Learn to play Texas Hold Em
By Josh Zach
No Limit Texas Hold Em is a game that takes five minutes to learn and a lifetime to master. Lately, the game has become a popular phenomenon. For years, ESPN has shown the World Series of Poker from Las Vegas and The Travel Channel now broadcasts The World Poker Tour (WPT) every Wednesday night. You might even hear your friends mutter names youıve never heard before, such as Howard Lederer, Phil Helmuth, and Doyle Brunson. Who are these guys, you ask? Well, theyıre considered a few of the best No Limit Texas Hold Em players in the World.
In the last few years, web sites have picked up considerable business from the home-at-home gambling hobbyist. People who have seen the WPT on television, caught a repeat of the World Series of Poker on ESPN, and those who have a regular Saturday night game with friends, have all jumped on the internet to broaden their hobby. And for the most part, the game of choice is No Limit Texas Hold Em.
But what exactly is the allure of this game, and why is it considered the Cadillac of poker?
No Limit Texas Hold Em can be played with as little as two, or as many as 23 players at one table. An ideal game, however, is usually played between five and nine players. Once the number of players is decided, the game is ready to start.
A dealer is chosen by drawing for the high card in the deck. After the dealer is chosen, the first two players to the left of the dealer must produce forced bets before the deal, called blinds. The blinds are to ensure that each dealt hand will have action. The first player is responsible for the small blind. The second player is responsible for the big blind (double the amount of the small blind). Once the blinds are posted, each player is dealt two cards, face down. These are called ³hole cards,² and you show them to no one.
The player to the left of the big blind decides if he wants to play his hand by judging the strength of his two hole cards. If he likes them and wants to stay in the hand, the player must produce a bet; the minimum being that of the big blind. The player may wish to increase his bet or simply ³limp in² by calling the big blind. The next player in line then makes their decision, and so on around the table. When the ante makes it back to the player who posted the small blind, they may choose to either fold their hand or call.
When the players are ready, the dealer burns (discards) the top card from the deck, and places three community cards in the center of the table. This is called the Flop. These are cards that everyone uses with their two hole cards. Another round of betting starts with the player to the left of the dealer. After everyone bets, the dealer burns the next top card from the deck and deals a fourth community card to the center of the table. This card is called the ³Turn,² or ³Fourth Street.²
Another round of betting then makes its way around the table, after which the dealer again burns the top card from the deck and deals the fifth community card to the center of the table. This card is called the ³River,² or ³Fifth Street.² A final round of betting then makes its way around the table, and the players remaining in the hand that havenıt folded flip over their two hole cards. The player with the best five-card hand wins the pot. Thatıs No Limit Texas Hold Em.
One major factor that sets No Limit Texas Hold Em ahead of any other poker game is that there is ³no limit.² At anytime during the game, a player may shove his entire stack into the center of the table and go ³all-in.² This creates high intensity for a game that is already filled with racing pulses and twitching nerves.
Now that you know the fundamentals of No Limit Texas Hold Em, go ahead and practice with some friends. In next monthıs column Iıll discuss how to play against another player.