Texas Hold’em Game Guide

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Your Guide to Texas Hold’em

Texas Hold’em is without a doubt one of the most popular versions of Poker on the planet. As the focus for most of the biggest Poker tournaments in the world, it has gained almost mythical status amongst players. It does seem to have a reputation for being a game that’s hard to learn though. That’s why a lot of beginner players require a guide in order to get up to speed with how the game is played.

Fortunately, we have you covered. We’ve put together the ultimate guide that will help first time players get used to playing Texas Hold’em. You’ll be ready to bluff with the best of them by the time you’ve finished with us. 

Everything You Need To Know

We’re going to go over the basics of Texas Hold’em and offer you a few tips to help you improve your game. Just take a look through our detailed guide and you’ll be all ready to start playing Texas Hold’em. Here’s what we’re going to cover in our guide:

• A basic rundown of a game
• Terms you need to know and what they mean
• Tips to make you a better player
• Can you play online?
• Is it the best Poker variant

Basic Rundown of a Game

The game starts by choosing who will be the dealer for the hand. This is set out by a button which will be placed next to the dealing player. The player who is immediately clockwise of the dealer has to place a bet for the next hand, this is called the “small blind“. Once this has been placed the player clockwise on from them will have to place a bet called the “big blind“. 

Both of the blind bets are forced bets that players have to make. The big blind is usually twice the size of the small blind, but depending on how far into the game you are and the various betting ranges that have been applied, this might change. 

Once this has been carried out every player is dealt two cards. These cards are kept secret by the player who receives them, so they are dealt out face down. The dealing starts with the player clockwise from the big blind. All players will now have the chance to place more bets based on the quality of these two cards.

Once every player has made their betting choice the dealer will now deal out three cards face up into the middle of the table. These cards can be used to combine with the two cards that each player has to make the best possible hand. They are known as community cards.

There is now another betting round followed by another card being added to the community cards in the middle. After this one final card will be added to the middle, making five in total, and another betting round follows. 

If more than one player is left after this betting round then the showdown starts. Here is where players will show their cards and whoever has the best hand will win what is in the pot. Once this is over another hand will begin, with the dealer button moving clockwise so that everyone has a turn as the dealer and the blinds. 

Terms you Need to Know and what they Mean

There might be some terms that you come across when playing Texas Hold’em that you’re not completely familiar with. We’ve covered some of the most common out there so that you can play the game without having to worry about what things mean. 

• All in – This is a phrase that is used when a player wagers the rest of their bankroll on a betting round. If they go all in before the final betting round then they won’t be able to win the whole pot if they have the best hand, just the pot that they contributed to.
• Blinds – These are bets that players are forced to place in order to stay in the game. Blinds rotate around the table so everyone has to be blind at some point. It’s to make sure that players don’t just refrain from betting on every hand until they have a good hand and to ensure everyone gets involved in the game.
• Bluff – To pretend you have a hand better than what you have. This is mainly used to scare an opponent into folding when you think they have a better hand than you do.
• Call – To place a bet that is the same as the last bet that was placed.
• Flop – When the first three cards are dealt into the middle
• Fold – To give up your hand instead of joining in the betting round. 
• Raise – To bet more than the current betting amount
• River – The last of the five cards dealt into the middle
• Turn – The fourth card that is dealt into the middle. Sometimes known as “fourth street”.

There are lots of other terms out there that you will learn as you become more experienced with the game, but this small list should help you to get started on your Texas Hold’em journey. 

Tips to Make you a Better Player

There are lots of different Texas Hold’em strategy guides out there that are incredibly detailed. However, this won’t help new players too much when they first get started. It’s best to learn how the game works for a bit before jumping into deeper strategies to improve your playing. That doesn’t mean you can’t take a few tips on board when you first start playing though. We’ve put together a few tips that will help you be a better player, without having to remember huge amounts of strategy. 

Manage your Bankroll

This is something that many players fail to do. They jump right into the game and start betting big right from the off. It’s a big mistake that will cause you to be out of the game very quickly, especially if you’re not quite sure of how to play comfortably. Be sensible with your stakes and don’t start raising the pot too high when you first start. Take things slowly and you will soon start to get a feel for how the game works. Once you’re more comfortable then perhaps you can start to take a few more risks, but at first, take it slow and steady.

Know when to Fold

Lots of players who are new to Texas Hold’em tend to stay in the game right to the end as often as they can. This is not a good tactic and definitely won’t help you to manage your bankroll. If you have been dealt a bad hand then don’t be afraid to fold. It will help you to keep your bankroll and live to fight another day. The best players in the world fold when the time is right, so there’s no shame in doing so. 

Watch how Other Players Play

This is a really simple one. Just keep an eye out for what the other players do. You’ll soon start to pick up some of the finer details of the game this way. Even if you’re playing online, you can still take notice of how other players bet. Watch the players that win and you will soon start to learn how the game is played and how you can start to win more often. Learning from others is often the best way to pick up a new skill and it’s no different with Texas Hold’em. 

Can you Play Online?

This is a very simple question to answer, yes you can. There are a number of different Texas Hold’em games available at different online casinos. These usually work by linking up different players who are all looking to play at the same time. The table will then be set up and the players will play against each other. 

The one advantage that this has as opposed to playing in real life is that you don’t have to worry about your face giving away your bluffs. If you don’t have a very good Poker face then playing at an online casino could be the best choice for you. You will be able to easily bluff other players and a sneaky smirk will never once give you away. 

There are lots of different choices out there for players, so it’s best to take a look through some of the great casino reviews we have available here at CompareCasino. That way you will be able to find the best online casino to play Texas Hold’em at.

Is it the Best Poker Variant?

This all depends on you. Some players might prefer other Poker variants, others will swear that Texas Hold’em is the best ever.  Whatever the final answer, it goes without saying that it’s undoubtedly the most popular Poker variant there is. 

It should be noted that players also have access to Video Poker when playing at online casinos. This is more like a cross between Poker, Yahtzee, and Video Slots. So if the rules for Texas Hold’em seem a little too complex for you then this might be worth a try. 

Overall, Texas Hold’em is without a doubt the most popular Poker variant there is,  so if you’re serious about starting to play, this should be the game that you try out first. 

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