If you have yet to learn Texas Holdem poker, you’re definitely missing out. It’s easily the most popular poker game. Holdem is in TV, movies, magazines and discussed regularly in hundreds of forums online daily — the game is everywhere you look.
So let’s get you up to speed. Below are the rules of Hold’em along with the limits and different variations that you will likely find. That way, you can learn how to play as well as figure out what kind of games will suit you best.
Rules Of Holdem Poker
The rules for Texas Holdem might look intimidating at first. But you’ll find that you pick the game up within an orbit or two, if not within a few hands.
So let’s dive right in. We’ll go through a basic round of Texas Holdem.
Preflop
Before the cards are dealt, two players will post forced bets known as the blinds. There are two blinds, one small and one big. The small blind sits to the immediate left of the dealer (button) and posts the small bet. The big blind is to the immediate left of the small blind and posts the big bet. The small blind is generally half that of the big blind.
Once the blinds have been posted, the players are now dealt their cards. This starts with the small blind and works around the table clockwise until each player has been dealt two cards faced down.
After the cards are dealt, the action will start with the player to the left of the big blind, known as the player under the gun (UTG). This player will have the option to call, raise or fold. The action will continue like this around the table until everyone has acted. If everyone folds, the player left standing wins the pot. If there are two or more players left, then a flop is seen.
The Flop
The flop is where the first 3 of 5 total community cards are dealt. You will need to use these cards to try to make the best 5-card poker hand.
After the flop is dealt, the first remaining player to the left of the dealer button will act. The options that each player has are to check, bet, call, raise or fold, all depending on the action that happened prior to their turn. Checking is similar to saying, “I pass. I don’t want to bet,” and is only an option when there has been no betting. The action continues like this around the table until all players have acted.
The Turn
If the action did not end on the flop, then the turn is seen. The turn is also commonly referred to as 4th street. This is the 4th of 5 community cards dealt.
The action will continue just as it did on the flop. Players will have the option to check, bet, call, raise or fold depending on the action in front of them. This will continue until all players have acted.
The River
The river is the 5th community card to be seen. It’s also referred to as 5th street.
Once again, the action is similar to the flop and the turn. Players can check, bet, call, raise or fold.
Once all the players have acted, one of two things will happen. The action can end if one player bets and everyone folds — this player will win the pot without showdown (having to show his/her hand).
If there are two or more players left in the pot after the betting round has completed, each player will need to flip their cards over. This is known as a showdown. The player who has to flip their hand over first is determined by who the river aggressor was or who is sitting closest to the left of the dealer button. This will continue in a clockwise fashion around the table until every player has shown or mucked his or her hand.
The player with the best 5-card poker hand will win the pot. The dealer button will then move one seat to the left, the new blinds will be posted and a new hand will be dealt.
Texas Holdem Betting Limits
Betting limits will determine the way people are able to bet and how much they can bet at any time. The different betting limits include pot, fixed and no limit. I’ll cover what each one entails below.
No Limit
No Limit Holdem (NLHE) is just as the name implies — there is no limit as to what can be wagered at any time, as long as you meet the minimum bet. The minimum bet is the big blind and the minimum raise is at least double the previous raise. So if someone bet the minimum of $4, you’d have to raise at least $8. Aside from that, a player can bet any amount they wish at any time, including their entire stack.
Pot Limit
In Pot Limit Hold’em, the only restriction is that the bet being made cannot be larger than the amount that’s in the pot. If there is $25 in the pot, you can bet no more than $25. If you bet pot ($25), that means the player to act after you can bet as much as $50.
Fixed Limit
Fixed Limit can be a bit confusing at first because there are two different betting amounts. Preflop and on the flop, only half of the big bet and small bet are used. Then the full amounts are used on the turn and river. For example, in a $2/$4 game, only $1/$2 is wagered preflop and on the flop. Then on the turn and the river, $2 and $4 is wagered.
Bets and raises made preflop and on the flop are using the small bet and the big bet on the turn and river. So in a 10/20 game, you could only bet in increments of $10 preflop and on the flop and in increments of $20 on the turn and river.
Holdem Game Formats & Variation
You’ll find holdem poker online in every format. Here are the formats along with the stakes that they are commonly available at.
- Cash: Cash games start at $.01/$.02 and can be found as high as $500/$1k+.
- SNGs & MTTs: Games start as low as $.10 and as high as $2k+.
There are many different variations too. The variation available will sometimes depend on what room you play at. Here is a list of the most popular variations that you’ll see. Keep in mind that it’s far from a definitive list.
- 2, 4, 6-max: The maximum number of players at a table.
- Knockout/Bounty: This is a poker tournament or SNG where a bounty is placed on each player’s head. If you knock someone out, you collect their bounty.
- Double or Nothing: This is a SNG where half the field earns double their money. The other half walk away with nothing.
- Rebuy/Add-on: These tournaments allow you to purchase or “rebuy” another stack if you bust. Rebuy tournaments commonly allow you to “add-on” to your stack at a specific point in the game for a small fee.
- Satellite: Satellites are games that if won, will give you a seat to a more expensive tournament.
- Shootout: Shootouts are multi table tournaments where each table is played to where there is one player left. Then the players/tables are consolidated and played again until there is one player left. This continues until there is only one (final) table left. Payouts range from winner takes all to top 3, 5, etc depending on the tournament.
So, that about covers it — simple, right? Now all that’s left is for you to take your newfound knowledge online. To get started, just choose from one of the poker rooms in the table above.
