Texas Hold'Em
Texas Hold'Em Rules
The aim of the game
Texas hold'em poker follows the same principles as all other popular poker variations. In Texas hold'em poker you play against other players on the table and the grand aim of the game is to have the highest 5 card hand combination (see the section below). Your hand combination is shown after a series of betting in what is known as 'the showdown'. In order for a showdown to occur, however, it requires more than one person still in the game, players can fold (exit the hand) at any given point during the various betting points. You can therefore win a hand of Texas hold'em poker in two different ways; in the showdown have the highest 5 card combination or be the last player to surrender your cards under the pressure of the betting.
The hand combinations
These are the universally accepted poker hand rankings from highest to lowest.
Royal Flush:
The highest possible ranked hand. To achieve this hand you need an Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and 10 of the same suit.
(Example: A , K , Q , J , 10 )
Straight Flush:
Five cards of the same suit in ascending order.
(Example: 8 , 7 , 6 , 5 , 4 )
Four of a Kind:
Four cards of the same value.
(Example: K , K , K , K )
Full House:
Three of a kind and a pair. The player with the higher value three of a kind, wins in the event of a tie.
(Example: A , A , A , 5 , 5 )
Flush:
A hand containing five cards of the same suit. If two players have the same hand the winner is the player holding the highest valued cards.
(Example: Q , 10 , 6 , 3 , 2 )
Straight:
Five cards of any suit in ascending order. The ace can be either high or low and the high straight wins the tie.
(Example: 10 , 9 , 8 , 7 , 6 )
Three of a Kind:
Three of a kind is simply three cards of the same value.
(Example: 8 , 8 , 8 )
Two pair:
Two sets of pairs.
(Example: 3 , 3 , Q , Q )
The player holding the highest pair takes the pot in the event that more than one player is holding two pairs.
Pair:
One pair of cards in a hand.
(Example: J , J or 5 , 5 )
HIGH CARD:
Highest card takes all in the event there is a complete absence of the above hands.
The Buy-in
In order to be eligible to play a game of Texas hold 'em you must have a certain amount of chips. This buy-in price varies depending on which table you choose to play on but it is always ten times the amount of the minimum bet. For example; a £3/£6 table will require to have at least £30 of chips to be able to play. Similarly a higher table such as £10/£20 dollars will require you to enter the game with no less than £100 in chips. Littlewoods offers a number of different buy-in prices to cater for all types of players.
How to play
Although there is an anonymous dealer in the online poker room, all players on the table must act as the dealer at certain points in the game. This does not mean you have to deal the cards but it determines which two players must make the initial, compulsory bets for this particular hand before the cards are dealt. These bets are called the blinds and the dealer for each hand is indicated by a small disc on the online table (the dealer button). The player immediately to the left of the dealer is required to make the small blind; the blind amount varies depending on the table buy-in amounts but it is always half the minimum bet (for example on a £10/£20 buy-in the small blind is £5). The player to the immediate left of the small blind is required to make the big blind. This amount of money is equal to the minimum bet indicated in the buy-in.
The game begins with all players being dealt two facedown cards each (pocket cards). The play always travels around the table in a clockwise fashion so the action always starts with the player third left of the dealer (the first player after the blind players). Players may call the bet, check, raise or fold in turn. Call describes putting in enough chips to match the current highest amount on the table (without a raise this will be the big blind), a raise describes increasing the highest bet amount on the table, a check describes staying in the game but not raising (providing you already have the current highest chip amount on the table matched), and a fold describes quitting the hand (you will lose all bets previously made). Each player must choose one of these options in turn clockwise around the table until you reach the big blind player. The big blind player now has the options to call, raise or check the bets in order to go to the next round; known as 'the flop'.
Three community cards (cards any player can use at their discretion) called "The Flop" are then dealt up facing in the centre of the table. At this point another betting round will take place, again travelling clockwise around the table starting with the player immediately left of the dealer. After all players have either called, raised, checked or folded a fourth community card is dealt; this is known as 'the turn' card. Once the 'turn card' is in place the same clockwise betting process is repeated.
The fifth and last card called "The River" is dealt face up and a final round of betting takes place. It is common at this point for many of the players to have already folded. Players remaining at this point will enter 'the showdown' and the winner will be the player with the best 5 card combination possible out of the 7 available (the 2 pocket cards in your hand and the 5 community cards face-up on the table).
