The card game of poker has been around for centuries and is nowadays synonymous with both gambling and cards. It is so well-known and easily recognizable that many people simply think about the whole casino industry in terms of this one game. If there was a single activity that represents the act of putting money down and betting on an outcome of something, it would be this magnificent game. And with the onset of modern technology and the internet, it only got bigger.
Contemporary gambling is mostly done on the internet in online casinos where millions of players come to play their favorite games. For many of them, it is some variety of this game that is their favorite. Considering how many new special and niche types of poker there are, it is easy to see why it continues to dominate the industry. Still, one of the most popular varieties is Holdem Poker, also gold Texas Holdem. But what is it and why is it so popular? More importantly, how is it played? This guide on how to play Holdem Poker will tell you all you need to know.
The Origin
Hold’em originated during the early 1900s in a place called Robstown in Texas, hence the name. A group of avid gamblers wanted a variety of games that combined skill and chance. They structured it in a way that players use community cards and betting rounds, and it quickly set it apart from other poker variants. It first started getting hugely popular in the 1960s in Las Vegas. In 1967, the first official Texas Hold’em tournament took place at the Golden Nugget.
By the 1970s, it was the game of choice in the newly formed World Series of Poker (WSOP), further boosting its legitimacy, popularity, and fandom. Fast-forward to the 21st century and the 2020s, and it is by far the most played, beloved, and competitive variety of the popular game. So much so in fact, that many players never even attempt to play other types of the game, or even the original variation of poker. Following the Moneymaker Effect, when a casual player won a major online tournament for the first time, everything changed
The Appeal
So what makes it so interesting and appealing both for the veterans of gambling and the newcomers? It all lies in the special blend of three key elements that no other gambling game possesses in such amounts, mainly strategy, psychology, and luck. The players have to balance the strength of their hand with the betting behavior of their opponents, meaning every game is different with a unique set of challenges. The learning curve is high and one needs a lot of experience in order to improve. While the rules are simple enough for anyone to understand, actually playing it and winning the rounds is not at all easy.
How to Play It?
Texas Hold’em is played with a standard deck of 52 cards and it features anywhere from 2 to 10 players. The goal is to win chips by having the best hand at showdown, or by getting all other players to fold. The game is structured in 4 phases. It starts with two players posting forced bets called small and big blind, which create the pot to compete for. Then comes the dealing when each player receives two private (hole) cards that are only theirs.
Betting rounds come next. First, there is the pre-flop when the players call (match the big blind), raise (increase the bet), or fold (discard their hand). The flop betting round sees three community cards being dealt face-up on the table, after which another betting occurs. In the turn phase, a fourth community card (the turn) is dealt face-up and another betting follows. Finally, the river phase comes when the fifth and final (the river) community card is dealt and final betting happens.
The fourth and final stage of the round is called the showdown. If two or more players remain, they reveal their hands and the best five-card hand wins the entire pot. The remaining players can use any combination of their two hand (hole) cards and the five community cards laid in front of them. The winner takes the chips and another new round starts. Mind that the players must act in turn and there are betting and raising limits pre-agreed.
Hand Rankings
From strongest to weakest:
The royal flush is the strongest hand, which is the same suit of A, K, Q, J, and 10. A straight flush is five consecutive cards of the same suit. Four of a kind is four cards of the same rank, while a full house is three of a kind plus a pair. A flush is five cards of the same suit, not in sequence, while a straight is five consecutive cards of different suits. Three of a kind is three cards of the same rank, and a two pair is two cards of one rank and two of another. One pair is two cards of the same rank and finally, the high card is when the highest card wins if nobody has a hand.
