Royal Vegas Poker

Learn How To Play Texas Hold'em

Texas Hold'em is the most popular form of poker. It is the game played at World Series of Poker. Unless you like to waste money, you need to know how to play before you begin. 

To begin, each player is dealt 2 personal "pocket" cards. Over a period of 3 betting rounds, 5 shared communal cards are dealt in the middle of the board. Each player can use any 5 of the 7 cards to get the highest ranked hand. Because each player knows 5 cards that all the players can use, it is easier to guess what the highest ranked hand may be. For the same reason, it is also a little harder to bluff.

The Process of Play

• The game starts with two players to the left of the Dealer. They post the blind bets.

• Two face-down cards are dealt to each player. 

• The First Round of Betting - Each player has the option to fold, bet, or raise. During the first round, only one bet, and three raises per player are allowed. Players cannot "check" in the first round. This is because the Blinds are live bets. As long as no one else has raised, the only player with the option to "checking" is the one who posted the big blind.

  • The flop - Three communal cards are dealt face-up in the center of the table. ( All communal cards are active for all players and can be used in combination with each player's two cards.)

• The Second Round of Betting - Each player has the option to check, fold, bet, or raise.

  • The Turn - The Fourth communal card is dealt face-up.

• The Third Round of Betting - Each player has the option to check, fold, bet, or raise.

  • The River - If there are at least two players still in the hand, the fifth communal card is dealt face-up.

• The Showdown - The Final opportunity for betting.

  • Each player creates the best hand possible from the two personal cards and the five communal cards. They can use both personal cards & three communal cards or one personal card & four communal cards or all five communal cards.

  • If two or more players have the same high hand, the pot is split equally between them.

Betting Rules

• The play goes in a clockwise direction.

• The first two players to the left of the Dealer post the blind bets.
• Small Blind - The first player to the left of the Dealer bets an amount equal to half the lower betting limit.
• Big Blind - The second player to the left of the dealer posts an amount equal to the lower betting limit.
• The size of the betting increments in each game determines the amounts that players must put in the big and small blinds. For example, a game with $2 and $4 betting increments, the amount of the small blind is $1 and the amount of the big blind is $2.
• In Texas Hold'em, the blind bets are treated as active bets. Because of this, players can check, fold, call, and raise when the bet returns to them.
• In the first round only one bet and three raises per player are permitted.
• All bets during the game have to made per the betting increments.
• In Texas Hold'em there are four possible betting rounds.
• Each bet and raise during the first two rounds is set at the lower limit of the stakes structure. Likewise, each bet and raise for the last two rounds at a higher limit structure. For example, for the first two rounds in a $1 and $2 game, after personal cards are dealt the flop are dealt, all bets and raises are $1. For the last two rounds, after "the turn" and "the river", all bets and raises are $2.
• The each player is allowed up to four bets in any round in Texas Hold'em poker. This includes  1 bet, a raise, a re-raise and the cap. The 3rd raise in a round is called the "cap" because no further raises are allow. After the cap, the only option a player has is to call or fold.
• After a player has folded, the first active player to the left of the dealer begins the new round.
• New players entering a game must post the equivalent of the big blind if they want to join the next hand.
• All players have the option of sitting out and waiting for the original big blind to come around to their position before starting play.
• In order to prevent abuse, Online games prevent players from constantly entering poker games late and leaving before they're required to post a blind.

Tips for Texas Hold'em

• After the flop you will already know the value of five of the seven total cards that will ultimately be dealt. At this time you have a good sign of how good your hand can get. This is a good time to carefully review your cards versus the potential hands of other players.

• When your reach the "Turn" and the "River" you should either have a strong hand, the potential to draw a good hand, or a good reason to think that you may be able bluff the other players into folding by aggressive bets.

• A good personal rule to follow is that after you the flop you should fold unless you have a good hand or a good potential to draw a better hand. Your considerations should include a strong pair with a favorable side-card, strong overcards, a straight or a flush draw. Generally you should stay in if the potential pot has a better payoff than the odds of getting the hand you want.

• If you have an Ace-King to begin, it is best if you catch an Ace or King in the flop.

• Being the last to play is a big advantage. Depending upon the otehr players actions, you may consider staying in rather than folding.

• You must review how the the communal cards can be used with your two hidden personal cards to create the best hand. At the same time you must also review how the communal cards might be used with the other players personal cards.

• Don't be afraid to fold. It you are dealt a lousy hand it's better to fold before you have lost a lot of money rather than hold on and keep throwing away more money on a losing hand.

• To be profitable at Texas Hold'em means you should pay close attention to your position. That good hands are run down less often than the best seven-card stud hands.

• When playing Texas Hold'em you should be choosy on deciding which hands you play. When you do make your mind up to play your hand you should be as aggressive as you can.