How to play Texas Hold'em Poker

If you like Poker, then here is a variation on the traditional game. You'll learn how to deal a game of Texas Hold'em Poker, and learn playing and betting strategy as well as Poker basics and rules. Bring your poker faces and munchies and lay it all on the line!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• a deck of cards
• playing chips
• a few good friends

1. The Basics
   Overview: In straight poker, five cards are dealt to each player from a deck of 52 cards. In Texas Hold'em Poker, only two cards are dealt and the other three come from a shared set of five cards. The five common cards are face up while the first two cards are kept face down, your little secret. It is the combination of the two secret cards and three common cards of a player's choosing that make for the hand.

2. The Process
   1. The dealer (who may be a player in your private game) deals two cards to each player. There is no limit to the number of players, as long as it isn't more than 23 - do the math. Everyone places an initial bet. This can be any amount, as long as everyone ends up betting the highest amount. See the tips and warnings section for more on betting.
   2. The dealer discards the first card and then lays down three cards face up. These are the "flop" cards. Another round of betting is made by all who wish to continue playing.
   3. After discarding a card, the dealer then lays down the fourth or the "turn" card. The turn card signals whether your luck has turned for the better or the worse. Another round of betting is opened.
   4. Again, the dealer discards a card and puts down the final card, or the "river" card. The river card is a player's last chance or it's down the river he or she goes. A final bet is placed by all who wish to continue playing.
   5. Then, all players reveal their two cards. The winner is determined and takes the pot.

3. The Strategy
   How to know if you have a good hand: First, a person needs to know the hierarchy of winning sequences, which are as follows:
   1. Straight Flush - five (5) cards of the same suit in numerical sequence. The highest flush possible is called a Royal Flush consisting of an Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten (10).
   2. Four of a Kind - four (4) cards that are the same in rank, regardless of suit.
   3. Full House - a combination of three (3) cards that are the same in rank and two (2) cards that are the same in rank, regardless of suit.
   4. Flush - Five (5) cards of the same suit, but not in any particular sequence.
   5. Straight - Five (5) cards in sequence, regardless of suit.
   6. Three of a Kind - Three (3) cards that are the same in rank, regardless of suit.
   7. Two pairs - Two (2) sets of two cards that are matched in rank, but not suit.
   8. One pair - Two cards that are matched in rank, regardless of suit.
   9. No pair - Nothing, zip, zero, nada.
   In any of the above cases, if there are two or more players with the same type of hand, a card for card comparison is used to determine the winner. The hand with the highest ranking cards wins.
   
   There are statistics that show the odds of getting any of these hands, but basically, the lower down the list a hand is, the higher the chances of encountering this hand.
   
   Now that the hierarchy is established, how do you know if you should keep a hand or fold? When the two cards are dealt to you, if they are Aces, Kinds, Queens, Jacks, or Tens, feel confident in possibly winning. Many times, a person will get dealt a pair right off the bat or find a pair when the flop cards are dealt. Just because a person doesn't have the cards I just mentioned, doesn't mean that he or she can't win. If you get dealt two cards of the same suit, I would definitely keep them until the flop cards are dealt and even after the turn card is dealt, especially if you match two other cards of the same suit in either the flop or turn cards, for a possible flush. Yet, always keep in mind that there should be a back up plan. Have two combinations that you could use, like a pair and/or a possible flush for example. If no other plan exists, then get ready to bluff. (see tips on betting and bluffing)

Tips & Warnings

• Betting and Bluffing When betting, a player can "call", which means betting an equal amount as the highest bet. Also, a player can "raise" a bet, meaning increasing the bet. Lastly, a player can "pass", meaning not making a bet, just as long as others also pass. Bets must either match or be raised. Lastly, to "fold" is to give up one's cards and cease playing. At any time, a player can bet all his chips. "All in" is the term and at that point, the player reveals his or her two cards, stands up, and play continues. Standing up shows confidence, makes the player slightly menacing, relieves nerves, and/or facilitates a quick getaway if he or she loses it all! "All in" happens when a player wants to win big and has an unbeatable hand. This is a good strategy to build chips up if a player is down. Also, a player may have a lousy hand and use an "all in" to bluff the other player into folding. The bluffer must show extreme confidence. Sometimes though, the bluff ends in the bluffer going down the river.