Basic Strategy of Texas Hold'em

Series Summary

Poker has become an American pastime. The game has been around for centuries, and the popularity shows no signs of slowing down. It is a card game that is always evolving, and with the recent rise of online tournaments and tv programs, we still see the game of poker creating quite a following. Poker encompasses a wide variety of games from 5 Card Stud and Heinz 57 to Texas Hold ‘em. Each one of these has variations with different rules and strategies. In Texas Hold’em, players are dealt two cards each. The dealer begins to play a hand face-up on the table, and players go around betting, each trying to make the best hand with his or her two cards and any three cards from the table. This version of poker has become extremely popular with the birth of televised tournaments and celebrity playing.

In this free video series, expert Ernie Crespo will introduce you to the hands, lingo, positions, and strategies of Texas Hold 'em Poker. Invited to a poker night? Need the basics of Texas Hold 'em quick? Ernie has you covered. Take advantage of his professional experience and learn limit and no limit Texas Hold 'em. Find out about the flop, the turn, and the river, what "blinds" are, and when to keep your starting hand. Ernie gives you everything, including how to handle the final showdown.

Video Transcript

"Hi my name Ernie Crespo with Expert Village and today I'm going to teach you the fundamentals of Texas holdem. In this section I'm going to teach you about basic strategy. The purpose of Texas holdem is to make the best 5 card hand. Using your two community cards and any combination of three cards from the board. Or from using four cards from the board and one card from your hand making the best five card hand. In some instances using all five cards from the board and not using any of the cards in your hand. The five cards in the middle are considered community cards. Community cards mean that you share these cards with all of your players at the table. They also can make their best available five card hand using the exact same cards that you will be using. The only difference is that you have two undisclosed cards facing down that only you know. You may either have to make the best hand or bluff your way to the best hand, only you will know."