Texas Hold’Em is a relatively simple and a really popular game.  This inspired the creation of a large variety of books providing strategies and instructions on how to play.  You don’t need to buy those books to know how to play Texas Hold’Em.  Like I told you, it’s relatively simple, and getting a grasp on the basics and simple strategies will help you develop your own strategy that works for you.

The Cards, Blinds and Deals

A dealer shuffles a standard deck minus the joker.  A dealer button, a round plastic disc, is passed around clockwise from one player to another which indicates who will be the dealer.  In casinos, the dealer usually never plays.  The game begins when the two players at the left side of the dealer put a certain set amount of money to the pot.  This is also called posting blinds.  The first blind is given by the player on the left of the dealer.  He puts half the amount of the predetermined bet.  This is also called the small blind.  The second blind or the Big Blind is posted by the player on the left of the first blind.  This player puts up double the first blind’s bet or the minimum bet.  Each of the players is given two cards and five community cards are exposed at the table.

Getting That Pot Money

The game ends when all the players have folded or when there are no more players to call or raise the bet.  In this case, the last player standing gets the pot money and is declared the winner.  In case the last betting round is done and there are still two or three players left, a showdown is done.  In the showdown, the remaining players are required to show their pocket cards combined with the community cards.  Whoever has the best card combination wins.  If there are two players with equal value of cards, the pot money is split equally between them.

The Thinking Man’s Game

Many books advise that you play relatively few hands but bet and raise often.  Unlike in draw poker where you only get to bet twice, in Texas Hold’Em, you get to bet four times.  This means you can employ strategies throughout the play.  This is why Texas Hold’Em is called the thinking man’s game.  You do not necessarily need to purchase those hundred dollar books in order to know stuff about Texas Hold’Em.  Further readings and research can give you the basics and some tips.  Along the way, you develop certain strategies for effective for yourself.

by on December 30th, 2008 | RSS | trackback