Texas Hold'em Basics

Texas Hold'em name

While there is no clear evidence as to where the game emerged from, it is sure that the game originated in Texas. The legend says that the earliest version of the game was played by Robstown, Texas in the early 1900s. The game is said to have first come to Dallas, Texas, in 1925 and the word ‘Poker’ of which it is a popular version, comes from the German word ‘pochen’, which means, “to knock”.

Origin of texas hold'em poker game

The game is then said to have been introduced to Las Vegas by a few Texan gamblers and card players. This included the names of Crandell Addington, Doyle Brunson and Amarillo Slim. Soon later, Crandell Addington also wrote about the history of no-limit Texas hold'em for Doyle Brunson's Super System 2. The game gained popularity in 1970, and in the same year the Horseshoe Hotel and Casino was opened in Las Vegas by Benny Binion. Not just the popularity, but also the manner in which the game can be played has evolved too. With modern technological innovations, today it is possible to play Texas Holdem directly on the Internet or even on a cell phone.

Texas Hold'em Basics

The Table
As many as 10 players sit around a table. One of the players is the dealer for the first round. Dealer responsibility moves to the left one player at a time, after each hand (round of play).

Posting Blinds - betting rule
Before any cards are dealt, the two players directly to the left of the dealer must post "blinds" or place a bet before seeing their cards. The player to the immediate left of the dealer button posts the "small blind," half of the minimum bet. In a 5/10 game, the small blind would be $2. The player to the left of the small blind posts the "big blind," equal to the minimum bet. In a 5/10 game, the big blind would be $5.

Pocket Cards - each player dealt two cards face down
Once the blinds are posted, each player is dealt two cards face down, called the "pocket" cards. Each player can see their own pocket cards. In the first round of betting, the player immediately to the left of the big blind starts off. Players continue to place bets in a clockwise direction around the table.

Betting or folding
Table stakes determine bet amounts. For example, at a 5/10 table, the minimum bet is $5 in the first two rounds and $10 in the last two. The bet amount can be raised a maximum of 3 times in each round of betting. In other words, there can be one bet and three raises in each round. Players may call the bet (match it), raise it or fold (pull out of the betting and the rest of the hand).

The Flop (three cards dealt face up)
Next, three cards are dealt face up in the center of the table, also called the board. These cards are called the "Flop." These are "community" cards — they can be used by all the players to make up their hand. The point of the game is to put together the best five-card hand between your pocket cards and the cards on the board. Or at least to make the other players think you have a great hand. After the flop, it’s time for a second round of betting, starting with the player to the left of the dealer. All subsequent rounds of betting start with the player to the left of the dealer.

The Turn (fourth card)
Next, the fourth community card called the "Turn" is dealt face up in the center of the table. This card can be used by all players. It is followed by a third round of betting.

The River (fifth and final card)
Finally, the fifth and final community card is dealt face up in the center of the table. Called the "River" card, it is followed by the fourth and final round of betting.

Showdown
This is the end of the game when everyone has to reveal their hand. Once all betting is finished, players determine the best five-card hand that they can make using any combination of their pocket cards and the community cards. The player with the best hand wins the pot.

Start all over
After a hand is completed, the dealer moves one player to the left, and the next hand begins.

Rating of the hands

	1 - Royal Flush The highest poker hand. It consists of AKQJT all in the same suit. As all suits are equal, all royal flushes are equal.
	2 - Straight flush Five cards of the same suit in sequence, such as 76543 of hearts. The ace can play low to make 5432A, the lowest straight flush.
	3 - Four of a kind Four cards of the same rank accompanied by a "kicker", like 44442. Ranked by the quads, so that 44442 beats 3333K.
	4 - Full house Three cards of one rank accompanied by two of another, such as 777JJ. Ranked by the trips, so that 44422 beats 333AA.
	5 - Flush Five cards of the same suit, such as AJ942 of hearts. Ranked by the top card, and then by the next card, so that AJ942 beats AJ876.
	6 - Straight Five cards in sequence, such as 76543. The ace plays either high or low, making AKQJT and 5432A.
	7 - Three of a kind Three cards of the same rank and two kickers of different ranks, such as KKK84. Ranked by the trips, so that KKK84 beats QQQAK, but QQQAK beats QQQA7.
	8 - Two pair Two cards of one rank, two cards of another rank and a kicker of a third rank, such as KK449. Ranked by the top pair, then the bottom pair and finally the kicker, so that KK449 beats any of QQJJA, KK22Q, and KK445.
	9 - One pair Two cards of one rank accompanied by three kickers of different ranks, such as AAK53. Ranked by the pair, followed by each kicker in turn, so that AAK53 beats AAK52.
	10 - High card Any hand that does not qualify as one of the better hands above, such as KJ542 of mixed suits. Ranked by the top card, then the second card and so on, as for flushes.
Suits are not used to break ties, nor are cards beyond the fifth; only the best five cards in each hand are used in the comparison. In the case of a tie, the pot is split equally among the winning hands.

Stratagy and Odds Texas Hold'em

Flush (all cards in the same suit):
If you hold a four to a flush, the chance of making the flush, either on the turn or the river, is 35.0%.

Open-ended Straight (e.g. 5678 where you need a 4 or a 9):
The chance of making a straight, either on the turn or the river, is 31.5%.

Inside Straight (e.g. 4578 where you need a 6):
The chance of making an inside straight, either on the turn or the river, is 16.5%.

Trips (three of a kind):
The chance of making trips with a flopped pair, either on the turn or the river, is 8.4%.

Starting Hand Value

Your two pocket cards, or hole cards, are the only factors that separate your hand from the other players' hands. So learning how to play them is vital. An AA (ace-ace) combo simply has a much greater chance of winning than say a 7-3 combo. Play the good starting hands. Fold the bad. Combinations can however change between good and bad (and back) according to your position in the game. See "Position Play" below.

Top 20 Best Starting Hands

The "s" means suited, both cards in the same suit, always better than unsuited.

In a poker game being seated in "late position" is a huge advantage. In this position you get to see your opponents make their moves before you make yours. To become a good player one must learn to take full advantage of playing in late position.

No matter the betting round, if you have nothing and can't draw to anything, fold faster than Superman on laundry day, if you don't feel like bluffing of course