How to Play Texas Hold em
Written February 7, 2008 by Jack Jones
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Texas Hold’em is a variation of poker were each player is dealt 2 cards face down (their hole cards) and then has to make the best 5 card poker hand possible based on their 2 hole cards and the 5 community cards that are dealt onto the table as the game progresses. Hold’em uses a standard 52 card deck and uses the same hand ranking as normal poker.
Before the cards are dealt the person to the left of the dealer puts up a nominated amount called the Small Blind (SB) and the person to his left puts up double that amount known as the Big Blind (BB). These amounts vary depending on the level being played. For example if you were playing a limit $1/$2 game then SB and BB would be respectively $0.50/$1 each.
Each person is then dealt their 2 hole cards starting with the person in the SB. The first person to act is the person to the left of the BB (known as under the gun UTG). UTG may either call the BB amount, raise the BB amount or fold. The play then continues to the person on the left who may either call the current bet, raise the current bet or fold.
Once all the actions have been completed, the first 3 community cards are dealt face up, which is known as the flop. The first person to act is now the person closest to the dealers left. This would be the SB if they are still in the pot. Another round of betting begins but this round you must now take into account not only their hole cards but also how their hole cards match the board.
Once this betting is complete, a 4th community card known as the turn is dealt. Players bet again based on their hand. Once that round of betting is complete, a 5th and final community card known as the river is dealt. After the river is dealt the final round of betting occurs.
Just like in normal poker, the game can end before all of the community cards are dealt if one person bets enough to force all of the remaining players to fold their hand. If this occurs that person wins the pot and the game proceeds to the next hand.
Texas Hold’em can be played as either a limit, pot limit or no limit. In a limit game, the players can only bet to a set structure. For example in a $1/$2 game, the bets in the first round preflop would be $1, $2, $3 and $4 ( the games are normally capped at 4 bets per round). On the flop the bets are the same but on the turn and the river, the bets are $2, $4, $6, $8. (See the example below for more information on how this works). In a pot limit game the maximum bet is the size of the pot. For example, if $10 exist then you can bet up to $10 on your turn. A no limit game is similar to a pot limit game except that there is no maximum bet amount, the player can bet and raise whatever they wants.
Below is a sample hand of Texas Hold’em to illustrate how the game works:
You are in a 6 handed game, $1/$2 limit game and you are dealt (Ace hearts, King Diamonds). You are UTG so you must act first. You have a strong hand and raise the $1 BB to $2. The 2nd and 3rd players fold. The 4th player reraises you making it $3. The SB folds, but the BB calls. You decide to call as well.
The flop now comes down As, 2d, 7c. The BB checks to you, you now have a pair of aces and bet $1, the player in 4th position calls and the BB folds.
The turn is Jh making the board As, 2d, 7c, Jh. You again bet and this time the bet is $2 because you are on the turn. The other guy calls.
The river is the 7d making the board As, 2d, 7c, Jh, 7d. You now have a really good hand having 2 pairs aces and sevens with a king kicker. You again bet and get called by the other player. You now reveal your hand at the showdown and the other player shows you Queen, Queen as his whole cards and you beat him with your 2 pair aces and sevens beating his 2 pair of queens and sevens.
