Texas Holdem is one of the most popular form of poker that is being played in the casinos and online poker rooms. The word "Poker" which means to knock comes from the German word 'pochen'. Sure to say that the game originated in Texas. Legend says that the earliest version of the game was played in Robstown, Texas in the early 1900s.

Texas Holdem is a community card game where each player is dealt two cards face down called hole cards. The object is to make the best five card poker hand using any combination of the seven cards. The game Texas Holdem Poker gains its appeal to many due to it has many elements that makes it a wonderful pastime. The strategic challenge makes this game irresistible in its appeal. In Texas Holdem the combination of skill and strategy is the key in order to win a hand though there is always an element of luck that is involved.

 

Texas Holdem Basic Play

Blind Bets

The game begins after blinds are paid and bets are placed, the small blind and the big blind. Small blind are usually posts half the minimum bet and the big blind which is posted by the player to the left of the small blind is equal to the minimum bet.

The Opening

The cards are shuffled and each player is now dealt two cards face down. The first one to receive a card is the player on the small blind and last card is dealt to the player with the dealer button. The first betting round begins after the deal. The player to the left of the big blind is the first one to act. He has three options: Fold the hand, call the big blind (bet), or raise. Each player on the table is given same option, right to the small blind. The last person to act is the big blind. If no one has raised, the big blind has an option either to raise or check. The first betting is completed once each active player has placed the same amount into the pot, the dealing continues.

-To fold the player simply throws the card away and the hand is considered dead.

-To call the player pays an amount equal to the big blind.

-To raise the player increases the amount of money.

-To check the player does not out in any more money.

The Flop

Three cards are dealt face up in the center of the table. These are community cards where in each player on the table can use them to make the best five-card hand. After this, another round of betting follows known as second betting round.

The Turn (Fourth Street )

After the flop betting round ends, a single community card. The dealer turns a fourth card face up in the center of the table referred to as the "Turn."

The River (Fifth Street)

After the turn betting proceeds in the same way, then comes the final single community card. The dealer will turn the fifth and last card face up in the center of the table referred to as the "river," and the final betting round begins.

Showdown

On the showdown,to determine the winner when the betting is finished and there are remaining players in the hand, they will reveal their two cards. The first one to reveal his card is the player who made the last bet. The players can only use one or both of his hole cards or none at all to form his final five card hand. If the player choose to use only the five cards that are dealt face up on the table then the player is said to be playing the board. The player with the best five card poker hand wins the pot. The pot is split equally among players if the best hand is shared by more than one player. If a player bets and all other players fold then the pot is awarded to the remaining player.

Hands in Texas Holdem Poker

High Card -- A hand whose ranking is determined solely on the basis of the greatest card value held because it does not contain a pair, two pair, three of a kind, a straight, a flush, a full house, four of a kind, or a straight flush; in the hierarchy of hand values, the hand ranking immediately below a pair.

Pair -- A hand containing two cards of the same value, such as Qs-Qh-4c-Js-7d; the hand ranking immediately below a two pair and immediately above a high card.

Two Pair -- A hand containing a kicker and two groupings each with two cards of the same value, such as Qs-Qh-4c-4s-7d; the hand ranking immediately below a three of a kind and immediately above a pair.

Set -- Three of a kind, especially in community card games when two of the three cards are held in the pocket and only one is on the board. (example: 3 sixes)

Straight -- A hand containing five cards of consecutive value regardless of each card's suit, such as 7h-8d-9s-10c-Jh; the hand ranking immediately below a flush and immediately above three of a kind.

Flush -- A hand containing five cards of the same suit, diamonds, hearts, spades, or clubs; the hand ranking immediately below a full house and immediately above a straight.

Full House -- A hand containing both a three of a kind and a pair, such as Qs-Qh-Qd-7s-7d; the hand ranking immediately below four of a kind and immediately above a flush.

Four of a Kind -- A hand containing four cards of the same value, such as 9s-9c-9h-9d-x; the hand ranking immediately below a straight flush and immediately above a full house; quads; quadruplets.

Straight Flush -- A hand containing five cards of the same suit and of consecutive value, such as 7h-8h-9h-10h-Jh; the hand ranking immediately above four of a kind, and outranking all natural hands

Royal Flush -- The straight flush A-K-Q-J-10 suited; an ace-high straight flush; the highest possible straight flush.

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