If you somehow don’t know the basics of Texas Hold ‘Em by now it’s high time you learned before another craze comes along and really takes off. So get out your baseball caps and your dark sunglasses, grab your deck of cards and let’s play.
Because it is not like the traditional “ante poker” people usually are turned off by the little and big blind involved in Texas Hold ‘Em. These can actually be your best friend because there could conceivably be round where you do not have to pay anything to see your first two cards. The blind is an agreed upon amount two players have to pay before each hand. The little blind will pay half the agreed amount and the big blind will pay the full amount. So if the blind is $50, little pays $25 and the big pays $50. The little blind is the player to the immediate left of the dealer and the big blind is to the little blind’s left. As the deal is rotated on to the next player, so are the little and big blinds.
The game begins with each player getting two cards face down. Betting is the normal kind, but I like confusing people so we’re going to cover the average betting round now and get it out of the way. Players bet in turns, for the sake of explaining things let’s assume there are four players whose parent’s had no imagination and named the A, B, C and D. C is the small blind so he bets last. D sees he doesn’t have the greatest two cards to bet on and checks (passes on betting.) A likes his cards and bets $5. B now has to bet at least $5 and sees (matches) the $5. D sees as well. Now A, who checked earlier has to decide if he wants to stay in or fold. He decides to stay in and bets his $5… then because he’s a stud, bets $5 (raises.) B has to meet this or fold, as does C and D. They all have the option to raise. Things continue on like this until someone at the end of the betting train says WHOA! And calls.
After the first round of betting is over, the dealer burns or places the top card from the deck to the side. They then deal three cards face up. This is called the flop. These are community cards that everyone will have a chance to make a hand from. Another round of betting takes place. Based on your hand, bet accordingly.
After the second round of betting is over, it is time for the turn card to be dealt. The dealer burns another card and deals just one, face up, next to the flop cards. Based on the best possible 5 card hand, another betting round takes place.
After round three, the river card is to follow. The river is dealt the same way as the turn. Betting takes place based upon the hands that people now have. Once betting is completed, it is time to see who has what.
Remember to keep a second table available so that your eliminated players can still play somewhere else. Buying back into a Texas Hold ‘Em game is a lot like one football team taking over for another after halftime; it’s just not fair. Having a second table gives “the losers” something to do until the next game starts.
Texas Hold “em is definitely a game of strategy and not for those in the game for one or two hands. Now that you know the basic rules you will have a starting point for reading some strategy guides or to start working on your own strategy. Good luck!
Zeeman Haus enjoys writing articles online on a variety of subjects. You can check out his latest website on Folding Poker Table which provides reviews on Fat Cat, ChipsAndGames, Trademark Global and more.

