Introduction

Texas Hold’em is the most popular form of poker, played in both casual home games and major tournaments around the world. Here’s a overview to help play your first cards (wisely):

Hand Rankings (from highest to lowest)

1. 1. Royal Flush: A, K, Q, J, 10, all of the same suit.
   2. Straight Flush: Five consecutive cards of the same suit.
   3. Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank.
   4. Full House: Three of a kind plus a pair.
   5. Flush: Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence.
   6. Straight: Five consecutive cards of different suits.
   7. Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank.
   8. Two Pair: Two cards of one rank and two cards of another.
   9. One Pair: Two cards of the same rank.
   10. High Card: The highest card wins if no one has a pair or better.

Betting Structure

• Blinds: Two players post forced bets known as the small blind and big blind.
• Actions: Players can call (match the bet), raise (increase the bet), or fold (discard their hand).

Step by Step guide to Texas Hold`em Poker

Step 1: The Setup

• Blinds: The player to the left of the dealer button posts the small blind, and the player to their left posts the big blind. This creates an initial pot.

Step 2: The Deal

• Each player is dealt two private cards (hole cards) that only they can see.

Step 3: Pre-Flop Betting

• Starting with the player to the left of the big blind (the “under the gun” position), players have the following options:
  • Fold: Discard their hand and forfeit the round.
  • Call: Match the big blind.
  • Raise: Increase the bet beyond the big blind.
• Betting continues clockwise around the table until all players have either folded or matched the highest bet.

Step 4: The Flop

• The dealer reveals three community cards face-up on the table. This is called the “flop.”

Step 5: Flop Betting

• Another round of betting occurs, starting with the first active player to the left of the dealer button. Players can check, bet, call, raise, or fold based on their strategies and the new community cards.

Step 6: The Turn

• A fourth community card is dealt face-up on the table. This is called the “turn.”

Step 7: Turn Betting

• Another round of betting takes place, starting again with the first active player to the left of the dealer button.

Step 8: The River

• A fifth and final community card is revealed. This is known as the “river.”

Step 9: River Betting

• The final round of betting occurs, following the same format as previous rounds.

Step 10: The Showdown

• If there are still players remaining after the final betting round, a showdown occurs. The last player to bet shows their cards first. Players reveal their hole cards, and the best five-card hand is determined using their hole cards and the community cards.

• The player with the best hand wins the pot. If there is a tie, the pot is split among the winners.

Winner

Once the pot is awarded, the next round begins with the dealer button moving clockwise to the next player, and the blinds are posted again. This cycle continues until a winner is declared or the game ends.

Strategy

1. Starting Hands: Knowing which hands to play is crucial. Strong hands include high pairs (Aces, Kings) and high cards (Ace-King, Ace-Queen).

2. Position: Being in a later position allows a player to see how others act before making decisions.

3. Reading Opponents: Observing betting patterns, physical tells, and timing can provide insights into opponents’ hands.

4. Pot Odds and Expected Value: Understanding the relationship between the size of the pot and the bet you need to call can help determine if a call is profitable and wether or not your opponent are likely to fold if you raise.