It is fun, it is great, but be warned, it is addictive, however, the most popular game played on television today is the game played on the World Poker Tour and the most favorite is Texas Hold’em poker.
Texas poker even has different versions, as there are ‘no limit’, ‘pot limit’, and ‘fixed limit’ variations. These are just restrictions on the amount a player can bet, and the basic rules of the poker game are the same. The no limit version is the kind played on television. In no limit poker, a player can make the famous ‘all-in’ bet at during any round of betting. In pot limit poker, the players cannot exceed the size of the betting pool, or ‘pot’, while betting. Fixed limit poker games usually prescribe an amount equal to the ante, or a multiple of the ante, as the betting limit.
Often, instead of the traditional ante used in other poker games, Texas poker uses what are called ‘blinds’ for the ante. Blinds are forced bets that are usually larger than an ante would be, however they are only made by two of the players for each hand. The player to the right of the dealer must ante the ‘big blind’, and the player to his or her right must make the ‘small blind’ which is half the amount of the first blind.
Each player is then dealt two cards face down. These cards are called the players ‘pocket’ cards, and only he or she can see them. The first round of betting begins with the dealer, and ends with the player that made the big blind. The player can either call the bet made by the big blind, raise it to any amount allowed by the betting restrictions, or fold.
After the betting is complete, three cards are dealt face up into the center of the table. These cards all called ‘the flop’ and are ‘community cards’, usable by all players to make the best poker hand possible combined with their pocket cards. Another round of betting begins, this time with the player to the left of the dealer, and ending with the dealer.
When the second round of bets is over, a fourth community card is dealt, called ‘the turn’. Again, betting begins to the left of the dealer, and ends with the dealer. A final community card called ‘the river’ is dealt, and is followed by a final round of betting in the same order. Whoever has the best five-card poker hand wins the pot.
Texas poker is clearly very position dependent. The dealer has a clear advantage in that he or she gets to see how everyone else bets before deciding what to do. The dealer position shifts to the left with each hand to balance this. Since the game is often played using a professional dealer, a disc called the ‘dealer button’ represents the dealer position and it is this button that circles around the table instead.
So if you want to be part of the Texas Hold’em poker phenomenon, join a club in your local area and have fun, but remember it is addictive, good luck.
