How
To Play Texas Hold'em
Rather than have each player ante a token amount, hold'em
uses "blind" bets posted by the two players immediately
to the left of a rotating "dealer button." In
poker lingo, the blind bets are referred to simply as "the
blinds." Because the button moves one player to the
left with each new hand, all players pay their fair share
of blinds as it moves clockwise around the table.
A typical hold'em
games uses two blinds. The first, or "small blind,"
is posted immediately to the left of the dealer button.
The second, or "big blind," is posted immediately
to the left of the small blind. The small blind is generally
one-half or one-third the size of the big blind, and the
big blind is usually the size of a small bet. For example,
in a typical $2$4 hold'em games, the small blind is one dollar
and the big blind is two dollars.
You'll find these
concepts easier to grasp when you play through the Wilson
Software mini-program, "Demo Turbo Hold'em," on
the CD. For example, you'll know you have the blinds when
the button is just to your right and one or two chips are
on the table in front of you before any cards are dealt.
Also notice the community
cards: The first three, called the "flop," come
after the first betting round, and the fourth and fifth,
called the "turn" and "river," respectively,
join the flop one at a time in the center of the table after
the second and third betting rounds.
We urge you to use
the mini-program right after reading this page - or even
as you continue reading - since playing actual hands interactively
against computer opponents will put your learning curve
into orbit as well as allow you to visualize the way the
games is played. Don't be concerned at first with which cards
to play - that will come later. For the moment, concentrate
on the games mechanics and order of play. Later on, you'll
be able to play through the program as many times as you
wish, understanding more with each pass.
Earlier, we described
the blind structure for a typical $2-$4 hold'em. games. Let's
assume that betting structure for this discussion:
After the shuffle,
two cards are dealt face down to each player and a round
of betting begins. Each player - starting with the player
just to the left of the two-dollar big blind - may fold,
call the big blind, or raise. The player who posted the
one-dollar small blind bet has an option to fold, call,
or raise - but only after everyone at the table except the
big blind has already acted. The player who posted the big
blind acts dead last on this first betting round, but may
raise his own blind bet if nobody else has, or re-raise
if someone has already raised. In most games, a bet and
either three or four raises per betting round are permitted.
On subsequent betting
rounds, the small blind acts first, followed by the big
blind, then the rest of the players still in the hand, moving
clockwise around the table. The button player - if still
in the hand - acts last. Again, this will be easier to visualize
and comprehend hands-on by playing through the CD mini-program
mentioned earlier.
If at least two players
remain active at the conclusion of the first betting round,
three cards, called the flop," are turned up in the
center of the table. These are communal cards, to be used
by each active player in combination with his or her own
two cards. Another round of betting
follows the arrival
of the flop. Then a fourth communal card, called the "turn,"
is dealt. It's followed by a third round of betting, this
time in four dollar increments.
Once that round of
betting is complete and at least two players are still vying
for the pot, a fifth and final communal card, called the
"river," is turned up. Then the final round of
betting takes place. If at least two players remain at the
conclusion of all the betting rounds, there's a showdown
to determine the best hand. If you reach this point in an
Internet hand, the games programming will automatically award
the pot to the winning hand. (We hope it's yours!)
