Better Poker

For some time Texas Hold’em has held its own as the most popular poker game of them all for beginners and experts alike. This is undoubtedly due to the ease of learning the game because of its simple rules. But the easy part stops here and the reason for its appeal to all levels of players becomes clear. The strategies in Texas Hold’em are so complex and sophisticated that it can take a player decades to conquer them, and maybe not even then. So for you newcomers just starting to learn and those of you are more than beginners looking to improve your skills, I offer this brief outline of the game’s central core.

Texas Hold’em Game Play format

There will be a maximum of ten players in the game. The dealer is usually the one who draws the highest card prior to the deal, but often the dealer is designated by the house. In any case, the dealer, also termed the button, is the last one to play. The first one to play is known as the small blind and is the player situated next to the dealer. The small blind player begins by anteing one-half of the limit amount. Next to him is the large blind, then the remaining players follow. The button has the best seat in the house as he is able to gather much information as to what is in his opponent’s hands by making careful observations of their raises, re-raises and lack of same.

The players are allowed to call, raise or fold on the ante bet to the extent of the limit in limit hold’em or through the roof in no-limit hold’em, unless the house puts a cap on re-raising limits of three per round, which is not uncommon. Also in no-limit the players can go all in which raises the bet to the limit of the player’s stash on hand. Pot-limit lets the players raise to the limit of the total cash in the pot.

Usually the player new to the game will start out with limit poker, then as he gains experience and expertise will move on to the no-limit games. Interestingly, should all players but one fold on a raise, that remaining player “wins blind” and takes the pot no matter what he is holding in his hand. Should this not be the case, the winner is the holder of the best 5-card hand assembled from his hole cards and the community cards. The rankings of the hands are as follows from highest to lowest: royal straight flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair, and a pair and a high card.

The Play of the Game

To begin the game the players are dealt two hole cards followed by the first round of betting and the flop. The flop is dealt face up and becomes part of the community cards. In any betting round the players have the option of folding, calling or raising up to the limit of whatever type of game it is. The best starting hand in Texas Hold’em is two aces, the worst is an unsuited 2-7.

Now that the flop has taken place, the next betting round occurs with the players now able to see the community cards as well as their own hand. And, as mentioned previously, the small blind goes first. The ensuing round will reveal the fourth (turn) card and finally the fifth (river) card is dealt. Best hand of five-cards at showdown takes the pot, considering that more than one player remains in the game.

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