Poker has a bad rep in the table games community for being one of the more complicated games to play. Understandable, of course. With so many variants out there, it can be difficult to know how to play poker correctly.
After all, what does it mean to fold? What on Earth is a Royal Flush? We’ll break all of that down, and more. This guide will explain how to play using Texas Hold’em, mainly, as this is the most played variant. However, many of the Texas Hold’em rules and terms apply to the other variants, so you’ll have a good foundation.
What Is Poker?
Poker a table card game where players compete for a pot, which contains the chips/money wagered during the round. There are different variations of poker. Each one differs in terms of how cards are dealt and when you can make a bet.
When you play poker, you usually have a hand of five cards. The value of your hand is determined by a number of different combinations. In Texas Hold’em, there are between two and 10 players at the table. Each player has two “hole cards” which are not visible to other players. As the game progresses, “community cards,” which are placed face up, are dealt at the center of the table.
Players use the community cards and their own private cards to build their hand, and the one with the best one wins.
Many consider poker to be difficult to learn. This is because it has very specific game rules, and depends on your skill, strategy, and decision-making ability. It’s a game that combines chance and luck with player decisions, which is why many pro players love it.
What Is the Goal of Poker?
The ultimate goal of poker is to win the pot comprising all chips and bets made in that round. There are two ways to do this. The first is to have the strongest hand out of everyone else at the table. This is determined by the hand ranking system. The second way is to make every other player fold before the final card is revealed.
That’s what makes poker so fun for a lot of people, because you don’t necessarily need the best hand to win. You just need to make everyone else think you do. So, if you have a bad hand, but you continue to place a bet each time and appear confident to the other players, they may start thinking you have a great hand. That might tempt them to fold and back out before they bet on what they think is their own worse hand.
Ever heard the term “poker face?” Well, this is where that comes from.
Poker Hand Rankings and Card Values
Another reason many players find poker difficult is the way the cards are valued. We use poker hand rankings, which are the different card combinations, to determine this. In regular Texas Hold’em, the rankings run one to 10, with one being the strongest hand.
How to Play Texas Hold’em Poker
Now, let’s move on to the exciting bit! How do you play Texas Hold’em poker? Games will vary depending on the type of poker played and house rules, but here’s a look at how a standard game should play out.
1. The Blinds Are Posted
Before you get your cards, the two players to the left of the dealer place a small blind and a big blind. These are forced bets to put something into the pot and get the ball rolling before anyone has seen their cards.
2. Each Player Receives Two Hole Cards
After the blinds, players get their two private hole cards that are face down on the table, so only they can lift, look at, and use them. Your cards will form the basis of your decisions throughout the game.
3. Pre-Flop Betting Begins
The first round of betting is called the pre-flop, where players can choose to fold (give up the round), call (match the amount of the current bet), or raise the bet (increase the bet size).
4. The Flop Is Dealt
After that first round of betting, the dealer will place three community cards face up at the center of the table. These three cards are known as the flop. All players can use them to help build their final hand before the round continues. For example, let’s say your hole cards were an Ace of Hearts and a King of Hearts. If the flop cards have a King of Clubs and a King of Spades, you’re only one card away from a Four of a Kind.
5. The Turn Is Dealt
Then next comes the fourth community card, which is called the turn. Players who haven’t folded can continue betting again.
6. The River Is Dealt
The last community card shown is the river card. Once it appears, the remaining players get one last chance to call, raise, or fold.
7. The Showdown
If you think your cards are forming a winning hand compared to your competitors and decide to stay in the round, then congratulations! You’ve reached the showdown. And it’s exactly as intense as it sounds.
The remaining players will now reveal their cards to the rest of the table. The one with the highest-ranking hand will win the entire pot. Using the previous example, if you got a King of Diamonds in the river round and have the Four of a Kind, and your opponent only has one pair of Aces, you win.
How Do Blinds Work in Poker?
Blinds are another one of those basic casino terms that may seem confusing at first but are actually very simple to understand. The small blind and the big blind are the two forced bets at the beginning of some poker games, like Texas Hold’em.
The player immediately to the left of the dealer posts the small blind, let’s say R100. The player next to them will then post the big blind, which is usually twice as large, so R200. From here, players can match or raise these bets as they feel necessary for their game.
How Is the Winning Hand Decided?
The winning hand in Texas Hold’em is decided by the ranking system, so whoever holds the highest ranked five-hand card. They can use any combination of their two hold cards and the five community cards.
Also, something that’s applicable to Texas Hold’em and not other types, like Omaha, is that you don’t have to use your hole cards. You could choose to use both, one of them, or none if all five community cards already make a winning combination.
If players have two of the same type of hand, for example both have a Three of a Kind, but one has Hearts and the other has Clubs, then “kickers” come into play. This is the highest side card you hold that isn’t part of your hand. So, if your Three of a Kind has an Ace as the kicker, but your opponent has a Jack, then you win.
But, if all five cards for both players are the same, then the pot is split between the two.
Play Poker Online with playTSOGO
While yes, there is a lot going on with poker, but that’s where the appeal is. There’s something exciting about getting to learn something new and showing off your poker face to your opponents. So, why not give Texas Hold’em (or other poker types) a go with playTSOGO?
We have numerous online casino games for you to choose from. Simply browse our catalogue of table games, select your favourite poker game, and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is poker difficult to learn?
Not necessarily. The rules certainly aren’t as straightforward as blackjack or roulette, so it isn’t usually considered a game for beginners. If you don’t mind spending time going over the rules and important terms, then it can be easy to pick up. However, in the grand scheme of table games, poker is one of the more complicated ones.
What is the best hand in poker?
The best hand in most poker games is a Royal Flush, which comprises an Ace, a King, a Queen, a Jack, and a 10, which are all the same suit.
How to win at poker as a beginner?
There’s no particular poker strategy that can guarantee you a win, but there are some ways to help you feel more confident when you play. For starters, learn to control your emotions. Other players may be able to read whether you’re bluffing or not. Also, learning how to read other players is equally important. If you aren’t good at the whole “poker face” thing, then stick to only betting with strong hands and folding with weak ones.
What are the other types of poker?
There are plenty of different types of poker, but other popular options include Omaha, Seven-Card Stud, Video Poker, Five-Card Draw, and Razz Poker.
