Texas Hold'em is now the most popular variation of poker. Players play Texas Hold'em in tournaments and in friendly weekend games with pals. We do think that the Texas Hold'em poker rules are just a bit difficult for beginners, but the rules are very easy compared to Texas Hold'em strategy.
The Blinds Make Texas Hold'em Unique
In classic poker games, every player puts a set amount of money in the pot before the dealer deals the cards. This is called the ante. An ante means that every player has a financial stake, however small the ante may be, in the hand.
In Texas Hold'em poker, only the small blind and the big blind put money in the pot before the deal. This means simply that any player who is not a blind for that hand has no financial stake in the hand, at this point, and can fold without any financial loss.
As a result, even experienced Hold'em players fold during the pre-flop betting round.
The Position of Every Player is Important
The size of the big blind is twice the size of the small blind. In Texas Hold'em, there are four betting rounds: the pre-flop betting round, the second round comes after the flop, and then the fourth community card is dealt with another betting round, and, finally the fifth community card is dealt followed by the final betting round.
Every Player's Position Moves on Every Hand
In standard Hold'em fashion. the positional movement is clockwise. There is a fixed pattern of betting in Texas Hold'em. The first player to bet before the flop is the player to the immediate left of the big blind. This means that the big blind bets last in the pre-flop betting round. The small blind sits next to the big blind.
In many Texas Hold'em games, the size of the big blind, even in low-stakes games, intimidates players in the pre-flop betting round. The size of the big blind is not a factor in the next betting rounds since every player who is still in the game has matched the big blind.
Strategy is Connected to Position
The closer a player is to the first betting position, the better his or her hole cards should be to justify calling the big blind before the flop. The first betting position is called "under the gun" for good reason.
The number of players also affects the pre-flop betting round. In Texas Hold'em, there can easily be ten players as each player gets two hole cards and they all share the five community cards.
The more players there are coupled with your betting position and your hole cards will determine if you fold early or call the big blind
The Betting Sequence Changes after the Flop
Each round of betting is called a street. The first round is more commonly called the pre-flop betting round and it begins with the player to the left of the big blind. Thus, the big blind acts last in the pre-flop betting round.
After the flop is dealt, the betting begins from the player furthest from the "button" or the player closest to the button on her right.
For our purposes, the button is the dealer. The button position moves clockwise in every land-based poker room but the room or casino has a permanent dealer. Thus, the button is a marker of any kind that signifies who the dealer is for the purposes of setting the betting sequence.
Is the Hierarchy of Hands the Same in Texas Hold'em as in Other Poker Games?
Yes, with one proviso.
There are many poker games with one or more wild cards. In a game with a wild card, the players have to agree which hand is higher, five of a kind or a straight flush. If five of a kind is higher than a straight flush, it has to be compared with a Royal Flush.
This is all by way of introduction to the "rule" that there are no wild cards in Texas Hold'em. This is true in tournaments and probably every poker room.
If you play Hold'em with friends, you could add a wild card to the mix and if you do so, you need to agree in advance as to the hierarchy of hands.
These are the Basic Rules in Texas Hold'em
As you can see, the rules are very straightforward. It does take a little time to get used to how the betting changes based on position. Other than that, from the standpoint of rules, Texan Hold'em is pretty much like any other poker game.
What Else Should a New Player Know about Texas Hold’em Strategy?
The first thing a new player should understand is that the rules of Texas Hold’em, while they are a bit eccentric, are a lot easier to learn than strategy. There are dozens if not hundreds of books about strategy in Texas Hold’em.
That is an indication of the “hold” Hold’em has on the vast majority of poker players. There are a few strategy tips that we can give. Mastering these tips may take a lifetime of playing but players can start now to get ahead of the game!
Here are a few tips for new Texas Hold’em players.
- New players need to learn how to both play conservatively and how to play aggressively.
- New players should learn how to stay deadpan even when a card comes out that gives them the “nuts”.
- New players need to develop an advanced ability to concentrate. Good Hold’em players pay attention to every hand even though they fold BEFORE THE FLOP on about 70% of all hands!
- New players need to be able to control their emotions. A bad beat may hurt but the next hand comes quickly and good players get ready for it quickly.
- New players have to develop a better memory so they can recognize players quickly even after a long time.
- New players need to develop a novelist’s knowledge of human nature.
- New players should observe the bluffs other players make before they try to bluff a hand. A good bluff looks like its opposite.
Juicy Stakes Poker Informs as Well as Providing a Safe Place to Play Poker Online
While we spoke only about Texas Hold’em here, we offer many other forms of poker, a large number of tournaments, and we arrange poker at many stakes levels.
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