Poker Variations: Texas Holdem

Beginners should pick one variation of poker and try to master it rather than try to learn a number of different games at the same time. Texas Holdem is by far the most popular game in the casinos and card rooms around the world. The World Series of Poker and the World Poker Tour are decided by a game of Texas Holdem.

In Texas Holdem (or simply, "Holdem") each player is dealt two cards ("hole cards") which belong only to that player and are not shown to any other player. Five community cards are dealt face-up on the "board". All players may use these cards in conjunction with their own hole cards to make the best five-card poker hand possible. To view the rankings of poker hands, visit our hand ranking page.

In Hold’em, a disc also known as "the button", serves to indicate which player is the nominal dealer for the current game. Before the game begins, the player immediately clockwise the button posts the "small blind", typically half a small bet (for example, $1 in a $2/$4 game). The player immediately clockwise the small blind posts the "big blind", which is always a full small bet ($2 in a $2/$4 game). Now, each player receives his or her two hole cards. Betting action proceeds around the table, starting with the player immediately clockwise the big blind.

Now, the "flop" is dealt face-up on the board. The flop is the first three community cards available to all active players. Betting begins with the active player immediately clockwise the button. All bets and raises occur in small bets (increments of $2 in a $2/$4 game).

When betting action is completed for the flop round, the "turn" is dealt face-up on the board. The turn is the fourth community card in a Holdem game. Betting begins with the active player immediately clockwise the button. On this round, betting doubles from the small bet to the big bet. In a $2/$4 game, betting on the turn is done in $4 increments.

When betting action is completed for the turn round, the "river" is dealt face-up on the board. The river is the fifth and final community card in a Holdem game. Betting begins with the active player immediately clockwise the button.

If there is more than one remaining player when the final betting round is complete, the last bettor or raiser shows his or her cards. If there was no bet on the final round, the player immediately clockwise the button shows his or her cards first. The player with the best five-card hand wins the pot. In the event of identical hands, the pot will be equally divided between the players with the best hands.

After the pot is awarded, a new game of Holdem is ready to begin. The button now moves clockwise to the next player.

There are three variations of Holdem available at most online sites:

Limit

In limit holdem the betting structure is determined before the game begins. Player can only bet and raise according to these pre-determined rules. Limit games are a lower risk than the other options.

Pot Limit

The game is played like limit holdem, but at any point in the game a player can bet up to the amount already in the pot.

No Limit

The so called 'Cadillac of Poker.' No Limit Texas Holdem is the mother of all poker games! In no limit any player can, on their turn declare that they are ALL IN and bet all the chips they have in front of them. This puts other players in the position of having to consider a massive bet to call and stay in the game.

Further Reading

Many books have been written on Texas Holdem. It is a game that truly takes a lifetime to master. Here are some books for beginners and more advanced players.