Texas Hold‘em is the most played poker game around the world. The game has gained increasing popularity because it is easy to understand and easier to calculate winning odds. Texas Hold ‘em has be launched into mainstream audiences due to it featuring in many Hollywood blockbusters, such as Rounders starring Matt Damon and the increasingly popular World Series of Poker which attracts millions of hopeful players, live fans and TV audiences from around the globe. Texas Hold ‘em is generally played as a stand alone game in many of the online casinos, but it is also the first game when players go in for a game of HORSE.

Before the Cards

Before any cards are dealt one player is given the dealer button, this will be passed around clockwise to each player at the start of each new hand. The player directly to the left of the dealer is the small blind and is forced to put in a nominal amount depending on the limits, the player directly to their left is the big blind and they are required to put in a bigger nominal amount, which is again determined by the games limits. As the dealer button moves round the table so will the blinds.

The Deal

Each player is dealt two cards which are faced down and only they can see. A round of betting will then start where each player has the option to call, raise or fold based on the strength of their cards or how strong they want their cards to be seen.

The Flop and Turn

After the first round of betting, three community cards are dealt and placed in the centre of the table, this is called the flop. Another round of betting will follow the Flop. After this round has finished a fourth community card is dealt and this is known as the Turn Card. Again there is another round of bets.

The River

The fifth and final community card to be dealt is called the River Card. This is then followed by a final round of betting before the remaining players show their cards. The winner is the player with the best 5 cards from their hand and the community cards.

Winning the Pot

There are a number of hands that players can achieve with their cards and these should win the pot, however, in poker it is not just about playing the cards, but also playing your opponents or bluffing and sometimes this could win the pot.

Some of the best hands you can have include;

Royal Flush – 10, J, Q, K, A all suited

Straight Flush – 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 all suited

Four of a Kind – 3, 3, 3, 3, K

Full House – J, J, J, 3, 3, three of a kind and a pair

Flush – Q, 9, 7, 3, 2, no particular order but must be suited

Straight – 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 all in order but can be different suites

Three of a Kind – 6, 6, 6, 7, 9

A Pair – A, A, 2, 9, 10

High Card – this is extremely rare but if no one has any winning hands then the player with the highest card will win the pot.