How to Play Texas Holdem
Texas Holdem is a one of the many poker deviations. You may see it as Texas Hold em, Holdem, or Hold’em, but it is the same game. Up until the early 2000’s, 7 card stud was the most popular card game. However, the Holdem game is now the king of poker. It is the most popular internet, casino, and community card game today.
The game is thought to have originated in Robstown, TX in the early 1900’s. By 1967, it was being played at the Las Vegas casino tables. Player’s call it the “thinking man’s game. ” Now it is played in the World Series of Poker, the most popular celebrity tournament card games, can be seen at every casino, and is the most played internet game. It is actually accredited with being one of the first games offered by internet casinos.
Doyle Brunson is the Micheal Jordan of poker, especially Texas Holdem. He is literally the standard by which great players are determined when they play Texas Holdem. After fifty years of playing Texas holdem; he is a two time World Series of Poker winner, has been inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame, has won ten World Series of Poker bracelets.
Ironically, Brunson’s greatest achievement is a poker book on how to win Holdem game. Many people call this book the “Bible” of poker. "Super/System: How I Made Over $1,000,000 Playing Poker," revolutionized Texas holdem by giving ordinary players insight into how the professionals won, the details of Holdem rules and smart strategy. Needless to say, his fellow pro players were not happy that he was revealing their secrets. Not only did Brunson contribute to the internet craze to play Texas Holdem, he also spurred many homes to begin their own Texas holdem parties.
How to play Texas Holdem:
The Holdem rules are simple to follow. A Holdem game begins with two players required to “ante up”. The first two antes are called the big blind and the small blind. The small blind is generally half the amount of the big blind.
Once these initial antes are set in place, all of the players at the table, usually ranging between five and seven, are dealt two poker cards face down. These poker cards are never shown to the opponents until the end of the game only if a showdown is necessary between the final two.
Once the players evaluate their cards, they can opt to wager their ante or fold their cards, removing them from participating in the game at hand without a loss.
When all players have wagered their first ante, the first three community cards are place in the center of the table, face up. These initial three poker cards are called the “flop”. At this point, the players will evaluate their pocket cards again in combination with the community cards and begin to work towards a card ranking, ultimately pursuing the highest ranking possible.
Players with a good hand may opt to “raise” by adding chips to the pot, which in-turn requires all other players desiring to remain in the game to “call” or match their raise. Additionally, each player can also “re-raise” or “fold” at any point in the game.
Once the initial round of raising is done, the dealer deals one more card into the community cards. This card is called “the turn” or “forth street”.
Again, the raising persists until a call is made and all antes are in. If more than one player is still remaining the dealer deals the fifth and final board card. This poker card is called “the river” or “fifth street”.
At this point, all cards for this game are on the table; five community cards which are displayed and two pocket cards per player, which are not. Again those who are remaining will make a last bet before exposing their hole cards. At that point it’s just a matter of either having a genuinely good hand, or bluffing your way to success.
Holdem rules are clear cut, but easy to follow. So try it out for yourself for free online then up the ante if and when you’re ready.