Texas Holdem is one of the world’s most popular versions of poker games. Over 100 million people in the world play poker. Most of these punters choose Texas Holdem as their favorite.
Gamers with basic poker rules at their fingertips don’t find learning Texas Holdem rules difficult. The game uses a 52-card deck without the joker. The main aim of this game is to collect as many chips as possible throughout the many rounds.
So, what are the rules, and how do you start playing Texas Holdem Poker?
Rules of Texas Holdem Poker
In this poker variant, one player becomes the dealer. However, the role rotates after every hand (clockwise). Players place bets in clockwise order starting with the player on the dealer’s left.
Every hand in Texas Holdem has four stages. There is a betting round after every stage. However, before these stages, two players must make mandatory bets. The player on the dealer’s left posts a small blind. Next, the player to the left of the first player posts a big blind, double the value of the small blind.
Then the four stages in Texas Holdem start. They include:
- Preflop
At the start of the game, all players get two cards, face down. These cards are also known as hole cards. After all the players get the two cards, a betting round starts. Players have the option to check, bet, or fold.
Players place bets until the round comes back to the player who made the big blind. Now, the player can fold, raise or check since the big blind counts as the opening bet. If all players folded, matched others’ numbers, or put in all the chips and checked, the round ends.
- Flop
The dealer removes one card from the game and then deals three cards face up. Players playing in this round make their next move depending on the quality of hand they can create. Players create a hand using the hole cards, two community cards (incoming), and three flop cards.
- The Turn or Fourth Street
This round starts with the dealer removing one card. They continue by adding the next card from the deck to the three cards facing upwards from the flop.
The remaining players make the next move. They make the best hand possible from the hole cards, a potential fifth card, and four community cards.
- The River or Fifth Street
Here, the dealer deals with the final community card (the 5th). This action marks the end of possible options players had to construct the best hand in all the rounds.
The Showdown
Once the final round ends, the game ends with the player who has the best hand. It must be a five-card hand. It’s formed using the hole and the five community cards the dealer placed in the middle of the table. If there are identical hands, the pot is divided equally between the players with the best hands.
Texas Holdem rules in a casino are not hard to follow. If players follow them, the game becomes more interesting to play. However, before starting on a game of Texas Holdem, it’s essential to know how the poker hands rank.
Ranking of Poker Hands
Below is a breakdown of poker hands in Texas Holdem:
Five of a Kind (not using the standard deck) – This is ranked as the highest hand in a game of Texas Holdem. A player has this hand if they have at least one wild card (joker). For example, a player with four 10s and a joker or three jokers and two queens have five of a kind.
Straight Flush – There are no joker cards (or wild cards) when using the standard deck of cards. Therefore, straight flushes include five cards of a similar suit.
Four of a Kind – This is also considered a high hand. Players with a four of a kind have four similar cards. A good example is four threes or four aces.
Full House – This hand is colorful hand in Texas Holdem. The hand consists of three cards in a similar rank and two in another rank. For example, three eights and two fours.
Flush – Unlike the straight flush, cards in this hand are all of a similar suit but not in a sequence. For example, all five cards have to be clubs.
Straight – Players with a 9, 8, 7, 6, and 5 (in sequence) but of different suits is a straight.
Three of a Kind – In the Texas Holdem poker rules, this hand combines three cards in similar rank. However, the other two cards are of different ranks. For example, seven, four, and three jacks.
Two Pairs – Two pairs include a pair of similar rank and another of a different rank. Also, the same hand includes a 5th card ranked differently. For example, Q, Q, 7, 7, 4.
One Pair – In this combination, the cards include one pair of cards of similar rank. The other three are of different ranks.
Conclusion
Texas Holdem is not a complicated game, and thus it is popular worldwide. Playing by the basic poker and Texas Holdem rules means punters can win big in online casinos. Rules act as guidelines ensuring all players win fair and square.
