Texas Holdem For Beginners - Part 1
Originally written by famous poker player and author, Lou Krieger, this is the 1st in a three part series of articles aimed mainly at new texas holdem players. The aim of this article is to introduce new players to this exciting game and give them enough background to make them feel comfortable playing texas holdem poker.
Texas holdem is the most popular game played in poker rooms throughout the world and most notably at all the major online poker sites. To be an expert holdem player it requires a great deal of skill, however holdem is easy to learn and logically simple. It is considered a subtle and complex game, often played with between 9 or 10 players. Holdem is also considered a faster, more action-packed game than stud poker. Texas holdem is als thought of to be the fastest growing and most popular poker game in the world, and is the game used to determine the winner of the World Series of Poker (WSOP). Over these 3 articles, we’ll discuss a short introduction to Texas holdem, created for new players. After reading these articles you should have a good basic understanding how the game is played together with some basic holdem strategy knowledge.
While Texas holdem may be similar to 7-card stud, it is a different game altogether. Holdem players form the best poker hand by combining open community cards in the center of the table with 2 hidden cards that are only theirs, it is harder for an opponent to draw-out on you than when compared to 7-card stud poker. For example, if you were dealt one pair jacks and another player holds a pair of nines, the presence of a pair of fives among the communal cards gives each of you two pair. But you still have the best hand. Unless one of those fives helped an opponent complete a straight, the only player helped by that pair of fives would be an opponent lucky enough to have another five in his hand.
The 1st two players to the left of the “dealer” seat are required to post blind bets, which are used instead of antes to start the action. In a $5-$10 hold'em game blinds are usually $2.50 and $5. Because blinds represent a forced bet, first bet, each of the two blinds can raise once the betting has gone around the table and it is their turn to act again. Unlike stud, where position is determined by the cards showing on the board, the player with the dealer button acts last in every round of betting — with the exception of the first one.
In texas holdem, two cards are dealt face down to each participant, and a round of betting occurs. In the 1st round players have the options to either call or raise the blind bet, alternatively they must fold their hand. Most casinos allow a bet and 3 or 4 raises per each betting round, with 1 exception. In the case when there are only 2 players playing for ,the pot there is no limit on the number of raises allowed. When the 1st round of betting is finished, 3 communal cards, called the flop, are turned face up in the middle of the table. Then this is followed by another round of betting. On this and each succeeding round, players may check or bet if no one has bet when it is their turn to bet. If there is a bet, players may no longer check anymore. Once a player does bet, players have the options to fold, call, raise, or reraise. A 4th community card called the turn is then opened. Another round of betting occurs. Then the 5th and final community card called the river is placed in the center of the table followed by the last round of betting. The best 5-card poker hand using any combination of a player's 2 own cards and the 5 community cards is the winner of the hand. That’s all there is to the play of the game of texas holdem.
Within this simplicity exists an elegance and sophistication that makes Texas hold’em the most popular poker game in the world. While holdem is exciting, exhilarating, and action packed, you ought to know something before diving in and putting your money down — even if it’s the smallest limit game in the card room. Here are a few extra pointers you should consider when playing holdem.
Texas Holdem only looks similar to stud. It plays differently With a total of seven cards, some of which are turned face up and others turned face down. But this similarity is only a “tastes like chicken” metaphor. One major difference is that 73% of your hand is determined when the flop occurs. As a result, your best chances of winning in holdem are found in the beginning; you get to see 22% percent of your hand for a single round of betting. Staying for the turn and river dictates that you should either have a good hand, a draw to a potentially good hand, or good reason to believe that betting on a future round may cause your competition to fold. Because there are only 2 more cards coming after the flop, along with the fact that the 5 community cards play are available for everyone, there are fewer draw-outs in hold’em than in stud. The first 2 cards are extremely important. You’ll often hear players say that any 2 cards can win when playing holdem. While that’s true as far as it goes, it doesn’t go far enough. The whole story is as follows: While any two cards can win, they won’t win enough to push playing them. Like all forms of poker, you need good starting hands. Players who lack the knowledge of starting hands usually never land up winning.
There’s an old real estate thinking that says the 3 most critical aspects of any property are “…location, location, and location.” In hold’em, it’s position, position, and position. It’s so important that some 2-card holdings, which can’t be played from early position, are cards you might raise with when you’re last to act. In a typical 9-handed game, early position includes both blinds and the 2 players to their left. The 5th, 6th, and 7th players to act are in middle position, and the 8th and 9th players are in last position. The flop should be positive no matter how good your first 2 cards may be, an bad flop can make them close to worthless.
If the flop doesn’t improve your hand or offer a draw to a very good opportunity at a good hand, you should probably fold it. Lets say for arguments ake you called on the 1st round of betting with AJ (diamonds) and the flop is Q (diamond), 5 (diamond), 3(clubs). You don’t have a good hand at this time. What you do have, however, is a hand with very good potential. If another diamond falls on the turn or the river, you’ll make a flush. Not any flush,, but the nut flush, since your ace is higher then any of your competitors from making a higher flush. Even if you don’t get a flush but were to get a jack or an ace, that might be enough to take the pot.
Generally speaking, you shouldn’t go beyond the flop without a strong pair and a decent side-card or kicker, or a straight or flush draw with at least 2 other players to ensure that the pot is big enough to make it worth your investment. The aggressiveness or passiveness displayed by your competitors is also essential in deciding whether to call or raise bets. But a feeling for the game’s and how it should effect your play can only be decided based on experience. If your experience is limited, we suggest you be cautious. It will cost you less investment. To be good at Texas Holdem you would need to be patient, pay close attention to your relative position, and feel at ease that great hands are run down less often than the best 7-card stud hands.
Continue to part 2 |
