Texas Hold ‘Em for Novice Poker Players

If you want to start playing poker, you should teach yourself the rules of Texas No Limit Hold ‘Em Poker. Why? Simply because this is the most popular poker game today; from online casinos to Vegas, this is the poker game that everyone is playing. So, where do you start? Let’s go over the basics.

How to Know Your Score

Winning a poker game is all about having the strongest hand at the table. But how do you know if your hand is a strong one? That depends on the cards that you are holding. Basically, Ace is the highest scoring card, and 2 is the lowest. But there is more to it than that. There are many different varieties of hands. The highest scoring is the royal flush, or A,K,Q,J,10 in any suit. Get that hand, and you’re the winner. From there it goes down through straight flush to full house, three of a kind, pair, and a high card. You can learn more about the different poker hands here. Before you sit down at a table, memorize the different hand combinations. You cannot win a poker game if you can’t identify a winning hand!

The Rules of Texas Hold ‘Em

The rules of poker are quite simple. At first, the dealer will deal every player two cards. Texas Hold ‘Em begins with a blind, where two players to the left of the dealer place a bet before the cards are dealt. In other poker games, all players may place a bet before they see these cards, called the ante. Learn more about the differences in poker styles here. Next, the dealer lays out three cards face up on the table. These are community cards and this moment is called the flop. Now you know your five-card hand. You can choose to raise the bet, call the bet (bet the same), or fold your hand if it isn’t strong. Next comes a fourth card, known as the turn, followed by a round of betting. And after that there is a fifth and final card. This is the river. The last round of betting follows this card. Only thing left is to show your cards and find out if you’re the winner!