Texas Hold'em
Texas Hold'em
Texas Holdem has in recent times become the most popular poker game type. It is played with two hole cards and five community cards. These cards are visible to all players and each tries to make the best hand possible using their two hole cards and the community cards displayed on the table.
There are three common variations of Texas Holdem all of which are on offer at PDCPoker.com. These are defined by their respective betting limits and are No Limit, Limit and Pot Limit.
Betting in Pot Limit is restricted to the size of the pot and in Limit bets are restricted to specific amount in each game and in each round of betting.
Basic Play
Typically there are 10 steps in a complete hand of Holdem. These are;
- Blind Bets
- Deal - each player is dealt 2 cards
- First betting round
- The Flop - the first three community cards are dealt
- Second betting round
- The Turn - the fourth community card is dealt
- Third betting round
- The River - the final community card is dealt
- Final betting round
- Showdown
The Dealer
Texas Holdem makes use of a small disc with a 'D' depicted on it to identify which player is the dealer. After each hand is played out, this disc and the dealer position is rotated clockwise one position. This is so the blinds and playing positions (which convey considerable advantage) are shared.
Note: In single table tournaments the dealer is initially decided by a high card. Each player is being dealt one card face up. If there are two players with a card of equal rank, it is then determined according to suit - spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs.
The Blind Bets
The two players left of the dealer are required to post the small and big blind respectively. The small blind is half the lower stake limit; where as the big blind is equal to the lower stake limit. The big blind is also the size of the minimum bet.
Blinds are utilized to force the betting action. As a result both blinds are considered to be live bets, and hence the big blind is able to check in addition to raising the bet, calling and folding.
When a player sits down at an active table they have the option of waiting until the big blind comes around to join the play, or alternatively they can post the initial blind (called IB in the client) and joint the next dealt hand. The initial blind is equivalent to the big blind. In addition to prevent blind abuse such as players switching seats or sitting out, a player is required to post the small and big blinds upon re entry if both blinds are missed.
The obligatory posting of the blinds is to ensure fairness and to prevent players from joining in late position and then leaving before having to pay the big blind or from switching seats.
First Betting Round
After the cards have been dealt, the player sitting to the left of the big blind leads off with the first round of betting. They may call, raise, or fold. To call is to bet the same as the previous player - in this instance the big blind. If a player folds, their cards are mucked and they will sit out until next hand.
The Second Betting Round
The second betting round commences after the first three community cards - referred to as the 'Flop' are dealt face up on the table. The second round of betting starts with the player left of the dealer (the small blind). The once again have the option to bet, check or fold. Checking is to refrain from placing a bet, and a player can only check if no bet has previously been placed in the round.
The Third Betting Round
The third betting round starts after the Turn (when the fourth community card has been dealt).
The third betting round begins after the next community card has been dealt. This card is commonly known as the 'Turn'. This betting round is carried out in exactly the same was as the previous round.
The Final Betting Round
The final round of betting takes place after the River, (the final community card) has been dealt. Once again it takes place in the same method and format as the previous two rounds.
The Showdown
After the final round of betting takes place, any remaining players will now display their hands to determine who wins. This starts with the player left of the dealer. If they are deemed to hold the winning hand, any subsequent players have the option to muck their cards. This means that they will throw them in and admit defeat without showing their cards.
If any players have the same hand, then the pot will be split equally amongst them.
Betting Exceptions
In a game of Limit Holdem, there is a maximum of four bets allowed per player in any given betting round - (1) bet, (2) raise, (3) re-raise, (4) cap). In No Limit and Pot Limit Holdem there is no limit to the amount of bets a player may make in a given betting round.
A player is declared all in if they do not have the amount of chips required to call the bet. This player is eligible only for the portion of the pot that contains their chips. Any further bets by other players go into a side pot which any players declared all in are not able to win.
See poker hands, for card rankings and definitions.
