Texas hold'em poker

Introduction:
Texas hold'em all is one of the most popular forms of poker games around, which is surprising considering it is one of the newest variant forms of Poker games circulating. The very best players are able to rake in millions of dollars every year. It has an annual unofficial competition, themed the "Cadillac of poker".


Playing the game:
There are four rounds of action in Texas Hold'em poker.
The first round starts with the dealer. The first person that sits on the table becomes the dealer. Before a Texas hold'em all poker game starts the first two players on the left of the dealer place a small bet and a big bet to the available pot, these small and big bets are known in Texas hold’em poker lingo as the small and big blinds, respectively.
The players who placed the small and big blinds have the options of raising, checking, folding or calling their bets when it is their turn again. The player seated to the left of the one who placed the big hand sets off the betting for the round, each player based on the actions of the player before, has the option to call, raise, or fold, to call simply means to repeat the bet of the previous player, to raise simply means to increase the bet; for example in a $10/$20 Texas hold'em poker game if the player who starts the betting starts at $10, if the next player calls, then he/she would also bet $10, and if the next player raises then he/she would bet $20 (i.e. betting based on the actions of the previous player). The first player to bet (after the player who has placed the big blind) gets the bet, raise, check or call options, subsequent players would get the call and raise options.

Each player is dealt two concealed cards, termed concealed, because the other players can not see these two personal cards. The cards are faced down on the table.

As well as each individual's concealed cards, there are five cards on the table where all the players can see. These 5 cards are known as community cards, and are used by the players in making their hand.
Players can either use two of their concealed cards, and three of their community cards to make their hand, or all five of their community cards to make their hand. The highest hand wins the pot, i.e. wins what has been set aside for betting.

The first round betting starts after each player has received their concealed cards. Once the first round of betting has finished, the first 3 community cards are placed face up for everyone to see, these three cards are known as the flop. This concludes the first round betting.

The second round betting starts with the player who is still in the hand and sat to the left of the dealer, it also reduces to the lower limit of the bet, so for example in a $10/$20 game it reduces to $10 per bet.

Once the second round of betting has been completed the fourth communal card is dealt out, this card is known as the turn card. The third round of betting then starts.

After the third round of betting the fifth and last communal card is dealt, in poker terminology this card is also known as is the river card.

The betting is concluded with the fourth betting round, again starting with the player sat to the left of the dealer who is still playing in the game.

If there is more than one player remaining in the hand after the final betting there is a showdown.

About the Author

Andy F likes to play holdem poker and recommends you visit Holdem poker if you are in the UK or if in the USA visit this US poker room