Texas Hold Em
Whether you're a novice poker player or a hardened card shark,
Texas Hold'Em is a truly thrilling form of poker. This fast-flowing
7-card game is easy to understand, yet provides a whole world
of excitement for beginner and expert alike! Made famous around
the world as being the game of choice for many top pros, and
played at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, Texas Hold
'Em has rapidly become the most played form of poker the world
over. Every game has an aim and, with Texas Hold'Em, you have
to make the best 5-card hand possible with the cards at your
disposal. Familiarise yourself with the hand rankings. These
comprise of two 'pocket' cards that each player is dealt as
well as the five community cards which everyone can use.
Dealer Button
In front of a selected player is a silver disc called the
Dealer button. This disc displays which order the cards are
to be dealt (moving clockwise) and rotates around the table
moving one player to the left after each hand. Before the
first cards are dealt, the player immediately to the left
of the dealer button must post a 'small blind'. The player
to his/her left must post a 'big blind'.
Blinds
The 'small blind' player must post an amount equal to half
the minimum bet, e.g. £0.50 for a £1/£2
game. Likewise, the 'big blind' player must equal the minimum
bet, e.g. £1 for a £1 game. Blinds are placed
in the pot to trigger the betting and give all players an
incentive to enter the hand. It also means that the winner
of the hand will always collect a pot rather than nothing
at all!
Pocket Cards
Now it's time to deal some cards! To begin with, you'll receive
two pocket cards – also called "hole cards"
– which are dealt face down on the table (which only
you will be able to see).
1st round of betting
Once everyone playing has received their pocket cards, the
first round of betting can begin! This begins with the player
to the left of the big blind and moves round the table in
a clockwise direction. Naturally, you bet according to how
well you think your hand will fare against your opponents.
You have three choices in the 1st round:
Fold – decide that your cards aren't good enough to
win the hand.
Call – match the big blind stake and stay in the betting.
Raise – up the stakes, meaning your opponents will have
to match your amount or fold.
If you have staked the big blind you can "check",
i.e. you remain in the hand for free. But if another player
bets, you will have to match his stake to stay in. Please
note, the stakes can only be raised three times during each
round of betting. This (and the next) round of betting is
set at the lower level of table stakes. For example, in a
£1/£2 game, all raises are increments of £1.
Here comes the Flop!
It's time for the flop and the game is about to get interesting!
Three cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table.
These are communal cards, i.e. every player can use them to
try and make the best hand possible.
2nd round of betting
Now it's time to get back to some betting! With 5 of your
7 cards now in view, you will now have a much better idea
of what your best hand is likely to be. In this and the following
rounds of betting, the first player to act is directly to
the left of the dealer button. Again the options are to Call,
Fold or Raise. Alternatively, if no-one has yet contributed
to the pot, you can "check". You remain in the hand
for free, but if another player bets, you will have to match
his stake to stay in. Again initial bets are in increments
of the lower table stakes.
Here comes the Turn
We've had the excitement of the flop – so what now?
A fourth communal card is dealt face up in the middle of the
table which is called the 'Turn' card. Again, this can be
used by every player to make their hand as good as possible.
3rd round of betting
The only difference between this round of betting and the
previous two is that this (and the next) round of betting
is set at the higher level of table stakes. For example, in
a £1/£2 game, all raises are increments of £2
instead of the previous £1.
Here comes the River
Now it's time for the last card of the round, the all-important
River card! This is the fifth communal card and, like the
Flop cards & Turn card, is dealt face up in the middle
of the table.
You now have seven cards from which to choose:
2 Pocket Cards (closed)
3 Flop Cards (open)
1 Turn Card (open)
1 River Card (open)
You must now select the best possible five-card hand from
the above.
4th round of betting
This is your last chance to bet. Now that you can see all
5 community cards, you will be able to work out what the best
possible hand could be. How will your hand hold up? The betting
follows the same pattern and stakes as the 3rd round. After
the betting has ended, we now have a final pot.
Ladies and gentlemen – we have a winner!
The player with the best five cards is the winner of the round
and subsequently takes the pot. If there are multiple winners
with the same hand, the pot is split between these players.
Deal 'em up again!
Ready for some more cards? After the pot has been handed to
the winner(s), the dealer button moves left one player and
a new hand begins. Are you ready for the challenge?
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