John Ford | February 17, 2023 | Updated on: February 17th, 2023
Texas Hold Em poker reigns as a top pick poker variant by players across both land-based and digital casinos. This poker variant was not only made popular by pop culture but also by the fact that it is easy to learn and play.
Texas Hold ‘Em is a thrilling game that combines skill, strategy, and luck. It is also a go-to poker option for players looking to play for fun and those competing in high-stakes tournaments.
We will take you through a step-by-step guide on how to play this game, where to play, and strategies to win.
Play Real Money Texas Hold Em Poker Here
Texas Hold Em Poker Links
- Play Real Money Texas Hold Em Poker Here
- Step-by-Step on How to Play Texas Hold Em Poker Online
- Texas Hold Em Poker Rules
- Hand Rankings in Texas Hold Em Poker
- The Best 5-Card Hand in Texas Hold’em Poker
- Texas Hold’em Poker Tips to Win
- Free Texas Hold Em Poker
- Texas Hold’em Poker FAQs
Step-by-Step on How to Play Texas Hold Em Poker Online
Texas Hold Em poker is played with a standard deck of 52 cards and can be played by two to ten people. The game’s objective is to make the highest-ranking hand. Players are given the opportunity to bet and thus to decide whether they want to give up their hand, stay in the game, or raise the stakes.
Here is how the game unfolds:
The Button
Since Texas Hold ’em poker is not an ante betting game, players take turns to post the bring-in bet. Casinos use a round disc labelled a button that is moved clockwise around the table. The purpose of the button is to help determine whose turn it is to bet. This will make more sense as you read below.
The Blinds
As stated, betting takes turns. The first person to bet is the player seated on the left side of the dealer. At the end of each game, the position of the dealer moves clockwise, and the person on the left side of that person becomes the first one to bet.
The person sitting on the dealer’s left, next to the button, referred to as the small blind, places a minimum bet. Then the player sitting on the left side of the small blind, the big blind, places double the small blind’s bet before the cards are dealt.
Pre-Flop: First Betting Round
Once the small blind and the big blind have made their forced bets, the dealer deals two cards to each player on the table. The first player sitting on the left of the small blind or ‘under the gun’ must then post the bring-in bet. This player has the option to call, raise or fold.
- Call: match the big blind’s bet amount and stay in the game.
- Raise: Increase the big blind’s bet amount. If the player raises, other players must match the raised amount to stay in the game.
In no-limit Texas Hold’em, players can raise by any amount, but limit poker variants have a set limit to the raise amount.
- Fold: Give up a hand/stop playing without popping out any chips.
The betting round will then continue clockwise, with every player having the option to call, raise or fold.
The Flop: Second Betting Round
The dealer then deals three community cards on the table for all players to see and use. Players then get yet another opportunity to bet. The betting round also continues clockwise until all the players get the chance to bet. Now players have the opportunity to fold, check, bet or raise.
Check: Decide not to call, raise or fold, but stay in the game. Players cannot check once another player has made a bet.
The Turn: Third Betting Round
Once all the players have had their betting chance, the dealer deals the fourth community card. Players then get another opportunity to make their bets. Remember, if other players fold, at any point, the remaining player wins the game.
The River: Final Betting Round
After all the players have had the opportunity to make their bets, the dealer will deal the final community card, the river. At this point, there are often fewer players left on the table. After the dealer has dealt the river, players will also make their bets.
The Showdown
If there is more than one player left in the game, those players will go into the showdown. This is when players will have to reveal their cards. Once all the hands have been exposed, the player with the highest-ranking hand wins the pot.
Texas Hold Em Poker Rules
Now that you are well adept with how the game is played, we will look at the basic Texas Hold’em poker rules governing the game:
- Texas Hold’em uses a blind betting method.
- Two hole cards are dealt face down to each player.
- Five community cards are dealt face up for use by all players.
- Each game has up to five betting rounds.
- If all players, except for one, fold, the remaining player wins the pot.
- During the showdown, the player with the highest-ranking hand wins the pot.
- Texas Hold ’em poker can be played as a pot-limit or no-limit betting game.
Hand Rankings in Texas Hold Em Poker
There are ten possible Texas Hold ’em poker hand rankings. The highest-ranking hand is the royal flush, and the lowest is a high card. You need to know the hand rankings to make the right bets.
The Best 5-Card Hand in Texas Hold’em Poker
Each poker player’s objective is to make the best ranking hand to win. The best poker hand usually varies based on the poker variant being played. For example, in lowball poker variants, the objective is to make the lowest-ranking hand to win.
However, since this page focuses on Texas Holdem, our focus will be on the best hands in Texas Hold ’em.
The best and highest-ranking hand in this game is a royal flush. A royal flush is a hand made up of five cards; ten, jack, queen, king, and ace of the same suit. This is the best hand because there are significantly lower probabilities of making it.
Texas Hold’em Poker Tips to Win
Texas Hold’em poker, like other poker games, is a game of chance. However, a grasp of the game strategies can give you an edge over your opponents.
Here are some of the tips to help you win:
Study Poker Odds
A good grasp of the pot odds can help inform your betting decisions. This will help you bet in a way that could lead to making a profitability pot for yourself.
Grasping the pot odds is not enough. You also need to understand the card odds. Understand the probabilities of making higher-ranking hands based on your hole hands and community cards.
Don’t Be the First Player to Limp
Don’t call the big blind. Remember, your goal is to win a profitable pot. When you find yourself under the gun, the best move is to raise or fold. This is because limping works against you both in odds and the game strategy. Limping indicates to other players that you do not have a strong hand. This can keep your opponents and put you up against many opponents.
Fold Weak Hands
Some hands are not worth playing. For example, if you are dealt two and seven of different suits, it is best to fold this hand. However, you can play those hands until post-flop, and if things are still not working out and there is no chance to check, you need to fold.
Don’t Play Multiple Hands
This is primarily essential for beginners. Playing multiple hands tends to be distractive and can lead to terrible betting decisions. Poker requires a sharply focused mind, and various hands can take that away from you.
Bluff Carefully
Bluffing is a vital poker strategy, but only when done correctly. Hence it is essential to study your opponents’ gameplay before bluffing. Bluffing also works best when you are up against a few players, when you hold a hand with the potential to win and post-flop.
Free Texas Hold Em Poker
The best thing about playing Texas Hold ’em poker online is that you can play for free. When you go to our recommended online casino, you can play ‘demo’ games; these are free games. You should not expect to win any real money when playing for free because free games aim to help players get the feel of the game at no expense.
Texas Hold’em Poker FAQs
To win, you must have the highest-ranking hand. Players can also win by bluffing and making other opponents flop.
Texas Hold ’em is both a game of luck and skill. It is a game of luck because players cannot decide which cards are dealt to them, and a game of skill because you often need to play strategically to win.
Texas Hold’em is popular because it is one of the easiest poker games and can easily be found across many casinos.
Players can play any hand, depending on the size of their stack. However, 2 and 7 off-suit are considered one of the worst hands to play.
Yes, a full house beats a flush in Texas Hold ’em. This is because the probabilities of making a full house hand are lower than that of making a flush, making it the harder hand to make.
A royal flush is the strongest hand in Texas Hold’em. A royal flush is a hand made up of cards ten, jack, queen, king, and ace of the same suit.