How To Play Texas Hold ‘em Poker

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Step by step guide and instructions on how to play Texas Hold‘em poker for beginners:

Why play poker?


It seems like a simple question, but the answer can be surprising. There are many different reasons to play or not to play poker. Many people play poker for social rewards, for reasons of entertainment or even to help improve your judgement skills (reading people) or even to sharpen your strategic skills. But the one and only real reason you should be playing poker is simply to make money. Poker is one of the few forms of gambling where one can actually win money in the long run simply by being good or better than your opponents. It pays to know how to play and to understand the game and your opponents.


Certainly poker provides you with a better chance of winning than gambling in a casino for example where it is virtually impossible to win at blackjack, roulette and craps in the long run because the odds are stacked in favour of the House. The only exception is blackjack if you count cards, which is an extremely difficult skill.




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They say Texas Hold‘em only takes a few minutes to learn – but a lifetime to master.


In order to learn the game, however, you must play and you must play fairly often. As with most things in life, practise makes perfect.


How to play Texas Hold‘em.

A Texas Hold‘em poker game is played as follows:

1. The betting structure can vary. Sometimes antes are used, but most games start with two players to the left of the dealer placing out a predetermined amount of money so there is an initial amount to get things started. This is called posting the blinds. The small blind player must post an amount equal to half the minimum bet, e.g. £0.50 for a £1/£2 game. Likewise, the ‘big blind‘ player must equal the minimum bet, e.g. £1 for a £1 game.
   
   
2. The dealer shuffles up a complete deck of 52 playing cards.
   
   
3. Each player is dealt two cards face down. These are called your hole or pocket cards – which are dealt face down on the table (which only you will be able to see).
   
   
4. Then there is a round of betting starting with the guy to the left of the two who posted the blinds. This round is usually referred to by the term pre–flop. This begins with the player to the left of the big blind and moves round the table in a clockwise direction. Naturally, you bet according to how well you think your hand will fare against your opponents. You have three choices in the 1st round:
   a) Fold – decide that your cards aren‘t good enough to win the hand.
   b) Call – match the big blind stake and stay in the betting.
   c) Raise – up the stakes, meaning your opponents will have to match your amount or fold.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. The amount a player can bet depends on what kind of game it is. Naturally, you bet according to how well you think your hand will fare against your opponents.
   
   
6. The dealer then flips the next three cards face up on the table. These cards are called the flop. These are communal cards that anyone can use in combination with their two pocket cards to form a poker hand. With 5 of your 7 cards now in view, you will now have a much better idea of what your best hand is likely to be. In this and the following rounds of betting, the first player to act is directly to the left of the dealer button. Again the options are to Call, Fold or Raise. Alternatively, if no–one has yet contributed to the pot, you can "check". You remain in the hand for free, but if another player bets, you will have to match his stake to stay in. Again initial bets are in increments of the lower table stakes.
   
   
7. A fourth communal card is dealt face up in the middle of the table which is called the Turn card. Again, this can be used by every player to make their hand as good as possible. Players can use this sixth card now to form a five card poker hand.
   
   
8. The player to the left of the dealer begins another round of betting.
   
   
9. The dealer places a final card face up on the table. This is called the river. Players can now use any of the five cards on the table or the two cards in their pocket to form a five card poker hand.
   
   
10. There is one final round of betting starting with the player to the left of the dealer.
    
    
11. After that, all of the players remaining in the game begin to reveal their hands. This begins with the player to the left of the last player to call. It‘s called the showdown.
    
    
12. Finally, the player who shows the best hand wins. There are cases where players with equal hands share the winnings and the pot is split.