How To Play Texas Hold Em

To someone who isn't exactly a card shark, learning how to play Texas Hold Em might at first look a little too complicated to try. After all, those guys you see on sports channels late at night seem pretty serious, and might as well be speaking Greek when talking strategy. But, as intense as they look, the actual rules of Texas Hold Em aren’t all that tough to figure out. Below, you’ll find how to play Texas Hold Em with ease. Who knows, eventually it could be you at those big money tables.

1. The object of Texas Hold Em is to construct the best five card hand out of seven cards total. Hands are judged by typical poker rules. That is, a pair beats a high card, two pair beats a pair, three of a kind beats two pair, and so on. The person who has the best hand wins the entire pot. There are a lot of little etiquette rules that go along with Texas Hold Em, but they’re not too relevant unless you’re really serious. You’re here to take people’s money, not become their buddies.
2. To start, everyone is dealt two cards. These cards, dealt to you face down, are what you’ll eventually make your hand out of. Typically, there is a round of betting before these cards are dealt called the ante, and another round of betting that happens right after the cards are dealt. Many conservative Texas Hold Em players might even fold after these two cards. But your betting strategy is your business and no one else’s.
3. After everyone has two cards, the dealer lays out “the flop”, which are community cards. These are three cards laid out on the table face up. Despite its goofy name, the flop is a key turning point in a Texas Hold Em hand. You’ll be able to construct your first five card hand out of these, after which another round of betting occurs. If someone bets big here, be wary.
4. The fourth community card turned over is called “the turn”. It works just like the flop. The card is turned, you make a new and better hand if possible, and another round of betting follows. At this point, only a few people are left in the hand. Be careful not to get suckered into bluffs on the turn, as a lot of poker players like to take chances here.
5. The fifth and final community card turned over is “the river”. This is your last opportunity to get a new and better hand. If you’re still in the game at this point, your hand should be pretty good. After a round of betting, if there is more than one player who hasn’t folded, everyone shows their cards. The person with the best hand here wins the pot, and depending on which casino you’re in, runs for their lives.