Texas Hold `em Basics And How It Works At Poker Rooms

By Author: jon don
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There have been quite a few questions around here lately about Texas Hold'Em because of the recent Tournament. I'm going to try to answer as many as I can, and any further questions about the game I can answer behind this post.

OK... Let's begin.

1. Texas Hold'Em is based on Regular Poker, except for a few minor variations. In Regular 5-Card Poker, You try to make the best hand possible out of your 5 cards that are dealt to you.

Cards are in suits and numbers. Suits have no ranking, but the numbers and letters do.

Suits:
Diamonds
Clubs
Hearts
Spades

Numerical Rank (from lowest to highest):

A 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 J(Jack) Q(Queen) K(King) A(Ace) (Aces may be used high or low).

The possible hands are listed below (note that no two cards can be the exact same (value & suit) at any time in your hand):

1. High card (lowest hand in poker): No 2 cards alike, unsuited. Use the highest card in your hand.
2. Pair (Beats high card): 2 like cards, with 3 other unlike cards (i.e., A A 7 3 9).
3. Two Pair (Beats a pair): 2 sets of 2 like cards (each ...
... set different from the other), with one card unlike the other sets (i.e., 7 7 A A J).
4. 3 of a Kind (Beats two pair): 3 cards all alike, with two unlike cards (i.e., Q Q Q 8 3)
5. Straight (Beats 3 of a kind): 5 consecutive cards, unsuited. A suited straight is a straight flush. (i.e., 2H 3H 4D 5C 6S)
6. Flush (Beats straight): 5 cards all of the same suit, not consecutive. (i.e., 6 of Diamonds, 8 of Diamonds, 4 of Diamonds, A of Diamonds, J of Diamonds)
7. Full House (Beats flush): a 3 of a kind plus a pair. (i.e., 5 5 5 8 8)
8. 4 of a kind (Beats full house): 4 like cards plus one unlike card (i.e., 10 10 10 10 K)
9. Straight Flush (Beats 4 of a kind): 5 consecutive suited cards (i.e., 7 8 9 10 J, all of clubs).
10. Royal Flush (beats straight flush): Essentially the highest straight flush possible (i.e., A K Q J 10 of the same suit).

In No-Limit Texas Hold'Em, there are some slight differences in the play of the game, however the hand rankings remain the same.

Before any cards are dealt, 2 people are "forced" to make a bet. These people are called "blinds." The "small blind" must post one-half of the required minimum bet, while the "big blind" must post the entire minimum bet. Then, all players are dealt 2 cards face down, so that only the player may see them. A round of betting then occurs. Players at this time decide whether they're in or out. Each player must post a bet equal to the big blind in order to remain in the hand. If the player does not want to bet this hand, s/he folds his/her cards and sits out the hand.

However, if a player wants to post a bet larger than the big blind, they may do so. This is called "raising." The raise must be equivalent to double the big blind or greater. All players who wish to stay in must bet again or fold their cards. Once the bet gets around to the big blind, they may choose to bet again or "check," which means they do not want to raise their bet, however, they want to stay in the hand.

At this time, all chips are collected and placed in the center of the table. In a regular game at an online poker room (player-vs-player), the house at this time will take a percentage of the pot, known as a "rake", as payment for its services of hosting the game (explained in further detail below). Now, the top card on the deck is "burned" (placed face-down and out of play) and 3 "community" cards (cards that can be used by everyone) are dealt face-up. This is known as the "Flop."

Another round of betting then occurs. Players may check if no bet is on the table, bet at least the big blind, raise, or fold. After the completion of betting, the chips are collected, the house will take its rake, the top card is burned, and the fourth community card will be dealt, known as the "Turn."

Another round of betting occurs. After all bets are complete, the rake is taken, another card is burned and the fifth and final community card is dealt, known as the "river."

A final round of betting then occurs. When all bets are complete, the players remaining in the hand reveal their cards. However, if a player reveals their cards before another and the player decides not to show what they had, they may "muck" (leave the cards face-down and pass them to the dealer) and let the other player take the pot.

If two or more players have the same hand that cannot be improved by their hole cards (a community hand), then those players shall split the pot. If players' hands are equal, but not by a community hand, the tie shall be broken by using the players' highest hole card. If these are also equal, then both players will split the pot.

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