The most popular form of poker in the world is Texas Holdem. It is truly a game that takes “minutes to learn and a lifetime to master.” First, let’s take a look at the basic rules of the game, followed by the different variants.
Most Texas Holdem games are played nine-handed. However, there are many games, especially tournaments, that may start six or ten-handed. For the sake of this article, we will assume a normal nine-handed game.
A white disc, known as the button, is used at the table to determine the position of the dealer. The button moves clockwise around the table and advances one player at the conclusion at each hand. Prior to a hand of Holdem being dealt, the two players to the direct left of the button must post forced bets known as blinds. The first blind, known as the small blind, is half the amount of the second blind, known as the big blind. The blind amounts are a set amount during a cash game and can vary in tournaments. For the sake of this article, let’s assume the small blind is $1 and the big blind is $2.
After the blinds are posted, each player at the table receives two cards, both face down. These are known as hole cards. The dealing of the cards begins with the small blind and concludes with the dealer button. After the first two cards are dealt, a round of betting begins.
This round of betting is known as “pre-flop” betting and begins with the player to the left of the big blind. The is the “under the gun” position. This player has the option to fold, to call the amount of the big blind, or to raise. The amount a player may raise is dependant on which variant they are playing. We will discuss that in a minute. After the first player acts, the action moves around the table until it reaches the blinds. If no player has raised by the time action is to the small blind, the blind may call the big blind amount, raise, or fold. If all players from the under the gun player to the small blind fail to raise, the big blind then has an “option.” They may either raise or check.
Once all betting action is completed pre-flop, the flop is then deal. The flop is three community cards dealt face up in the center of the board. All players may play off of these cards. All rounds of betting from this point on starts with the first player to the left of the dealer still in the hand. The first player then has the option to check or bet. If they bet, they must bet at least the amount of the big blind. How much they can bet is dependant on the variant of poker played.
When all flop betting is completed, the fourth community card is dealt face up in the center. This is known as the turn. Another round of betting commences and at the conclusion of turn betting, the river card is dealt. The river card is the fifth and final community card. One last round of betting occurs and then the remaining players show their cards. The player with the best five card hand takes the pot.
When making the best five card hand in Holdem, keep in mind that you can use any combination of the cards in your hand and the five on the board. If you have A-4 in your hand and K-Q-J-8-10 on the board, you will use your ace to make an ace high straight. If you have a pair of deuces in your hand and J-10-9-8-7 on the board, in this case you would “play the board” and use the straight on board as your best hand.
In some cases, your best hand will be determined by your kicker. For example, if you have A-Q with a board of A-2-5-8-10 and your opponent holds A-J, you will win with a pair of aces with a queen against your opponents pair of aces with a jack. Also, in the event that you and another opponent hold the exact same five card hand, the pot is chopped.
Betting in Texas Holdem is dependant on which variant you are playing. The most popular form of Holdem is No-Limit Holdem. In this game, you may bet up to your entire stack size. This variant obviously allows those with a large stack to put pressure on the smaller stacks.
Pot-Limit Holdem is a variant of the game where a player may bet up to the amount of money currently in the pot. For example, let’s say you reach the flop and action is to you. The most you can bet is the amount of money in the pot. If the pot is sitting at $12, then the most you can bet is $12. However, if you bet $12, your opponent may now raise by $24 due to the fact that the pot is now $24. This variant allows for some pot control pre-flop and on the flop, but the betting can really increase on later streets.
Limit Texas Holdem is the most common form of Holdem at lower stakes and until around 2003, it was the most popular form of Holdem. Betting limits are fixed in this game. On each round, there can a maximum of one bet and three raises in many games. (The WSOP allows four raises). Raise amounts depend on what street that you are on. Pre-flop and on the flop, betting amounts are in the small bet amount. The small bet amount is equal to the big blind. This means that if a player wants to raise in a $2-$4 Limit Holdem game, the most they can raise is $1, or the small bet amount. On the turn and river, betting amounts double to the big bet amount. In our example, this would make each bet and raise $4.
The rules to Holdem are very simple, but as experience will teach you quickly, there is a lot more to learn if you want to play the game competently. Study up on some basic strategy before sitting down to the table and pick some truly low stake games while you are learning the game. Good luck.
