Holdem rules of play
Texas hold’em is now the most popular poker game both off and online, you may see Texas hold’em played on the television a lot with tournaments like The world series of poker, hold’em may look and play fairly simple, but many experts agree that it is the most complex of all poker games, this complexity means that Texas hold’em can be harsh to both beginners and hardened players alike action is fast with more players, bets, raises and re- raises than any other poker game meaning that winners win big and losers also loose big it is these factors that made Texas hold’em so enjoyable and the king off all poker games.
This article is set out just to give you an introduction into the play involved in Texas hold’em.
The button represents the dealer the button is only used in casino and online play as in conventional home play the dealer is moved around every hand and everybody has a go at dealing, where as a casino uses a dealer or a computer is used online so there fore becomes the need for a “button” the button is passed on in a clockwise motion around the table after every hand, as the player with the button receives there cards last and bets last the button has to be taken into big consideration with using your own personal Positional strategy
Blinds
There are no antes involved in Texas hold’em, so instead to force action hold’em uses blind bets which consist of the small blind which is typically half of the minimum bet and the big blind which is the same value of the minimum bet for example if you were to play at a $1/$2 table the small blind would have to place $1 into the pot and the big blind $2 , the blinds are forced upon the 2 players to the immediate left of the dealer or the “button”
The deal and betting
The deal starts with the first player to the left of the button, each player receives 2 cards face down these are referred to as your pocket cards, the first two players to the left of the button places there blinds and the betting continues in a clockwise motion around the table with the player left of the big blind being the first to act they have the option of folding calling or raising, in Texas hold’em the blinds remain “live” in the first round which means when the action comes to them they also have the option to call, raise, fold and in the case of the big blind if nobody has raised previous the opportunity to check and see a free flop.
The flop – The flop consists of 3 cards that are dealt face up this cards are known as communal so all players can use these cards combined with there own to make the best possible hand, another round off betting takes place after the flop with the first remaining player left of the button to kick off the action.
The turn- The turn is a single card again face up that follows the flop now giving a total of 4 communal cards in play once again another round of betting takes place with the first player to the left of the button to act first again.
The river- The River is the final face up card that is dealt giving a total of 5 communal cards plus your own two “pocket” cards from which you are able to use all 7 cards to create your own best 5 card hand, the final round of betting takes place with the first player the to left of the button to proceed first.
Showdown- a showdown occurs if after all rounds of betting there are 2 or more players remaining these players then show there best 5 card hand, it is possible for the best 5 card hand to be completely made up of cards on the “board” , in this case all remaining players split the pot also it is possible for 2 players to have 2 hands of the same strength using the board and there own cards in this case those two players will slit the pot.
After a showdown the button moves around one place clockwise and the next hand is dealt.
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