Texas Holdem Poker Rules
Texas Holdem poker rules are very simple and involve only two hole cards. With no-limit Texas Holdem being known as the “Cadillac of Poker,” Texas Holdem is the most popular and most played poker game in the world. Many attribute this to the fact that Texas Holdem is played in the World Series of Poker and many other world famous tournaments. Learning how to play Texas Holdem is not difficult, and gaining an understanding of some basic Texas Holdem rules will have you playing in no time.
Types of Texas Holdem Games
Fixed Limit Texas Holdem
Fixed Limit Texas Holdem is a game where the amount a player can bet or raise is fixed, and therefore cannot be changed. If $20 is the fixed betting limit, then everybody will have to bet $20. In this case, raising will also only be possible with $20. The betting structure is typically divided into two different bet sizes during a hand. A smaller bet for preflop and flop, with a bet double that size for the turn and river.
For example, in a $2/$4 fixed limit Texas Holdem game, there is a $1 small blind, a $2 big blind, then action begins after that. The next player to act may call the $2 bet, or raise another $2, making the total bet $4. However, on the turn card, the first bet would be $4, and for a player to raise, the raising player would have to add another $4, making the total bet $8.
No Limit Texas Holdem
No Limit Texas Holdem is a betting structure where a player can bet or raise the amount of chips that is in front of him. The minimum bet must be equivalent to the big blind or the last bet, but other than that, there is limit to the amount that a player can bet at any given time, as long as it does not exceed the number of chips that the player has in front of them. Players may not reach into their pockets to make a larger bet. The bet is capped at the amount that they have on the table. This is known as “table stakes.”
Spread Limit Texas Holdem
Spread Limit Texas Holdem is a ridiculous game that is typically played only in states that have laws against playing No-Limit Texas Holdem. This type of betting structure allows players to bet anywhere between the “spread” at any given time. The stakes for these games are typically low, and prevent players from going all-in.
Pot Limit Texas Holdem
Playing a Pot Limit Texas Holdem game has the rule that a player can only bet or raise to the amount of chips of the pot money at the time that a bet or raise is made. If the pot is $15, the bet or raise can be as much as $15. Many people know how to play Texas Holdem poker, but fail to play well in a Pot Limit Texas Holdem game.
There is a secret formula to calculating the pot quickly and that is to take the last bet, multiply is by 3, and add any other money that is in the pot, including other players that may have limped into the pot or raised prior to the bet that you are raising.
How to Play Texas Holdem
It will only take a couple of minutes to learn how to play Texas Holdem. First of all you will need several items: a 52-Card Deck, Poker Chips, 2-20 Players and a dealer button. The rules of Texas Holdem are as follows:
- The 2 players to the left of the dealer put out blind bets. This means they place a “forced bet”, because they didn’t see the card yet when they put in the bet. The closest player to the dealer’s left places a smaller bet called the “small blind,” while the player two places to the left puts in the “big blind.”
- All players get two cards, dealt face down. These cards are called pocket or hole cards. How to play the Texas Holdem poker cards, is what you will learn after learning the basic Texas Holdem poker rules.
- The first move, also called ‘action’ starts with the player to the left of the big blind. This player can call, raise or fold. The betting round continues clockwise.
- After the round of betting, the dealer deals three cards face up in the center of the poker table, also called the ‘board’. These three cards are called the ‘flop’. The cards are community cards and everyone can use the cards in combination with their pocket cards to create the best possible hand.
- A fourth community card is dealt face up on the board, called ‘fourth street’ or the ‘turn card’.
- Another betting round occurs.
- The fifth and final card is dealt face up on the board, also called ‘fifth street’ or the ‘river’.
- The final betting round takes place. All active players show each other their cards and the one who can make the best five card hand by combining pocket cards and community cards wins the round.
Differences in Online Texas Holdem vs Live Texas Holdem
Many people believe that there aren’t any differences between online Texas Holdem and live Texas Holdem. This is however not completely true. Even though the basic Texas Holdem rules are the same, there are some important differences, mostly concerning the strategy of the players.
First of all, internet Texas Holdem games have short playing sessions. This means that players constantly move in and out of the Texas Holdem poker games, due to the 24/7 availability of the games. Players sit down to play a few hands and then leave again. There is little time to discover the strategy of your opponents. On the other hand, your opponents also don’t get to learn much about your strategy, which could work in your advantage. Perhaps you know how to play Texas Holdem well and they don’t know how to play Texas Holdem at all!
An important difference between the live and internet Texas Holdem game are the internet distractions. Many players do something else while they are sitting on your table, like watching television, eating or play at a different poker table at the same time. Therefore, players are less focused and more inclined to make mistakes. Use these distractions of other players in your favor and don’t get distracted yourself but stay focused on your game.
Another difference is the virtual environment of internet Texas Holdem. You’re playing against nicknames instead of faces. Since players don’t need to have a great poker face many players bluff and pretend they know how to play Texas Holdem better on the internet than in live games. Keep that in mind when your playing internet Texas Holdem.
Where to Play Texas Holdem Online
There are numerous poker sites with Texas Holdem:
- Pokerstars
- Bovada Poker (US friendly)