Learn Texas Hold’Em the Easy Way

Texas Hold’Em is a popular variety of Poker.  It is now the main poker game played in many casinos.  The best way to learn Texas Hold’Em is to know the basics then jump right into the game table with some people willing to teach you the rules and strategies.  If you have no one to teach you, there’s no problem.  You can always play on numerous online poker sites offering free plays for people who want to learn strategies and other stuff.

Getting Started

The game starts with a dealer chip placed on one player.  This chip rotates clockwise in a manner that every body gets their turn.  In every game, there is a pre-determined minimum bet amount.  This is to make sure that the pot always contains money.  The player at the left side of the dealer starts by putting on small blind or half of the minimum bet.  Then the player at the left of him posts bet on the big blind amounting to the minimum bet agreed upon.  The dealer now starts giving two face-down cards, also called pocket cards, for each player and puts two community cards face up in the center of the table.  The betting round continues.

Betting Rounds and Burning Cards

After one betting round, the dealer discards the top card of the deck.  This is called “burning” the card and is done to avoid cheating.  The dealer then flops three more cards which makes the cards at the center of the table, five.  These community cards are used by the players in combination with their pocket cards to form combinations as they go along the way.  Unlike in draw poker where you only bet twice, in Texas Hold’Em, you get to bet four times.  In short, there is a better chance to employ your strategies.  This is the reason why this is called the thinking man’s game.  It is not merely a game of chance.  You need critical thinking to observe each player and make an educated guess about their cards and their next move.

How Can You Win?

After the final community card or the “river” is flipped, the players who have not yet folded will have a showdown.  They will reveal their hands.  Whoever has the best combination with three of the community cards wins the pot.  In case of a tie, the pot will be divided equally among the two winners.  If ever the last round isn’t over or isn’t played yet, and all the players have folded with only one of the players were left, he will also be declared the winner.  See?  Poker rules are relatively easy and simple.  Now all you have to do is practice and read some more then you are ready for the real deal!