Today we will be talking about the world famous poker game named Texas Hold'em. I have been actively playing poker since my college years. This discussion though will be strictly on the style of cards called Texas Hold'em. You must be living under a rock if you have not heard of this game within the last year. Ever since it hit the television screens it has driven a whole new market of poker tables, chips, and accessories. Hopefully you enjoy what we put together for you today.



The game played in today's poker television shows, and also the game played in World Poker Tour and in the main event of the World Series of Poker, Texas Hold'em poker is a fun and easy to learn poker game that is extremely addictive. So be warned before you start playing!

Texas poker even has different versions, as there are 'no limit', 'pot limit', and 'fixed limit' variations. Here is a great recreational site http://www.cmminformation.com. These are just restrictions on the amount a player can bet, and the basic rules of the poker game are the same. The no limit version is the kind played on television. In no limit poker, a player can make the famous 'all-in' bet at during any round of betting. In pot limit poker, the players cannot exceed the size of the betting pool, or 'pot', while betting. Fixed limit poker games usually prescribe an amount equal to the ante, or a multiple of the ante, as the betting limit.

Each poker player will receive two cards faced down. These cards are called the players 'pocket' cards, (hope for aces) and only he or she can see them. The first round of betting begins with the dealer, and ends with the player that made the big blind. The player can either call the bet made by the big blind, raise it to any amount allowed by the betting restrictions, or fold.

Up to this point we have discussed Texas Hold'em and why it has become so popular. We briefed you on the different types of pots and some of the basic rules. We talked about no limit verse pot limit. We also covered how the cards were dealt. Then we tied in how each round of betting happens. Below we will go into more details on things such as blinds, rivers, and how to determine who wins a hand.

Texas Hold'em uses blinds rather then your typical antes. The blinds often increase with time pasting. Blinds are forced bets that are usually larger than an ante would be, however they are only made by two of the players for each hand. The player to the right of the dealer must ante the 'big blind', and the player to his or her right must make the 'small blind' which is half the amount of the first blind.

Once the 2nd round of grueling betting completes another card is turned over called 4th street. Again, betting begins to the left of the dealer, and ends with the dealer. A final community card called 'the river' is dealt, and is followed by a final round of betting in the same order. Whoever has the best five-card poker hand wins the pot.

Once betting is finalized 3 cards are placed in the middle of the table and facing toward the ceiling. These cards all called 'the flop' and are 'community cards', usable by all players to make the best poker hand possible combined with their pocket cards. Another round of betting begins, this time with the player to the left of the dealer, and ending with the dealer.

Texas Hold'em is a game of position playing. The dealer has a clear advantage in that he or she gets to see how everyone else bets before deciding what to do. The dealer position shifts to the left with each hand to balance this. Since the game is often played using a professional dealer, a disc called the 'dealer button' represents the dealer position and it is this button that circles around the table instead.

In conclusion, we hope our article on Texas Hold'em gave you enough education on how to play the basic game. Remember to try playing the game for fun before venturing off into more intense levels of play that may include money. Make sure you do a little homework before entering into money tournaments and we suggest that you get many practice rounds in prior to entering. One thing for sure it is a game that provides hours of fun. We frequently host Texas Hold'em tournaments on the weekends at our residence. There are all sorts of different skills levels that come and play. But most of all everyone has a ton of fun playing. Believe me, you will too!