Texas Holdem Rules For Beginners

 
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Texas Hold’em poker is everywhere these days — on TV, online, and in clubs and casinos. Before you sit down to a game of Texas Hold ’em, make sure you’re in good shape to be successful — take care of non-poker issues and check your physical, mental, and financial status. During the game, you need to understand basic odds and playable hands, as well as how to bluff successfully and follow proper poker etiquette. Texas Hold ‘Em also has its own abbreviations for online play.

There are many different forms of poker including seven card stud, Omaha, five-card draw, and Texas hold’em to name a few. Hold’em has evolved as the most popular game worldwide and is the form we shall use to cover the basic rules of poker.

Playable Texas Hold’em Hands

Texas Hold’em is a game of strategy, like any poker game, but where you’re sitting in relation to the action becomes part of your strategy when playing Hold’em. If you bet early, you generally need better cards than you do if you’re one of the blinds. The following table offers sound advice on what hands are playable when you’re sitting in different positions.

Questions to Ask Yourself before You Play Texas Hold’em

Whether you’re playing Texas Hold’em for fun or money — make that whether you’re playing for high stakes or low stakes — make sure you’re in a position mentally, physically, and financially to enjoy the game and make the most of your chances. Ask yourself these questions before you sit down to a game:

In the paragraphs below, we will enumerate the basic rules of Texas Hold Em’, which should be a good place to start if you want to get familiar with the rules and the hands. Rule 1: Button The button is basically what determines which one of the players sat at the table will be the acting dealer for that round of dealing. Texas Holdem Rules: Learn How to Play in under 10 minutes Texas Holdem is the most popular variant of poker and the one we recommend beginners start with. Once you have a good understanding of Texas Holdem, other poker variants are quite similar and will be easier to learn.

  • What is the purpose of my playing this session? Whether it’s to learn more, win money, or just hang with friends for a good time, make sure you know why you’re there and that you’re doing everything you can to accomplish that goal.

  • If I were to play an opponent who’s exactly the same as a well-rested, un-stressed version of me, would that person have an advantage? If the answer is “yes,” hold off on playing until you’re in a better psychological and physical state.

  • Can my bankroll handle this level of play? If not, play a lower level.

  • Are there any distractions in my life that I need to get rid of before I play? Pay your rent, walk your dog, call your significant other — whatever it is, get it out of your head so you can focus.

  • Do I know if the house I’m playing in has any bonuses for players such as bad beat jackpots, high hands, free food and/or drinks for players, or freeroll tournaments? If not, ask a floorperson before you start playing and find out about the details of how you can qualify.

  • Is there an aggressive person at the table I’ll be playing at? If so, try to get yourself seated to his left so you see the raises before your action and not after.

  • What do I know about the people sitting at the table? Whatever it is, use it to your advantage.

Rough Odds for Texas Hold’em

Playing poker is about playing the odds. The following list gives the odds for outcomes in Texas Hold’em hands. When you realize how heavily the odds are stacked against you, you may want to rethink going all-in before the flop with two suited cards. Use the odds to your advantage:

  • 1 percent (1-in-100): Percentage of time that no player holds an Ace or a King at a table in a 10-handed game

  • 1 percent (1-in-100): Percentage of time that if you hold two suited cards, you’ll flop a flush

  • 6 percent (about 1-in-20): Percentage of time that five community cards will give pocket suited cards a flush

  • 6 percent (about 1-in-20): Percentage of time that you’ll be dealt a pocket pair

  • 8 percent (about 1-in-12): Percentage of time that you’ll hit at least trips after having a pair on the flop

  • 12 percent (about 1-in-8): Percentage of time that you’ll flop trips if holding a pocket pair

  • 12 percent (about 1-in-8): Percentage of time that two more cards will flop in the same suit as a suited pocket pair

  • 19 percent (about 1-in-5): Percentage of time that the five community cards will at least trip your pocket pair

  • 32 percent (about 1-in-3): Percentage of time that you’ll pair one of your cards on the flop (with no pocket pair)

  • 33 percent (about 1-in-3): Percentage of time that you’ll make a full house or better after having trips on the flop

  • 35 percent (about 1-in-3): Percentage of time that you’ll make a flush on the turn or river if you have four cards to a flush after the flop

Texas hold

Texas Hold’em Bluffing Tips

What makes any poker game exciting, and Texas Hold’em is certainly no exception, is that players can bluff at any point. Sometimes half the fun of a game is seeing whether you can successfully bluff an opponent out of some money. But, even as you’re misleading your opponents, make sure you bluff in the right circumstances. Heed these bluffing tips:

  • Only bluff where it makes a difference to your standing — either in a tournament or to your stack of chips.

  • Be careful bluffing someone considerably worse than you are. He may call just to see what you have, or on some probabilistically low draw when he already has you beaten anyway.

  • Bluff in situations where the board hints at the great hand you do not have: straights and flushes being hinted at by the board, the turn of an Ace, and so on.

  • Don’t try to bluff players who only play the most solid of hands if they’re still in the pot.

  • Don’t bluff people who are extremely likely to call.

  • Do bluff the timid or people who are likely to fold.

  • Remember that it’s easier to bluff in No-Limit than Limit because the bets (both implied and real) are bigger.

Poker Etiquette for Texas Hold’em

The etiquette tips in the following list apply to Texas Hold’em and to any other poker game. Sure, you can have fun while you play poker, but you can have all the fun you want without being impolite to the other players or the dealer. Basic poker etiquette includes these tips:

Texas holdem rules for beginners
  • Always play in turn.

  • Be aware of when it’s your turn to post the blinds and do so promptly.

  • Any time there is a discrepancy at the table, talk to the dealer — not the other players — about it. If you’re not able to get satisfaction from the dealer, ask for a floorperson. Talking with other players about the problem you perceive may generate ill will among people who have no authority in the situation in the first place.

  • Place your bets in front of you. Do not splash them into the pot.

  • Do not show your hand to other players at the table while a hand is in progress.

  • Tell the dealer when you intend to raise. In No-Limit, gather the amount that you’re going to raise and either announce the total, or move it all forward with one motion. This prevents being called on a “string raise.”

  • Don’t forget to tip your dealer. Dealers work for minimum wage and rely on tips for their livelihood.

Online Poker Abbreviations for Texas Hold’em

Playing online poker in general, and Texas Hold’em in particular, is a very popular pastime. When you’re online, you may encounter abbreviations specific to the world of poker. To understand what other players are saying, get familiar with these online abbreviations:

Texas Holdem Rules For Dummies

AbbreviationWhat It MeansAbbreviationWhat It Means
86To remove or banne1Anyone
brbBe right backnhNice hand
gc/ncSlightly sarcastic phrase meaning good catch/nice catchggGood game
lolLaughing out loudglGood luck
nlNo-LimittyThank you
n1Nice one🙂Smiley face (view sideways)


Before we even get into the rules governing Poker, it needs to be understood that Poker the origins of Poker dates all the way back to the 16th century. Therefore, it is understandable that there are several variations and versions of Poker which are now in existence. However, one of the most popular types of Poker around the world is Texas Hold ‘em and it is usually the kind of Poker which is played in most of the biggest Poker tournaments in the world including the likes of WSOP, WPT, EPT, etc.

Even though, it seems simplistic at first when compared to some of the other types of Poker, you can rest assured that it does get pretty complicated in certain scenarios, especially when playing a high stakes game. This is why there is pretty popular proverb when it comes to Texas Hold ‘Em and it goes a little something like this –“It takes a moment to learn, but a lifetime to master”.

The Basics Of The Texas Hold Em

In the paragraphs below, we will enumerate the basic rules of Texas Hold Em’, which should be a good place to start if you want to get familiar with the rules and the hands.

Texas Holdem Poker Rules For Beginners

Rule 1: Button

The button is basically what determines which one of the players sat at the table will be the acting dealer for that round of dealing. Whoever has the button will be the dealer. The player on the button or the closest player to the button (if player on the button is an inactive one) will receive the last action on all post – flop streets of play.

Usually, while playing in a land based casino or a real money online casino, there is no need for a button as there is a professional dealer hosting the game at the table. It is when you are playing with friends, that you will need to use the button. After every round, the button moves one spot to the left and that player then becomes the dealer for that round.

Not only does the button determine who the dealer is, but it will also dictate who begins the betting with the small blind and the big blind.

Rule 2: The small and big blind

At the start of every round, a couple of players at the table will mandatorily have to make bets. These bets are known as the small blind and the big blind. This is what kicks off the betting and ensures that people need to post a minimum bet if they want to stay in the running and stand a chance of winning the pot. As the number of players on the table gets smaller, and the existing poker chip collections of the remaining players grow larger, the bling will also be increased periodically.

Rules Of Texas Holdem Poker For Beginners

Generally, the small blind is half the amount of the big blind, but this is not a hard and fast rule and may vary from game to game. The player sitting to the left of the button will post the small blind and the player seated to the left of that player will have to post the big blind.

Rule 3: The objective of the game

Obviously, the objective of the game is to win. However, you only win when you have the best combination of cards when it comes time to showdown. In Texas Hold’em, every player receives two cards face down and they don’t have to reveal their cards to anyone until it comes time to show (showdown). Apart from the two cards in hand, each player can also use the common pool of five cards which will be dealt face up on the table. These cards are common to all players at the table and so they are called community cards. When you make the best combination at the table using the cards in hand and your community cards, you will win the pot that was accumulated during the betting rounds for that play.

Betting – first round

The first round of betting begins once each player has been dealt two cards have been dealt. At this point, the player to the left of the button will bet the small blind, the player to the left of that player will bet the big bling and they player to the left of the big blind will then either call, raise or fold.

A call is when you match the minimum amount to stay in the game. A raise is when you increase the bet and keep it within the specified limits and a fold is when you don’t want to bet anything at all so you retire from the game and give away your cards.
The next players to follow will also have the same options. However, if the player before them had raised the bet, then they will have to match the raised bet to stay in the running.

Texas Hold'em For Beginners

Betting – Second round, third round and final round

In the second round, the dealer will reveal the first three community cards. Then the player to the left of the button (active player) will begin the betting. Now, the player has the additional option of “check”, which means to pass the betting opportunity to the next player without making a bet.

After the second round of betting is complete, the fourth community card will be dealt face up and the third round of betting is initiated. They can, call, fold, raise or check depending on what the bettor before himher did.

Next, the fifth community card is revealed and the fourth and final round of begin may start. As usual, the first active player (someone who has not yet folded) will get to go first. Even in this round, players have the option to fold, call, raise and check. Once the final round of betting is concluded, it is time to see who is the winner.

Rule 4: Showdown

Texas Holdem Rules For Beginners Pdf

Now that all the community cards have been dealt and all the betting is complete, it is time to determine who won the pot that has accumulated. This part of the game is known as the showdown. The players who are still in the game (haven’t folded) will be required to expose their two “hole cards” (the two cards in their hand non – community cards).

Depending on the rankings of the cards and hands, the winning hand is determined. The player who has made the best combination of cards will get to take the pot.

Texas Holdem Rules Basic

Card combination ranking from best to worst

Texas Hold'em Poker Rules For Beginners

  1. Royal Flush
  2. Straight Flush
  3. Four of a Kind
  4. Full House
  5. Flush
  6. Straight
  7. Three of a Kind
  8. Two Pair
  9. One Pair
  10. High card
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