How to Play Texas Hold'Em

 How to Play Texas Hold'Em

Terms and Definitions

Before we dive into the gameplay, let's go over some key terms to help you understand how to play Texas Hold'Em.

Pot - This is all that is wagered in a game poker.

Ante – The ante is the amount all players at a table must pay into a pot to allow them to get dealt into the game. Texas Hold'em uses blinds instead of antes. But it is still useful to know this term. Tournament play at higher levels uses both blinds or antes.

Blinds – Blinds can be forced bets. However, they are only imposed upon one or two players. Texas Hold'Em usually has a small and a large blind. You could think of the big blind the "full" round ante. The small blind usually equals half of the huge. The blinds are paid to the players left of the dealer. It is mandatory that they pay their blinds before any cards will be dealt. The rest of the players at a table must call or raise big blinds to remain in the game after the cards are dealt.

Bet/Raise – The first time a person adds money to a betting pot is called a wager. A raise is when the player increases the stake.

Check/Call: A check refers to when there are no bets and the player does not make them. A call is when a person matches a wager without increasing it.

Fold - Players can fold at any moment when it is their turn. When a player folds they are removed from that round

How to Play

Opening Deal

First, you will need to choose a dealer to begin a Texas Hold'Em tournament. You have two options: either having everyone cut the deck or giving each person one card. Whoever has the most cards of highest value deals first. The clockwise order of play is followed by the clockwise rotation around the table.

Texas Hold'Em can treat aces as a high or low card.

First round of betting

After the dealer is chosen, each player puts their ante into a pot. Each player then gets two cards. These are your "hole cards".

Once the cards are dealt the last person on the table is allowed to check, wager, or raise. The clockwise process continues around the table until everyone gets a turn. Every player must make a decision about whether to call, raise, fold, or accept a bet.

After everyone has checked or called their bets, the first round is done.

The Flop

The second round of betting ends with the flop. The dealer flips a card, places it in a discard pile and then deals three cards face down. These are community cards each player uses together with their hole card to create their hand.

A second round of wagering is next, and it is done in the same manner as the previous.

The Turn

The betting ends and a second card, which is the community card, is burned. Next, another round of wagering takes place.

The River

The third card is destroyed before the fifth card and last community card are dealt. Each player is able to see how good or poorly their hand is at the end of the final round.

The Showdown

Each player must reveal their cards after the final round of betting has ended. The best hand wins.

If all the other players have folded, the player who hasn’t folded automatically wins. This can happen at any moment. The player who hasn’t yet folded does not have to reveal their cards unless they wish.

This is a good tip. It is best not to show the cards in this case. That way, other players won't be able to tell if your are lying. You Don't Know How to Play Holdem - Play Small Poker