Texas Holdem Poker
Texas Holdem has become the most widely played type of poker in casinos, having overtaken seven card stud, 5 card stud and the classic 5 card draw poker in attraction by far.
It has also become an incredibly popular television sport, with audiences cheering on poker players like their favorite football teams or professional wrestlers, with enthusiastic card by card announcing teams adding commentary and color to popular shows like the “World Series of Poker” as seen on ESPN, and the “World Poker Tour” on the Travel Channel. Stakes are high and millions are won.
How to Play Texas Holdem
The poker game itself consists of three important components: Shuffle, Deal and what’s known as the Blinds.
“Shuffle up and Deal” is a catch phrase used by the Texas Holdem community.
The game, each hand, is played with one standard 52 card deck.
The deal moves clockwise as in any traditional poker game, though in casino games the dealer does not play and a marker known as a dealer button is placed in front of the “virtual” dealer, the player who “would” be dealing. Designating the dealer is important to determine who bets first and to rotate that player on each hand.
The two players that are to the left of the dealer (or button man) start the pot before cards are dealt, and they are known as the “blinds.” The first blind coughs up half the minimum bet, and the second blind, the second player to the left of the dealer, makes the minimum bet.
Then players are dealt two face down hole cards, after which the betting starts.
The player to the left of the second blind bets first, then in turn, the other players call, raise, or fold as in any traditional poker.
Next comes what is called the “Flop.”
The dealer burns (discards) the top card in the remaining deck.
The next three cards are then dealt face up in the middle of the table. This is the “Flop.”
Post flop, betting is repeated, starting with the player to the left of the dealer As in all rounds of betting, a players can check, call, raise, or fold when in turn.
The next step is called “Fourth Street.”
The top card is again burned and one more community face card is dealt to the middle of the table. This is known as the “Turn” or “Fourth Street.”
Once again, the player to the left of the dealer starts a round of betting.
Fifth Street
The dealer burns the top card, and deals a fifth face up community card, known as the “River,” aka “”Fifth Street.”
The goal of the player now is to make their best 5 card poker hand using their two hole cards and any three of the five community cards.
The last betting round again starts with the player to the left of the dealer.
After all betting round, players show their hands.
The best hand wins the pot.