How to play Texas Hold'em
A poker hand is made up of five cards. In Texas Hold'em, players receive two 'hole' cards that only they can see and use. Five community cards are then dealt. Players make the best hand they can from their 'hole' cards and the community cards.
The two players to the left of the dealer must place a bet, known as a 'blind', before any cards have been dealt in a hand. The player to the left of the dealer posts the small blind and the player to his/her left posts the big blind.
The Community cards are dealt in three phases. The first three cards dealt are 'the flop', the fourth card is 'the turn card', and the fifth card is 'the river'.
Four rounds of betting take place during each hand; pre-flop, post-flop, after the turn card, and after the river.
Betting starts at the left of the dealer and moves clockwise around the table, and stops when all players have either bet the same amount or have folded.
The winner is either the last player left in the hand or the one who has the highest ranked hands.
Hand Ranks:
- Royal Flush An ace high straight flush-10,J-Q-K-A.
- Straight Flush Five cards of sequential rank, all in the same suit.
- Four of a Kind Four cards of equal rank.
- Full House Contains three cards of one rank and two of another rank.
- Flush Any five cards, all of the same suit.
- Straight Five cards of sequential rank.
- Three of a kind Three cards of the same rank.
- Two pair Two cards of one rank and another two cards of another rank.
- Pair Two Cards of the same rank.
- High Card The hand with the highest card(s) wins.
Like most games, the aim of poker is to win. Whether you're playing for fun or for money, poker will test your skills and strategic abilities.
There are many varieties of poker games but they all follow the same basic format:
Players contribute toward a central 'pot' that contains play chips or chips representing actual money
Players are dealt cards (a 'hand'), some or all of which are concealed
Wagers are made on the strength of the cards in rounds of betting
After the betting rounds are over, the player with the strongest hand - or the last player left standing after the others have folded - wins!
Some poker jargon
- All-in When a player bets all their chips.
- Bad beat When the best starting hand is beaten by a lucky draw.
- Bluff To make other players believe that you have a better hand than you really do by betting or raising.
- Drawing dead A drawing hand that will lose even if it improves.
- Fish hooks A pair of jacks
Poker Tips
Pay attention
Watch who's playing in an aggressive or loose way and who's playing tight, try to play the loose players and avoid the tight players, unless you've got a strong hand.
Watch the chips
Always be aware of everyone's chip count. Know who has more chips than you and play more carefully against them - a mistake could knock you out. It's usually better to play pots with players who have fewer chips than you do.
No match
If your cards don't match any of the community cards, throw your hand away when someone else bets.
Ace in the hand
Don't play every time you have an ace in your hand. However, play an ace if it's accompanied by a card of the same suit or by a 10 or higher.
Hands to stay with before the flop
Play with pairs (7-7, 9-9), two face cards (K-Q, Q-J), or hands that can make both a straight and a flush (8-9, 6-7 of the same suit). Be patient and fold other hands, unless you're in the blind.
Good hand? Bet strong
In no-limit Texas Hold'em, players can bet all of their chips at any time, so bet aggressively when you have a good hand.
Watch and wait
Play fewer hands when you're one of the first players to act, because you'll be 'out of position' and vulnerable to raises from the remaining players.
Wait your turn
Do not act until it is your turn; play proceeds clockwise at the poker table.
Be a 'bettor,' not a 'caller'
Being aggressive is good.
Call their bluff
If someone raises in a late position (near or on the button), re-raise them a good amount if you are on the blind. Chances are, they don't have a big hand and they're just trying to steal your blinds. (This style of play, known as going 'over the top', is probably the strongest play one can make in no-limit Texas Hold'em.)
Be patient
The biggest mistake most players make is to act too quickly. When you're making an important decision pause to think about how the betting has gone and what your opponent might have. Take your time.
