinations can be formed and the high card wins. If the high card is the same, the second highest card plays and so on.
* One Pair
You have 2 cards of the same rank. If some opponents have the same pair, the highest card after the pair plays. This card is called the kicker.
* Two Pair
Your combination is formed of two cards of one rank and two cards of another rank
* Three of a kind
You have 3 cards of the same rank.
* Straight
It is a combination of 5 consecutive cards. The highest straight wins.
* Flush
5 cards of the same suit.
* Full House
It is a combination of a Three of a kind and one pair.
* Four of a kind
4 cards of the same rank.
* Straight Flush
It is a beautiful and rare combination of 5 consecutive of the same suit.
* The Royal Flush
It is an extremely rare Straight Flush Ace high. If you hit that one some day, I hope you will have a huge to win!
- Betting rounds
Before the cards are dealt, the two players to the left of the dealer have to pay respectively the small blind and the big blind. A hand of Texas Hold'em has four rounds of betting. Here is how it works:
* First round of betting
The pocket cards are dealt. Then the action is on the player to the left of the big bind and so on. Bets are made according to the hole cards only. Players can fold, call the big blind or raise. If everybody folds to a bet, the player who has put the bet wins without having to show his or her cards. During the first round the big blind is the last one to speak. When at least two players have bet the same amount of chips, the Flop comes.
For each of the next rounds, the first to speak is to the left of the dealer, who is small blind, and the last one is the dealer, he is said to be on the button as the dealer button shows who is dealing. The next hand the button will turn to the left and so on.
* Second round
Players can now form a combination with their pocket cards and the three cards on the board. As there is no initial bet on this round, the first player can Check which means that he or she doesn't bet but wants to stay on the hand. If nobody bets, all following players (until the dealer) can check. In the case everybody checks the turn comes. If somebody bets at some stage, the following players will have the choice to fold, call or raise. When at least two players have bet the same amount of chips, the Turn comes.
* Third round
The board is made of 4 cards now so you have 6 available cards to form your 5 cards combination. The third round occurs like the second one and when at least two players have bet the same amount of chips, the River comes.
* Fourth round
The board is complete now and you know for a fact what your best combination of 5 cards amongst the 7 available cards is. As previously players can check or bet and then check or fold or call or raise. If only one player bets he of she wins the pot without showdown. You can still show your hand but it is giving information on your play to your opponents and even if you are very proud of your bluff it is generally not a good thing to do. It can be done though when you play tight and you want your opponents to pay you off.
If more than one player remains, there is the showdown and the highest hand wins. If the hands are the same there is a split pot.
