How To Play Texas Hold ’em

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There are many different versions of poker. This guide will show players how to play Texas Holdem specifically.

The object of this poker variation is easy: to win your opponent’s chips and put them in your stack. This can be done by having the best hand or by betting and forcing your opponents to fold.

When a player folds, they throw away their hand if they don’t think it’s strong enough to win the pot. 

The first step when learning how to play Texas hold’em is to understand the layout. Each hand starts with every player being dealt two cards face down. Then, players must combine their two cards with the community cards, which are laid face up on the table.

At the end of the hand, if two or more players remain, the cards are shown, and the player with the best five-card poker hand is the winner of the pot. 

Texas Hold ’em hand order

A Texas Hold ’em poker hand involves up to four betting rounds. The first round is before any community cards are dealt. Next, players decide whether to bet, fold, or raise, moving around the table in a clockwise position.

Folding forfeits the chance for that player to win the pot. A call matches the previous player’s bet, with a raise increasing the last stake and forcing anyone else to pay extra chips to continue the hand.

When the first round of betting is complete, the three community cards are dealt, called the ‘flop’. Once the flop is dealt, there is a second round of betting, with the first player to the left of the dealer going first.

After that round is complete, the dealer reveals one more community card, called the ‘turn‘ card. Lastly, the final community card, called the ‘river‘ card, is dealt. After the final round of betting, the player with the best hand wins the pot.

Betting Options

There are three ways to bet when playing Texas Hold ’em. Once the first player places a bet, the other players’ options are to call, raise, or fold. To call is when the player equals the player’s bet before them, keeping them in the hand. 

Raising is when a player increases the total bet to force players with weaker hands out and force anyone else to pay more to stay in the hand. Finally, folding is when a player ‘mucks’ or throws away his hand, giving up and quitting, with no chance to take the pot.

Betting Limits

There are sometimes betting limits in Texas Hold ’em, such as ‘pot-limit’ Texas Hold ’em, where the maximum wager allowed is the current value of the pot. In no-limit Texas Hold ’em, there is no limit on the player’s bet amount, giving them the freedom to push all their chips into the pot at any time. 

How To Play Texas Holdem Online For Money

Anyone can legally play Texas Hold ’em online in the U.S. if they don’t live in a state with a ban on internet gambling. All the legal U.S. poker sites offer Texas Hold ’em as an option. 

All players need to do is sign up to their favorite site and make their first deposit to start entering tournaments. Players may also be able to take advantage of a nice sign-up bonus to get them started.

How to play Texas Holdem at home

Playing Texas Hold em at home is possible everywhere. A deck of cards and poker chips are all you need to get started. It’s possible to play with as few as two people, but there’s no limit from there. 

Home poker, including Texas Hold ’em, is one of the most common pastimes in the U.S. There are regular friendly games held all the time, and neighborhoods often set up schedules of participation. If you can’t find a local one, perhaps it’s time to set it up. 

How To Play Texas Holdem In a Casino

Many land-based casinos have live poker rooms where they offer Texas Hold ’em. Players only need to go to the room’s main counter to register for a specific tournament or find a cash game.

Tournaments will require an entry fee, with players given a ticket that displays their table number and seat. In addition, most poker rooms will offer various cash games with different stakes and other poker variations for players to enjoy. 

Where to Play Online Texas Hold ’em

Anyone looking to play Texas Hold ’em online will find plenty of options. There is a seemingly unending list of possibilities, although some are arguably better than others. 

In the U.S., most states have not legalized real-money online poker. There are efforts in the works, but only six states currently allow it – West Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, Michigan, Nevada, and Pennsylvania. 

Elsewhere, poker players will find a lot of choices, as well. Americas Cardroom, Bovada, BetOnline, Ignition, and other sites all offer poker.