Online holdem poker is a great game for poker beginners to learn. Not only are the rules relatively simple, but there are countless places where you can play online. Don't be fooled by the simplicity of the game however. While most people can learn HOW to play in a few hours or less, it can take thousands of hands to fully master the game strategy.

Here's how online holdem poker works:

?The two players to the left of the dealer each place a pre-determined amount of money into the pot. This is called posting the blinds. After each hand, the dealer position moves so each player has an opportunity to post the blinds.

?The game starts with the dealer shuffling the deck and each player being dealt two cards face-down from a standard 52-card deck. These are called hole or pocket cards.

?Next there's a round of betting starting with the player to the left of the last player to post a blind,. This round is called the pre-flop. Many a hand is won or lost due to poor decisions made at the pre-flop. It is one of the most strategic points in online holdem poker. During each round of betting, a player can call, raise or fold.

?Next, the dealer discards the top card from the deck. This is called a burn card. This is done in case anyone accidentally saw that card during the deal. The dealer then flips the next three cards face up on the table in what is called the flop. These are the first of communal cards that are available for all players to use when making their best hand.

?Another round of betting occurs. The dealer then burns another card and flips one face up on the table. This is called the turn card.

?Finally, the dealer burns one more card and flips the final communal card. This is called the river. There are now 5 communal cards, plus each player has their two hole cards.

?Now it's time for the showdown. Each player, starting with the player to the left of the last player to call, reveals their best 5 cards. The highest hand wins and takes the pot. In the case of a tie, the pot is split. And that's how easy it is to play online holdem poker!

For more information on this and other poker related topics, visit our website at http://www.holdem-news.com