Texas Holdem Basics
Texas Holdem takes a couple of minutes to learn how to play and a lifetime to master. This holdem primer will take a couple of minutes to read :-)
The Goal:In a nutshell, the aim in Texas Holdem is to either get the best 5 card hand or fool the other players into believing you have the best 5 card hand and fold! Players are dealt 2 cards - the "hole cards" face down, and 5 community cards - "the board" face up.
Dealer Button and the BlindsEach hand the dealer button is assigned to one player. With each hand, the button moves to the next player on the left (clockwise). The players sitting to the left of the dealer contribute the small blind and the big blind, in that order, and the player to the left of the big bling makes the first move (call, fold or raise).
Hint: It's a good idea and good poker etiquete when playing online to select "auto post blind" This keeps the game moving at a good pace, preventing hold-ups while players run to the toilet, to get a beer or are generally distracted.
Once the blinds are in place, the hole cards are dealt, and the game begins in earnest.
Pre Flop Betting.This is the first round of betting. Players will call the big blind, raise it or fold, depending on how much potential they see in their 2 hold cards. The minimum bet/raise is the amount of the small blind - for example, in a $3/6 game, the minimum bet is $3.00.
The Flop.Time for the board cards: Once everyone has made their moves, the 3 card flop is placed in the middle of the table, face up. The board cards are used by every player to make their hand. The minimum bet remains the amount of the small bind.
With the flop, the betting begins with the player to the left of the dealer.
The Turn (4th street)After the betting round after the flop has completed, a 4th card - the turn - is placed in the middle of the table. Another round of betting ensues. If the holdem game is limit, the minimum bet is raised at this time to the upper limit. That is to say in a $3/$6 game, the minimum bet is now $6.00.
The RiverOnce the round following the turn is complete, the 5th and last card - the river card - is placed in the middle of the board. This completes the 5 card board, and precedes the last round of betting.
The minimum bet in a $3/6 game remains at the upper limit.
After the post-River betting is complete, players who are still in the hand show their cards. The winner is whoever has the best ranking hand. If a player wins a pot because every other player has folded, he/she does not have to show their hand. They may "muck" it - throw it face down back to the dealer.
Texas Holdem Starting Hands
The first thing a Holdem player should learn is which starting hands are worth playing, and which should be folded. Many beginning players stay in a hand with cards that have little or no future, and it ends up showing in their chip count.
Seat PositionWhat difference does your seat position make? Plenty. Learn the difference between early, middle and late position and why players should adjust their play accordingly.
Reading the BoardGood Hold'em players can Read the Board' at a glance, and they know what hands are possible. They also know what hands can not be possible, and so they know not to worry defending against them.
BluffingIn poker what people think is in your hand is as important as what you actually hold. If you bet as though you have great cards, other players might believe you. Therein lies the essence of bluffing.
The Odds of Making Your HandIn the game of Texas Holdem there are plenty of times you will need a certain card or suit to show itself on the flop, turn or the river. For instance, you want to know the likelyhood of catching a club on the river for the flush, or flopping the third 8 to make a set. In order to compute the odds of finding the card you need on the board. In Poker, knowing and understanding pot odds and hand value is what separates the weak from the strong.