There are many types of poker and how to play them: the two most common ones are Texas Hold’em and Omaha. The Texas Hold’em we usually refer to is No Limit Texas Hold’em (NLHM). The playing methods are divided into regular tables (Cash, Cash Game), single table games (SNG) and multi-table tournaments (MTT). Although there are many types of poker, the basic poker rules are usually the same. So how to play poker card game Texas Hold’em, this article will share for you.
1. Texas Hold’em Ranking
There are two ways to win a hand of poker:
(1) bluff (“bluffing”, “stealing”) by betting or raising to force the opponent to fold.
(2) You have a higher card at showdown. After all the betting rounds are over, two or more players show their cards. Usually, you need to select the best 5 cards.
2. Basic knowledge: Hand and Community Cards (Flop, Turn, River)
In the game of “Texas Hold’em”, you will be dealt 2 cards that only you can use. Then, 5 community cards are dealt on the table. 3 flop cards, 1 turn card, and 1 river card are dealt in sequence. Everyone can combine these 5 public cards with their own 2 hand cards. Choose the best 5 cards from these 7 cards. If all betting rounds are over. When it comes to the final showdown, players will show their cards. The player with the largest 5 cards after the combination will win all the chips in the pot. Now let’s take a closer look at the most typical and popular poker game: the game structure of unlimited Texas Hold’em.
3. Poker Rules: Unlimited Texas Hold’em
1. Blinds
Before the cards are dealt, players must pay attention to who has the “button”. Commonly known as the “D position” or “dealer position”. In home games, the button position is usually the player who deals the cards. In professional poker games, the dealer is called the dealer. He does not use any hand. After each hand, the button moves to the next player on the left. The role of the button is to identify where each hand should start.
Before each hand is dealt, the player to the left of the button must bet a small blind. The player to the left of the small blind must bet one big blind. These “blinds” are forced bets that help give players a reason to bet and raise. Think about it: If there were no blinds in a poker game. Players would have no reason to bet at the beginning of the game, and they would not lose chips by always folding before the flop. Each player would want to wait until they got AA before starting to bet and participate in the game.
The size of the small blind and the big blind represents the size of the entire game. For example, if the small blind is $1 and the big blind is $2. We say this is a $1/2 game.
2. Preflop
After the blinds are cast, each player will receive 2 face-down cards. The order is that the small blind gets the first card, and then the cards are dealt to the remaining players in a clockwise direction. Preflop, the action starts from the left side of the big blind (often called the “under the gun” or UTG), and the player has three options:
Limp (match the big blind bet)
Raise (raise to an amount greater than or equal to 2 big blinds)
Fold (fold without losing chips)
The game proceeds clockwise from one player to the next, and each player can call the previous player’s bet, or choose to raise or fold.
Example 1: Assume the blinds are $1/$2, and the UTG player raises to $6. The player to his left has a strong hand and now wishes to re-raise. He must raise to at least $10. Because the difference between the initial raise ($6) and the first blind ($2) is $4, his raise must be $4 or more. Of course, he is free to raise any amount over $10, or even “all-in”.
Example 2: The blinds are $1/$2, and the UTG player raises to $6 (Open). The player to his left raises to $18 (3-bet). Now, the difference between the current raise and the previous bet is $12 ($18-$6 = $12). Therefore, if any other player wants to re-raise (4-bet), the minimum bet will be $30. Note that usually, the raise will be much larger than the minimum.
If there is no raise before the flop, and the player just calls the big blind. Then the big blind player can choose to check. Because his $2 is already in the pot) or raise. If he wants to put more chips into the pot. In this case, the big blind player has no reason to fold.
The game always proceeds clockwise. Until all players have put the same chips into the pot, then the next stage begins.
3. Flop
The three-card community hand is dealt, called the “flop”. As mentioned above, all players can use these community cards together with their own cards to make the best five-card hand.
The game continues with a round of betting, starting with the first player to the left of the button who still has cards in hand.
The first player to act can check or bet.
If other players have already bet, then you can:
(1) Call (match the size of their bet);
(2) Raise; increase the size of the current bet by at least 2 times or make up the difference between the previous and current bets.
(3) Fold; give up your hand and previous bet without investing any additional chips.
Note: Betting is usually done for the following three reasons:
A. Value Bet: Induce weak hands to call and win more value. Value bets also have a protective effect, preventing opponents from easily drawing cards and overtaking.
B. Semi-Bluff: When you are waiting for a card (draw a flower or a straight), you can bet.
Increase the size of the pot, and you will win a bigger pot when you draw.
Force your opponent to fold now and win the current pot directly.
C. Bluff: Knowing that your hand strength is weaker than your opponent, you still bet or raise, hoping that your opponent will fold.
4. Turn
After the betting of the flop is completed. Another public card will be issued, called the “turn”. The players on the scene can combine 2 hand cards and 4 public cards to combine the largest 5 cards.
Bet again, starting with the first player who has not folded to the left of the dealer button. Proceed in a clockwise direction. When all remaining players have acted, the betting round ends. The amount invested by each player in the pot must be equal.
5. River
Now the fifth public card is issued, which is the last public card. We call it the “River”. All available cards have now been dealt (2 hand cards and 5 community cards). The remaining players must determine their highest 5 cards. Next comes the final round of betting. After the betting is completed, it is time for the showdown.
6. Showdown
During the showdown, players show their cards in turn. The player with the highest 5 cards wins and gets all the chips in the pot. The button (dealer) will move to the next player on the left. Then the next hand begins.
Note: There are specific rules about the order of the showdown
A. If everyone checks in the last round of betting, the player to the left of the button will show first, and then show in clockwise order. If your hand is no longer able to win, you can also choose to throw the cards face down into the pot (Muck). This is to avoid revealing more information to your opponent. If you can’t judge the size of your cards, it is better to show your cards. Let the dealer decide who wins.
B. If someone bets (or raises) and is called, then the last player to bet (or raise) will show first. Show your cards in clockwise order.
C. Although these are the rules for showdown, sometimes if a player believes that his hand will definitely win, he can turn over the cards immediately, which is also acceptable.
Summary
Appropriate gambling and entertainment can enrich your leisure time, but remember not to indulge in poker games. I hope this blog can help you learn more about how to play poker card game Texas Hold’em well.
