How to Play Texas Hold'em Poker

Introduction

Texas Holdem is one of the most popular poker variations. The game is known for its simplicity and ease of playing. The game comes with simple rules, gameplay, and hand rankings. If you are new to this game, understanding the basics of Texas Holdem poker rules is a key strategy.

Don’t worry; this article will cover everything you are looking for. Learn how to play, rules, hand rankings, tips & tricks - everything you need to know about Texas Holdem Poker games.

Texas Hold’em Poker History

The origin of Texas Holdem is unclear. Some say the game started in Robstown, Texas, early 1900s. Another claim suggests that T. Blondie Forbes, a gambler, created it in the 1920s. Even players have their own story. Johnny Moss first saw it in Dallas in 1926, while Doyle Brunson knew it as “Hold Me Darling” in Texas in the 1950s.

The game was popularised in Las Vegas as Texas Holdem during the 1960s, starting at the Golden Nugget casino. It became even more popular after the tournament at the Dunes casino in 1969 and was included in the WSOP in 1970. Since 1971, the game has been the primary event at the WSOP.

Objective

The objective of Texas Holdem poker is to make the best possible five-card hand to win the pot. You can use your two-hole cards and five community cards that are dealt in rounds to make the best hand.

What is Texas Holdem poker?

Texas Holdem is the most popular poker game in the world. It is played between two to ten players. Each player gets two hole cards, and five community cards are dealt face-up in the centre of the table. All players can use these cards in combination with their hole cards to make the best possible five-card hand.

There is a vast possibility of situations and combinations that can be created in the Texas Holdem cash game, which makes it highly challenging if you play at higher levels.

Texas Holdem poker rules

There are certain Texas Hold'em rules that you need to remember to make this game fun and challenging:

• Each player receives 2 face-down cards, known as hole cards, from the dealer.

• The dealer deals 5 face-up cards at the centre of the table in three stages over multiple betting rounds, known as the community cards.

• The three stages in which the community cards are dealt are:

1. Flop: The dealer deals the first three community cards.
2. Turn: The dealer deals the fourth community card.
3. River: The dealer deals the fifth community card.

• All the players use these community cards and their hole cards to make their best possible 5-card Texas Hold’em hand to win the pot.

• Players can form any combination to make their highest-ranking 5-card hand. They can combine their 2-hole cards with 3 community cards, use their 1-hole card with 4 community cards, or no hole cards at all.

• Players can keep their hole cards aside and use only community cards if the community cards make the best five-card hand.

• If all the players fold their cards and only one player is left, the remaining player wins the pot without going through a showdown.

• This is why a player without holding strong hands can still win the pot by bluffing and making all their opponents fold their better hands.

• When two or more players reach the showdown after completing the last betting round, there is only one way to win the pot: by forming the highest-ranking 5-card hand.

How to play Texas Holdem?

If you are new to Texas Holdem, we are here to help you. You can learn how to play Texas Holdem in these easy steps.

Step 1: The buttons

The button is a round disc rotated to the left and determines the acting dealer at the table. 

The first two players sitting at the left of the button act as ‘small blind’ and a ‘big blind’ to start the action. Then the betting rounds, like a preflop, flop, turn, and the river begins.

Step 2: The blinds

Before the new game begins, two players from the table must raise the small and big blinds. The blind are the forced bets that start the wagering. 

In a poker tournament, you will notice that blinds are raised at regular intervals. In a cash game, the blinds remain the same. 

The small blind is generally half the bigger blind. As the number of players decreases, the blinds must keep increasing throughout the tournament.

Step 3: First betting round - Preflop

This round takes place right after the two-hole cards are there. The first player that acts is to the left of the big blind.

The first player has three options: call, raise, or fold. This position is known as ‘Under the Gun’.

• The call means the player will match the amount of the big blind.
• The raise means the player will increase the bet within the limits of the game.
• The fold means throwing away the card and getting out of the game.

Once the last bet is up, this round is over, and we move to the next round, ‘The Flop’.

Step 4: Second betting round - The flop

During this round, the first three community cards are dealt, and the player sitting left of the button starts the game. 

Along with the options to call, bet, fold, and raise, players also get the option to “check.” A check means passing the action to the next active player.

The betting continues until the last bet or raise is called.

Step 5: Third betting round - The turn

The fourth community card, “the turn”, is dealt face-up. Players can check, bet, call, fold or raise. 

Once done, the game continues and calls for a final betting round.

Step 6: Final betting round - The river

Following all betting action on the Turn, the fifth community card is dealt face-up. In the same manner as the previous street of play, a new round of betting begins.

Once again, the players can check, bet, call, fold, or raise.

Upon completing all betting action, the remaining players with hole cards reveal their holdings. It is called the showdown.

Step 7: - The showdown

At this stage, all the remaining players reveal their cards, and a winning hand is determined. The player with the best five combinations of cards wins the pot.

Texas Holdem Poker Hands Rankings

Poker hand rankings will help you determine the strength of your hand and what action you should take. Here is the list of hand rankings in poker:

• Royal Flush: This is the highest-ranking hand, which consists of 5 cards of the same suit ranging from ace to 10. For example, A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠.
• Straight Flush: This hand includes any five cards of the same suit in numerical order. For example, J♦ 10♦ 9♦ 8♦ 7♦.
• Four of a Kind: The hand with four cards of the same rank. For example, 10♦ 10♠ 10♥ 10♦ K♣.
• Full House: The hand with three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank. For example, K♥ K♦ K♠ 6♣ 6♥.
• Flush: This hand contains five cards of the same suit. For example, K♥ J♥ 9♥ 5♥ 3♥.
• Straight: The hand with five cards in numerical order, regardless of the suit. For example, 7♥ 6♦ 5♣ 4♠ 3♦.
• Three of a Kind: This hand contains three cards of the same rank. For example, A♠ A♥ A♦ 9♣ 6♠.
• Two Pair: This hand contains two different pairs. For example, Q♣ Q♠ 10♥ 10♦ 7♣.
• Pair: The hand with two cards of the same rank. For example, J♠ J♦ 8♥ 6♣ 4♥.
• High Card: This is the lowest-ranking hand used when no other hand combinations are present. The player with the highest card in the hand is declared winner. For example, K♦ 10♣ 7♥ 5♠ 2♣. 

Different Types of Texas Hold’em Poker Games

Here are the different types of Texas Holdem poker games:

No Limit Texas Holdem

This is the most popular Texas Holdem variation. It is often featured in big events and tournaments. As the name suggests, the number of bets is unlimited. You can bet and raise the total number of chips you have

Limit Holdem

As the name suggests, you bet in a fixed betting amount. Let's say you are playing ₹5/₹10 limit game; the maximum bet you can make during the first two rounds of pre-flop betting would be ₹5, which shall increase to ₹10 for the last two rounds.

Pot Limit Texas Holdem

In Pot Limit Texas, the betting limit is fixed throughout the game. You can bet any amount of chips up to the size of the pot.

Mixed Texas Holdem

This variation alternates between No Limit Holdem, Pot-limit Holdem and fixed limit Holdem. For example, you can play limit in pre-flop, pot limit on the flop, and no limit on the Turn and River.

Short Deck Holdem

In this variation, the deck is reduced to 36 cards. All the cards lower than 6 are removed, making the deck shorter, which results in changes in the poker hand rankings. However, the gameplay and the betting stay the same.

Double Flop Holdem

This variation includes two separate boards of community cards. Using the two boards, you must make the best five-card hand.

Texas Hold’em Winning Strategy

Here are the winning strategies of Texas Holdem:

Starting Hands

Try to play with premium starting hands, such as pairs of Aces, Kings, Queens, and Jacks. Playing with lower-ranking cards can cost you a lot. Play with strong hands and play aggressively.

Position

Your position at the table is crucial. You will benefit the most when you play from the last position, as you will have access to more information. Playing from an early position can be risky, as you have less information.

Bet Sizing

Betting is another crucial key which can help you win or lose the game. Bet aggressively only when you have a strong hand otherwise, it is better to play safe and Check or Fold.

Learn Pot Odds

Pot odds are the ratio of the pot size to the bet size. The pot odds help you determine whether the call is profitable based on the current pot or not. You can even compare the pot odds with the winning hand.

Never Limp

Excess of limping shows that you have a weak hand. Instead, try to call or Fold if you have a weak hand. Limping lets opponents see the flop easily and cheaply, resulting in more player post-flop. You lose control of the pot and might lose the game, too.

Table Selection

Look for tables with weak players who play too many hands in online games. Similarly, avoid playing on tables where your opponents match your skills or play better than you—table selection comes when you have the abovementioned strategies.

Texas Hold’em Tips and Tricks

Here are some Tips and tricks town Texas Holdem:

• Be patient and wait for the good hands. Aggressive playing can cost you a lot, and you may lose all your money.
• Ideal players always observe and analyse their opponents, gameplay, and strategies. Based on the analysis, you can make your strategies and win.
• Set the highest value on your bankroll and stick to it. This will help you lose less.
• Avoid chasing losses; fold when you think you are losing more than expected. This will save your bankroll.
• Fold when you are unsure about your hand. There’s no point sticking to hand when unsure whether you will win or lose all your money.

Texas Holdem Poker Hand Combination

To win poker, you should know the good and the bad starting hands. Here are some of the best poker starting hands:

• Pocket Aces: One of the best starting hands. However, you can still lose if community cards help your opponent make a better hand.
• Pocket Kings: Strong hand. The opponent can beat this with pocket Aces.
• Pocket Queens: Third-best starting hand but weaker than pocket Kings and Aces.
• Same suit Ace-King: With good community cards, you can win.
• Same Suite Ace-Queen: Potential for strong Royal Flush, straight, and high card.
• Pocket Jacks: A solid hand but can be beaten by pocket aces, queens, or kings.
• Same suit king-queen: You can win with the help of community cards.
• Same suite Ace-Jack: Strong hand with a possibility of Flush and straight.
• Offsuit Ace-King: Good hand but weaker than above mentioned.
• Pocket Tens: A strong hand, but it needs to be stronger.

Tie-breakers and Kickers

A kicker is an extra card that can help in deciding the winner. When there is a tie, the player with the highest kicker wins.

How is Omaha different from Texas Holdem?

Here are four key differences in both versions of the poker game:

Number and usage of pocket cards

In Texas Holdem, you will get two-hole cards; in Omaha, you will receive four-hole cards. 

In Texas Hold 'em, you must use either one or both of the hole cards with community cards and in Omaha, you use two hole cards out of four with three community cards to make poker hands.

Comparative hand strength

Due to the four-hole card nature of PLO, players often need stronger hands to win pots compared to Texas Holdem, where only two-hole cards are used. In Texas Holdem, a pair or two pairs can win.

Bluff and draw

It is challenging to bluff in Omaha because there are more hands than in Texas Poker. Hence, it is more of a drawing game, as players are less likely to fold.

Betting structure

Texas Holdem commonly utilises a no-limit betting structure, allowing players to bet any amount at any time.

In contrast, Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) typically employs a pot-limit betting structure, where bets can be made up to the total size of the pot.

Limit, No Limit, Pot Limit and Mixed Texas Hold'em

Here are the different types of pot limits:

• Limit: You cannot increase or decrease the betting amount as it is fixed.
• No Limit: You can bet any amount throughout the game.
• Pot Limit: The maximum betting amount is limited to the pot size.
• Mixed Texas Holdem: A game alternating between Limit, No limit, and pot limit.

Frequently asked questions

Is Poker and Texas Holdem the same game?

No. Poker is a broad term that consists of several variations, one of which is Texas Holdem. In this variant, you get two hole cards and five community cards. You win by making the best five-card hand using these cards.

What are the rules of Texas Holdem?

In Texas Holdem, each player is dealt two hole cards, followed by five community cards dealt face-up in three stages.

Players aim to make the best five-card poker hand using any combination of their hole and community cards.

Can I play Texas Holdem online on adda52?

Yes, you can play Texas Holdem online. Platforms like Adda52 offer a seamless gaming experience. You can even create your private table and invite your friends.

Conclusion

Texas Holdem Poker offers simple and challenging gameplay. You need to practice to develop your strategies. Just join Adda52, call your friends, and have a game. Practice will help you understand the game better and how to play Texas Holdem.