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Texas Hold’em play
Texas Hold'em has become the number one game of the poker variants.
Typically a full Texas Hold'em table will have nine or ten players,
but can be played between just two.
Games beginning with six seats at a table are often referred to as
being short handed. Experienced players will appreciate the
difference in tactics between a full table and a short handed game;
there are no rule differences.
Before the game begins, deal one card face up to each player; the
highest card (first highest dealt if there is a tie) will be the
initial dealer. The dealer position in poker is often known as the
button. The button will move one seat to the left after each hand,
meaning everyone takes a turn as the dealer. Return all the cards to
the dealer to be shuffled. If you are playing online poker these
operations are taken care of automatically.
Pay the blinds
The two players to the left of the dealer
make compulsory bets, known as the ‘small blind’ and the ‘big
blind’ (the players make these bets before any cards are dealt ~ they
are betting blind). The blind bet amounts are prearranged, and in
tournament play are structured to increase at intervals. The small
blind is usually half the amount of the big blind. The small blind
position is always the seat to the left of the dealer, and the big
blind is the seat to the left of the small blind. Again, if playing
online poker this will be done by the client program.
Occasionally due to local rules, the number of required blind bets is
varied to a single blind or to three players making blind bets.
In heads up play (one on one) the button (dealer) pays the small
blind.
In some games or at stages in a tournament, other compulsory bets are
made by all the players at the table; these are known as antes.
The blinds and antes (if used) mean for every hand dealt, there are
chips in the middle, waiting to be won.
Deal the cards
Beginning with the player to the left of the dealer, going around the
table in two circuits, two cards (known as pocket cards or hole cards)
are dealt face down to each player.
Betting on the pocket cards (pre-flop play)
Once the cards are dealt, the players look at their own two cards and
the initial betting round begins.
This betting round begins with the player to the left of the big
blind. That player (known as ‘under the gun’) can now determine if
they want to try to win the chips in the pot. To do so they must make
their decision clearly known to the others at the table.
There are three options open to the first player to act. They may
fold, call the bet or raise the bet.
If the player decides to fold, they pass their cards back to the
dealer unseen by others and have no further part to play in the hand.
If they chose to call the bet, then they put in the same amount of
chips as the value of the big blind.
If they wish to raise the bet, they must raise by a minimum of the
value of the previous bet. For example, if the big blind is 10 chips,
the minimum raise is to 20 chips.
Continuing around the table to the left, each player makes their
choice and acts in turn. If any player raises the bet, each player
when it is their turn to act, must make another decision as to whether
they call the new amount (providing they want to stay in the hand)
re-raise, or they can fold. At their time to act, if a player
re-raises, the minimum re-raise will be equal to the amount of the
previous bet. For example, if the big blind is 10 chips, the minimum
raise was to 20 chips, a re-raise must be at least 20 chips more.
Note: if a player intends to re-raise they must state ‘raise’ or
‘re-raise,’ they cannot, ‘call and raise’ or ‘see your bet and raise.’
If play moves around to the big blind without any raises, the player
in that position may check, meaning they do not put more chips into
the pot, or they may raise.
The round of betting ends when all players have either
folded their cards or called the last bet or raise.
If all but one player folds their hand during any betting round, the
last player who has not folded wins the pot. This player may now chose
to muck their hand, meaning toss their cards into the discard pile by
the dealer without showing anyone what cards they were playing (some
players like to show what cards they were betting on).
The flop
If two or more players are still in the hand after the initial betting
round, the hand moves on to the flop.
Standard practice (done before the flop, turn and river cards are
dealt to clearly display honesty and fairness), is for the dealer to
discard the top card from the pack and place it face down to one side;
it is never used or shown.
With the top card out of play, the next three cards are placed face up
simultaneously in the centre of the table; this is called the flop.
These three cards are the first of the five community cards that the
players (who have not folded) can use along with their two pocket
cards, to make their best possible poker hand.
Player action continues clockwise around the table. The first player
to the left of the dealer who has not previously folded is now the
first to act. They must make a decision whether to bet, or check.
If they check, they put no more chips into the pot at this
stage, although they may have to make another decision if a player
acting later bets or raises. Any
player (when it is their turn to act) may bet, check (if no one has
yet made a bet), call (match the bet), raise (minimum is always the
same as the last bet made) or fold.
The betting round for the flop ends when all players have either
checked, called the last bet or folded; a hand can be won at this
point by every player bar one folding.
The turn
If two or more players are left in the hand after the flop betting,
the dealer discards another card before dealing a fourth community
card (called the turn card) face up. Another round of betting ensues.
The turn card betting round follows the same pattern as the flop
betting and ends when all players have either checked, called the last
bet or raise, or folded; again, a hand can be won at this point by
every player bar one folding.
The river
If two or more players are left in the hand after the turn betting,
the dealer discards another card before dealing a fifth community card
called the river card, face up. A final round of betting takes place,
in the prescribed fashion.
If two or more players are left in the hand after the final betting
round is complete, those players go into the showdown.
The showdown
The showdown is only between those players who have stayed in the hand
to this point. These players show their cards beginning with the last
person to bet. At any point after this player shows their cards, the
other players involved in the showdown may muck their hand,
effectively conceding the pot to a better hand without having to show
their cards. If they have a winning hand they must now show their
cards.
A winning hand
Apart from everyone bar one folding during any of the betting rounds,
the best combination of five cards at the showdown wins the pot. The
continue link will take you to a page showing the hand rankings.
In Texas Hold’em three, four or all five, of the community cards
combined with your pocket cards may make your best five card hand. The
best five-card poker hand wins.
If two or more players share the winning hand the pot is divided
evenly among those players.
That is the basics of Texas Hold'em play.
Important points to understand
All-in
At any time during a no limit game when it is their turn to act, a
player may bet all their chips by declaring “all-in”. This can only be
done in limit and pot limit poker if the stack size compared to the
limit amount allows it.
If a player at any time cannot reach the amount already bet into the
pot, but wants to continue in the hand, they declare that they are
all-in. Any excess chips already in the pot or yet to be put in, will
go into a side pot to be played for by the players still with chips in
the hand.
Table or seat position
Your position at a poker table is an important dynamic in how you
play. The button (dealer position) is well thought of as the best
seat in Texas Hold’em, Omaha and similar variations where the dealer
is last to act in a betting round. From this position you gain the
most information (fundamental to your decision making), helping you
decide if you will check, bet, raise, call or fold. Winning a poker
game depends upon you making correct decisions as many times as
possible.
Early seat
From an early position you will be one of the first to act in a
betting round. Unless you have a very strong hand, the lack of
information you have about other players’ reactions to the board cards
limit your options of play. For instance, if you match with the second
highest card of the flop, how confident will you be to bet if the
highest card showing is an ace or king, knowing these are the types of
cards many players will want to see a flop with. You would ordinarily
only play very strong starting hands from an early seat.
Middle table position
Middle position gives you more chances to see how others act before
you make your decisions. You may play less strong starting hands from
here, but be ready to fold if you think you are behind.
Late position
The later the table position, the more information you will have to
base your decisions upon. The button (dealer) and the cut off (the
seat to the right of the dealer) are considered late position and
accordingly, the strongest positions to make plays from.
Limit, Pot Limit or No Limit
Texas Hold'em is played in three common betting categories; Limit, No
Limit, and Pot Limit. A fourth type called capped has become popular;
treat it as a limit game.
In Limit Hold'em, you can only bet a predetermined amount usually equal to the big blind and the raise will be the same
amount. The number of raises are limited too. Commonly there will be a
three raise maximum in any betting round.
In Pot Limit Hold'em, the maximum you may bet is the pot. This maximum
bet is calculated as all the money in the pot, plus (if you have been
raised) the amount you would bet if you re-raised.
In No Limit Texas Hold'em, when it is your turn to act you may bet any
amount you wish (minimum bets aside).
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