The Texas hold em poker game is the most popular variation of poker available. It is the variation that is played in major tournaments such as the World Series of Poker (WSOP) and the World Poker Tour (WPT) and all online poker sites offer this variation of poker.
The Aim of the Texas Hold em Poker Game
The aim of the Texas hold em poker game is to make the best five card poker hand possible using the two hole cards and three of the community cards that are dealt.
Playing a Texas Hold em Poker Game
A Texas hold em poker game can be played by between two and ten players. The dealer deals two cards face down to each of the players (hole cards). He then deals five community cards, face up, into the center of the table. There are four rounds of betting during a Texas hold em poker game – the pre-flop, the flop, the turn and the river.
The Pre-Flop
To start a Texas hold em poker game, a pre-flop bet is placed before any cards are dealt. The pre-flop consists of the big blind and the small blind. These bets are placed to ensure that there will be money in the pot, even if all players, but one, fold.
Once the pre-flop bets have been placed, the two hole cards are dealt to each player. The players then take turns deciding whether to call (match the bet), raise (increase the bet) or fold.
The Flop
The dealer burns one card by placing it to the side and then deals the first three of the five community cards – the flop. Players have turns and can decide to call, raise or fold.
The Turn
The next step in a Texas hold em poker game is for the dealer to burn another card and then deal the fourth community card. This is also known as Fourth Street. Players have another chance to call, raise or fold.
The River
Potentially the last round of a Texas hold em poker game, is the River. The dealer burns another card and then deals the fifth and last community card. This is also known as Fifth Street. Players have their final chance to call, raise or fold. If there is one player left in the game, he takes the entire pot.
The Showdown
A Texas hold em poker game ends with the showdown. If a winner was not determined in the river round, the players who remain take turns to show their cards. A remaining player can fold (muck) at any point during the showdown. The player with the highest poker hand wins. If no players hold a poker hand, the highest cards are compared to determine the winner.
Variations of the Texas Hold em Poker Game
There are three common variations of the Texas hold em poker game – fixed limit, no limit and pot limit. The different variations of the Texas hold em poker game determine how much a player can bet or raise by during the game.
