Learning How to play Texas Hold'em Poker Part 1
This was published 15-05-2010Welcome to Learning How to play Texas Hold’em Poker Part 1, the first part of our series of blogs on how to learn Texas Hold’em. To take full advantage of these articles, it’s recommended that you read them in sequence.
Texas Hold’em poker is one of those games that take minutes to teach someone, but that takes a lifetime to master. Everyone can enjoy this game and this article will help you on your way by explaining some of the glossary of terms.
Firstly, we will discuss an overview of the game of Texas Hold’em Poker.
Texas Hold’em is a community card poker game, with game play focused as much on the betting as on the cards being played.
Although the rules and game play remain mostly the same, the end goal is slightly different depending on if you’re playing a cash game or a tournament.
A Hold’em tournament is the same as any other game of Hold’em with a few added rules and twists. If you’d like to learn the rules unique to tournaments, head to this article.
Texas Holdem is played on a single table with two to 10 players. The goal is simple: win as many chips as you can, one pot at a time.
You win a pot by having the best hand, or by having all other players fold before the showdown.
Secondly, let’s look at some of the terms that you will regularly encounter when playing a game of Texas Hold’em Poker, whether it’s online or offline.
• Blinds: Short for “blind bets,” these are the forced bets made before the cards are dealt. In Hold’em, blinds take the place of the classic “ante.”
• Button: Nickname for the player acting as the dealer in current hand.
• Burn Card: The card dealt facedown before any community card is dealt.
• Fourth Street: See Turn.
• Fifth Street: See River.
• Check: Similar to a call, but no money is bet. If there is no raise preflop, the big blind may check.
• Preflop: Anything that occurs before the flop is dealt is preflop.
• Flop: The first three community cards dealt.
• River: The final (5th) community card dealt; also known as fifth street.
• Turn: The fourth community card dealt; also known as fourth street.
• Showdown: When players reveal their hands to discover the pot’s winner.
To be continued in Learning How to play Texas Hold’em Poker Part 2, which will be published on this site next week.
