Archive for March, 2008

How to Play Texas Holdem Poker

Friday, March 14th, 2008
The single most popular form of poker being played today, bar none, is texas holdem poker both online and off, so if you want in on the poker scene then it’s important to know how to play holdem. Fortunately, part of the reason that this poker variation is so popular is because it is quite easy to learn to play. Don’t let that fool you, though, it will still take a lot of skill and experience to get really good at this fun game.

Basic sequence of play

Texas hold ‘em is played in four different rounds, defined by the cards that are turned up. It’s a community card game, and that means that the cards are in the middle are used by all the players to make the best hand possible. The player with the top hand after all the rounds are completed takes the pot.

In the first round, each player is dealt two hole cards by the dealer. These cards are only known to the player, and a round of betting ensues. A player who has not been dealt good hole cards may choose to fold at this point, while other players may bet or check. A check occurs when a player does not wish to raise and has already put in the amount of money or chips needed to meet the last bet. Those who know how to play holdem with skill will usually tell a novice that it is not a good move to bet pre-flop.

Once all the players have decided to fold, check, or bet, the dealer puts three community cards face up in the middle of the table. This is known as the flop, and it’s often right here where a player decided to take his or her chances or fold. After the flop comes several more rounds of betting, and then the dealer places a single card face up, known as the turn. Again there is betting, and the final card turned over is known as the river. If there is still more than one player left, it’s time to call for a showdown. Players may try to bluff opponents into folding or they may just call.

Limit hold ‘em vs No limit holdem

There are two big variations on texas holdem poker, limit and no limit holdem. In limit hold ‘em, there are set amounts that a player can raise at any one time, as well as rules governing how many betting rounds can take place during each round of play.

In no limit holdem, there are no rules placed on bets or amount of bets. Betting increases by any amount until all players have either called or folded. This is the variation of the game in which all-ins are frequent, and where skill comes to the forefront. It’s also very important to be patient in this type of holdem game; a lot of newbies especially LOVE to go all-in all the time, and if you’re playing online with fun money this can be a real pain in the ass. I’d recommend no limit holdem only for tables where once the table has been set, no one else is allowed in.

So that’s a basic overview on how to play texas holdem poker. Of course there are dozens of variations depending on whether you are playing in real life or online, your hole cards, and the types of player you are up against.

For more information regarding texas holdem poker or other aspects of the game of poker visit: Texas Holdem Poker



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Winning Hands in Texas Holdem-Which Hands Should You Play to Win?

Thursday, March 13th, 2008
The poker tournament we usually see on TV is the no limit variation of Texas Holdem. It is aptly termed as no limit because a player can bet all his chips during the game play. This form of Texas Holdem is perfect for those who have mastered the game and loves taking high risks, but for those who are still learning the basics of Texas Holdem, it is wise to start with the Low Limit Texas Holdem for practice. Low Limit Texas Holdem is a form of poker which sets a bet limit for each round of the game with the limit ranging anywhere from $2 - $4.

If you want to win in Texas Holdem, you have to take note of three things - position in relation to the dealer, patience, and power. Choosing a starting hand to play with is the most important decision a poker player must make. It is very bad practice to play too many hands so better avoid doing this. The best strategy is to be patient and wait for the powerful winning hands in Texas Holdem before making your call. Since the player’s position also matters, various types of winning hands in Texas Holdem must also be played relatively.

One common mistake that novice poker player makes is holding onto the wrong set of cards instead of folding them. Thus, if you are still learning the ropes in Texas Holdem, it will be well worth it to memorize which are the winning hands in Texas Holdem.

Luck is definitely on your side if you are initially dealt with a pair of Aces, likewise known as pocket rockets, since this is the best possible starting hand. A pair of Kings and a pair of Queens are also great opening hands of Texas Holdem. An Ace and a King of similar suit is also acceptable since you can form the nut flush with ease with these cards. Likewise, an Ace and Queen with the same suit also increases the chances of you being the winner.

Other potential winning hands in Texas Holdem include a Pair of Jacks, a King and Queen of similar suit or otherwise, an Ace and a Jack, a King and a Jack, and an Ace and a Ten. You must remember though that the mentioned best opening hands will have greater chances of winning against these cards, but when played intelligently, these cards can out win the greater hands.

These are just some of the winning hands in Texas Holdem which you can play on. But possessing these hands is not a guarantee of you winning. The game of poker still relies largely on how you manage your cards and analyze your opponent’s skill. However, having the mentioned winning hands in Texas Holdem improves your chances of besting other players in the game, just make sure you do not become so obvious in ‘telling’ so that you will not fall trap to manipulative measures from your opponents and end up losing your precious bankroll.



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