How to Play Texas Hold’em Poker: Holdem Rules & Hands

Texas Hold’em is one of the most popular poker variants. The game is known for its simplicity and ease of playing. Whether it's a poker night with friends or a tournament with massive GTD, learning Texas Holdem is essential.

This article will help beginners learn the basics and experienced players sharpen their skills. It will explain everything you need to get started: the game's simple rules, gameplay, hand rankings, and some tricks to win the game.

Ready to up your poker game? Let's dive in and win more hands!

Texas Hold’em History: How the Game Became a Poker Sensation.

The origin of Texas Hold’em is unclear. Some say the game started in Robstown, Texas, in the early 1900s. Another claim suggests that T. Blondie Forbes, a gambler, created it in the 1920s. Even players have their own story. Johnny Moss first saw it in Dallas in 1926, while Doyle Brunson knew it as “Hold Me Darling” in Texas in the 1950s.

The game was popularised in Las Vegas as Texas Hold’em during the 1960s, starting at the Golden Nugget casino. It became even more popular after the tournament at the Dunes casino in 1969 and was included in the WSOP in 1970. Since 1971, the game has been the primary event at the WSOP.

The objective of Texas Hold’em.

The goal of Texas Hold’em is to make the best five-card hand. You use the two dealt hole cards and five community cards to make the best hand and win.

What is Texas Hold’em poker?

Texas Hold’em is the most popular poker variant around the world. It is played by two to ten players using a 52-card deck. Each player receives two face-down cards that only they can see, known as “hole cards.” Then, five community cards are distributed face-up on the table in three rounds. All players can use these five cards, along with their two-hole cards, to create their best combination. The aim is to form the best possible five-card hand at the showdown or to convince other players to fold their hands. This poker variant is featured in several tournaments, including the World Series of Poker (WSOP).

Texas Hold’em Poker Rules (Step-by-Step Guide)

There are specific Texas Hold'em rules that you need to remember to make this game fun and challenging:

• The Deal: Each player receives two face-down cards, known as hole cards, from the dealer. The dealer deals five face-up cards at the centre of the table in three stages over multiple betting rounds, known as the community cards.

• The Betting Rounds:

1. Pre-Flop: You get two hole cards and decide whether to bet, call, raise, or fold.
2. Flop: The first three community cards are dealt, and betting continues.
3. Turn: The fourth community card is revealed, which leads to more strategic decisions.
4. River: The last community card is dealt, followed by the last betting round.

• The Gameplay: All the players use these community cards and their hole cards to make their best possible 5-card Texas Hold’em hand to win the pot.

• Players can form any combination to make their highest-ranking 5-card hand. They can combine their 2-hole cards with three community cards and use their 1-hole cards with four or no-hole cards.

• Players can keep their hole cards aside and use only the community cards if the community cards make the best five-card hand. 

• If all the players fold their cards and only one player is left, the remaining player wins the pot without going through a showdown.

• This is why a player without holding strong hands can still win the pot by bluffing and making all their opponents fold their better hands.

• When two or more players reach the showdown after completing the last betting round, there is only one way to win the pot: by forming the highest-ranking 5-card hand.

How to Play Texas Hold’em Poker?

If you are new to Texas Hold’em, we are here to help you. You can learn how to play Texas Hold’em with these simple steps.

Step 1: The buttons

In poker, a player’s turn to act moves around the table in a clockwise direction beginning from the dealer’s left. It is guided by a small round disc called the dealer’s “button,” which is placed on a player’s front side and shifts from one player’s left to another. 

In casinos, the players with the dealer button do not distribute the cards like in home games with friends and family. Instead, a professional dealer manages that part. Still, the button plays a vital role in revealing the player who is supposed to begin the action and helps keep the order of play fair since that changes with every hand. The button decides the first player to act as the dealer on the poker table.

The two players sitting next to the dealer buttons left have to place forced bets called the ‘Small blind’ and the ‘Big Blind.’ These bets start the pot and ensure there is something to play for in every hand.

Once the blinds are placed, the betting rounds begin, and the game moves through four main stages:

• Preflop: Preflop is the stage that occurs before the community cards are placed on the table.
• Flop: The first three community cards are placed face up on the table during the flop round
• Turn: The fourth community card is placed face up on the table, known as the turn.
• River: River is the fifth and final community card dealt face up on the table

The dealer button not only decides who places the small blinds and big blinds, but also from where the cards will start dealing. The first card always goes to the small blind (the first player to the left of the button), and from there, one card is dealt at a time clockwise to each player until everyone has two hole cards in hand.

Step 2: The blinds

Before the new game begins, two players from the table must raise the small and big blinds. The blind are the forced bets that start the wagering. 

In a poker tournament, you will notice that blinds are raised at regular intervals. In a cash game, the blinds remain the same. 

The small blind is generally half the bigger blind. As the number of players decreases, the blinds must keep increasing throughout the tournament.

Texas Hold’em Betting Rounds

Step 1: First betting round - Preflop

The first betting round begins once the two-hole cards are distributed to all the players. The first player to commence the game is the player sitting to the Big Blind’s left, commonly known as “Under the Gun”. The player seated in this position has three options: 

• Call: Call means to match the amount bet by the player sitting in the big blind position
• Raise: Raise means to increase the betting amount within the limits of the game
• Fold: Fold means to discard your hand for a particular round

When a player folds, they are out of the game for that particular round and cannot claim the pot for that hand. The minimum opening raise a player should make in a No-limit Texas Hold’em game is twice the amount placed by the Big Blind. For example, consider if the big blind bets 100 ₹, the minimum raise will be 200 ₹, and the maximum raise can be “all-in”.

Once the player sitting in the ‘under the gun’ position completes the betting, the game continues around the table clockwise. All the other players have the same three options to select: call, raise, or fold, and they can make decisions based on the strength of their hands.

Once the last bet is up, this round is over, and we move to the next round, “The Flop.”

Step 2: Second betting round - The flop

During this round, the first three community cards are dealt, and the player sitting left of the button starts the game. 

Along with the options to call, bet, fold, and raise, players also get the option to “check.” A check means passing the action to the next active player.

The betting continues until the last bet or raise is called.

Step 3: Third betting round - The turn

The fourth community card, “the turn”, is dealt face-up. Players can check, bet, call, fold or raise. Once done, the game continues and calls for a final betting round.

Step 4: Final betting round - The river

Following all betting action on the Turn, the fifth community card is dealt face-up. In the same manner as the previous street of play, a new round of betting begins.

Once again, the players can check, bet, call, fold, or raise.

Upon completing all betting action, the remaining players with hole cards reveal their holdings. It is called the showdown.

Step 5: The showdown

At this stage, all the remaining players reveal their cards, and a winning hand is determined. The player with the best five combinations of cards wins the pot.

Texas Hold’em Poker Hands Rankings

Poker hand rankings will help you determine the strength of your hand and what action you should take. Here is the list of hand rankings in poker:

• Royal Flush: This is the highest-ranking hand, which consists of 5 cards of the same suit, ranging from ace to 10. For example, A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠.
• Straight Flush: This hand includes any five cards of the same suit in numerical order. For example, J♦ 10♦ 9♦ 8♦ 7♦.
• Four of a Kind: The hand with four cards of the same rank. For example, 10♦ 10♠ 10♥ 10♦ K♣.
• Full House: The hand with three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank. For example, K♥ K♦ K♠ 6♣ 6♥.
• Flush: This hand contains five cards of the same suit. For example, K♥ J♥ 9♥ 5♥ 3♥.
• Straight: The hand with five cards in numerical order, regardless of the suit. For example, 7♥ 6♦ 5♣ 4♠ 3♦.
• Three of a Kind: This hand contains three cards of the same rank. For example, A♠ A♥ A♦ 9♣ 6♠.
• Two Pair: This hand contains two different pairs. For example, Q♣ Q♠ 10♥ 10♦ 7♣.
• Pair: The hand with two cards of the same rank. For example, J♠ J♦ 8♥ 6♣ 4♥.
• High Card: This is the lowest-ranking hand used when no other hand combinations are present. The player with the highest card in the hand is declared the winner. For example, K♦ 10♣ 7♥ 5♠ 2♣. 

Different Types of Texas Hold’em Poker Games

Here are the different types of Texas Hold’em poker games:

No Limit Texas Hold’em

It is the most popular Texas Hold’em variation. It is often featured in significant events and tournaments. As the name suggests, the number of bets is unlimited. You can bet and raise the total number of chips you have.

Limit Hold’em

As the name suggests, you bet a fixed amount. Let's say you are playing ₹5/₹10 limit game; the maximum bet you can make during the first two rounds of pre-flop betting would be ₹5, which shall increase to ₹10 for the last two rounds.

Pot Limit Texas Hold’em

In Pot Limit Texas, the betting limit is fixed throughout the game. You can bet any amount of chips up to the size of the pot.

Mixed Texas Hold’em

This variation alternates between No Limit Hold’em, Pot-limit Hold’em, and fixed limit Hold’em. For example, you can play limit in pre-flop, pot limit on the flop, and no limit on the Turn and River.

Short Deck Hold’em

In this variation, the deck is reduced to 36 cards. All the cards lower than six are removed, making the deck shorter, which results in changes in the poker hand rankings. However, the gameplay and the betting stay the same.

Double Flop Hold’em

This variation includes two separate boards of community cards. Using the two boards, you must make the best five-card hand.

Texas Hold’em Strategy: Pro Tips to Win More Hands.

Here are the winning strategies of Texas Hold’em:

Starting Hands

Try to play with premium starting hands, such as pairs of Aces, Kings, Queens, and Jacks. Playing with lower-ranking cards can cost you a lot. Play with strong hands and play aggressively.

Position

Your position at the table is crucial. You will benefit the most when you play from the last position, as you will have access to more information. Playing from an early position can be risky, as you have less information.

Bet Sizing

Betting is another crucial key that can help you win or lose the game. Bet aggressively only when you have a strong hand; otherwise, play safe and check or fold.

Learn Pot Odds

Pot odds are the ratio of the pot size to the bet size. The pot odds help you determine whether the call is profitable based on the current pot or not. You can even compare the pot odds with the winning hand.

Never Limp

Excess of limping shows that you have a weak hand. Instead, try to call or fold if you have a weak hand. Limping lets opponents see the flop easily and cheaply, resulting in more players post-flop. You lose control of the pot and might lose the game, too.

Table Selection

Look for tables with weak players who play too many hands in online games. Similarly, avoid playing on tables where your opponents match your skills or play better than you—table selection comes when you have the abovementioned strategies.

Beginner vs. Advanced Strategies

• Beginner Strategies: Focus on playing premium hands, understanding the position, and practising proper bet sizing. Avoid bluffing and prioritise strong hands to reduce mistakes.
• Advanced Strategies: Being an experienced player, you should read opponents, track their moves, and adapt strategies based on the player type. You can also try strategic bluffing.

Texas Hold’em Winning Tips and Tricks

Master Texas Holdem strategy with expert poker tips on bankroll management, hand selection, and betting techniques:

Be Patient & Play Selective Hands

Be patient and wait for the good hands. Aggressive playing can cost you a lot, and you may lose all your money.

Observe & Adapt to Opponents

Ideal players always observe and analyse their opponents, gameplay, and strategies. Based on the analysis, you can make your strategies and win.

Manage Your Bankroll Effectively

Set the highest value on your bankroll and stick to it. It will help you lose less. Avoid chasing losses; fold when you think you are losing more than expected. It will save your bankroll.

Know When to Fold

Fold when you are unsure about your hand. There is no point sticking to a hand when uncertain, whether you will win or lose all your money.

Best Texas Hold’em Starting Hands

To win poker, you should know the good and the bad starting hands. Here are some of the best poker starting hands:

What is a Kicker in Texas Hold’em?

A kicker is an extra card that can help decide the winner. When there is a tie, the player with the highest kicker wins.

How is Omaha different from Texas Hold’em?

Here are the key differences between the two versions of the poker game:

Texas Hold’em Betting Structures

Here are the different types of pot limits:

• Limit: You cannot increase or decrease the betting amount as it is fixed.
• No Limit: You can bet any amount throughout the game.
• Pot Limit: The maximum betting amount is limited to the pot size.
• Mixed Texas Holdem: A game alternating between Limit, No limit, and pot limit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the Difference Between Texas Hold'em and Other Poker Variants?

The primary difference is the number of hole cards. In Texas Hold’em, you get two hole cards, whereas in variants like Omaha, you get four hole cards.

What are the best starting hands in Texas Hold’em?

Pocket Aces are the best starting hand in Texas Hold’em.

What are the rules of Texas Hold’em?

In Texas Hold’em, each player is dealt two hole cards, followed by five community cards dealt face-up in three stages.

Players aim to make the best five-card poker hand using any combination of their hole and community cards.

Where Can I Play Texas Hold’em Online for Free or Real Money?

You can play Texas Hold’em on Adda52. The platform provides a seamless gaming experience. You can even create a private table and invite your friends.

Conclusion

Understanding the rules, poker hand rankings, informed decision-making, and strategic gameplay can help you succeed in Texas Hold’em. Implementing the tips and strategies you have acquired from this guide will allow you to improve your gameplay. 

By now, you must have been prepared to experience the thrill of the most popular poker variant, Texas Hold’em! 

Join Adda52 today, call your friends, challenge them, and sharpen your strategies. The more you play, the better you get at making winning moves!