Texas Hold ‘Em 101

• Author: John Mann
• Filed under: Poker
• Date: Mar 11,2010

If you’ve been a little embarrassed to try Texas Hold ‘Em because it looks a little involved, fret not. In the piece we will cover enough of the basic rules to get you up and gunnin’ for the big dog in now time.

Because it is not like the traditional “ante poker” people usually are turned off by the little and big blind involved in Texas Hold ‘Em. These can actually be your best friend because there could conceivably be round where you do not have to pay anything to see your first two cards. The blind is an agreed upon amount two players have to pay before each hand. The little blind will pay half the agreed amount and the big blind will pay the full amount. So if the blind is $50, little pays $25 and the big pays $50. The little blind is the player to the immediate left of the dealer and the big blind is to the little blind’s left. As the deal is rotated on to the next player, so are the little and big blinds.

The play begins with two cards dealt face down. The order of betting is the same as it is in regular poker, but just in case you missed learning to play poker at all, we will cover the basic betting round. Player A is to the left of the dealer. They can either bet or check (pass). The bet now goes to Player B who has the same options and so on. Everyone can pass as long as the player before them has passed. If say Player C bets $5, the Player D must bet at least $5 or fold. Players A and B must follow suit until everyone has paid the same amount of folded. If someone raises along the way, betting will continue.

After the second round of betting is complete, the dealer burns another card and deals just one more card face up in the center of the table. This is called the “turn” card. You are still taking the best three of the four to compliment your hole cards. After the card is turned up, another round of betting takes place.

After the second round of betting is over, it is time for the turn card to be dealt. The dealer burns another card and deals just one, face up, next to the flop cards. Based on the best possible 5 card hand, another betting round takes place.

Some common sense help on this game, or common tips would be to not fold on the first round. If you are the big or little blind you might as well sit out the flop and see what happens. If you’re not one of the blinds, you received two free cards anyway, so why not? Too many people fold right after the flop for no good reason. If the betting is too high, sure get out. But small betting lends itself to being worth waiting on at least the turn card.

Remember to keep a second table available so that your eliminated players can still play somewhere else. Buying back into a Texas Hold ‘Em game is a lot like one football team taking over for another after halftime; it’s just not fair. Having a second table gives “the losers” something to do until the next game starts.

Now that you have a very basic idea on how the game is played, you won’t look like a complete boob when Texas Hold ‘Em night comes around. Remember to watch other people and to start conservatively. Also remember not to “bet” more than you care to spend. Good luck!

Zeeman Haus enjoys writing articles online on a variety of subjects. You can check out his latest website on Folding Poker Table which provides reviews on Fat Cat, ChipsAndGames, Trademark Global and more.