This is the most popular poker variation of this time. If you watch televised poker tournaments, the variation that they usually play is no-limit Texas Hold’em.
Thus, if you want to play Texas Hold’em, read on for the basic game play.
Number of Players needed:
Six to eight Players
Position of the Players
Player 1 – Dealer
Player 2 – Small Blind
Player 3 – Big Blind
Player 4 – Under the Gun
Player 5 to 6 – Players in the Middle Position
Player 7to 8 – Players in the Late Position
The positions of the small blind, the big blind and under the gun are called players in the early position. They are the first to act in the betting rounds.
The Dealer is likewise a player in the late position because he is the last to act in any betting round.
Rules of the Game
1. This is a community game where players will play the board cards (flop, turn and river)
2. Players hole cards will only be two cards
3. Small blind bets half of the minimum bet
4. Big Blind bets the minimum bet
5. There will be three to four rounds of betting.
Here is how the Texas Hold’em Poker is played.
The button or the dealer will shuffle the cards. The player on his left will cut the cards.
In a $2-$4 Texas Hold’em game, the blinds will now post the blind. This is before the hole cards are dealt. The small blind, the player immediately on the left of the dealer will post a $1. This is half of the minimum bet required.
Then, the big blind will post the minimum bet, in this case $2.
The dealer will now draw one face down card to each player. Then, he draws the second hole card.
After this, the action will start from the player seated at the left of the big blind. He is called under the gun because he is betting without any information on the situation of the cards each player has.
This player can either check (bet $0, but keep his card active) or call (bet the same amount as the big blind).
The next player to his left will now act, either check, call, raise or fold. His action is dependent on his hole cards.
Then, the play goes until all the players including the dealer have made action.
After the first betting round, the dealer will not draw the flop. The flop is the first three community cards placed at the center. Every player will play those community cards in combination with their hole cards.
Players in the Texas Hold’em poker may likewise have the option to play all of the community cards. This may lead to a tie and thus players will have to split the pot.
After the flop are drawn by the dealer and placed face up in the board, then the next betting round will begin.
The small blind will either call, raise or fold. The play will then move to all the active players. Active players are those players who have not fold they cards.
It may be worth noting at this point that the players in the late position are advantageous against the players in the early position. This is because the players in the late position will have information of how strong or weak the cards of the players before them by merely considering their action.
After the betting round on the flop, the dealer muck one card and then draw the turn or the fourth community card.
Another betting round will happen with the active players either making a call, raise or fold.
Again, the dealer will discard the top card and draw the fifth community card or the river.
The final betting round will happen between the active players.
After this final betting round will be the showdown. Active players will then show their hole cards and combine them with the community cards.
The best hand now wins the pot.
As mentioned, if the hole cards of the players cannot complete a strong poker hand, they may have the option to play the board cards. In this case, there is a possibility of splitting the pot among the active players because they are in equal footing if they will be playing the community cards.
This is how simple the game of limit Texas Hold’em Poker is played. In the next page, we will discuss some strategies and playable Texas Hold’em hands.
You may also take advantage of the tutorials found in this website. This will help you play poker online and even in brick and mortar casinos intelligently.
Next, we discuss Omaha Hold’em Poker, this is another community poker variations which many poker players love.
