( 
)LEARNING THE GAME
Introduction
Texas Hold’em (holdem) is a poker game where the best five card hand is selected from seven cards. The best hand wins based on the usual hand categories with a Royal Flush being the top hand. It is assumed that readers are at least aware of the winning order of poker hands.
The delivery of the cards by the casino dealer starts with two down cards given to each player. The casino dealer does not play. Each player looks at their down (“hole” or “pocket”) cards. Then a betting round begins.
Seating
Most commonly, there are ten players at a table. Although I have seen more, especially in tournaments and often with player drop-outs, it can be smaller. We will assume ten players and later relax this assumption. The casino dealer is not among the ten players as he does not play.
For each game, one player is considered to be the designated dealer, despite the deal actually being done by the casino dealer. For instance, suppose I am four seats to the left of the casino dealer (cards are dealt clockwise) and I am the designated “dealer.” In front of me will be a little white “button” or “puck” with a “D” or “B” on it. This button rotates one seat to the left after each game so that you are the button once every 10 hands.
Blinds
The player immediately to my left (if I am the button) is called the “small blind” (SB). The player on his left is called the “big blind” (BB). In a $1/$2 game the BB puts $1 out as an initial bet before the cards are dealt. The SB usually puts up half of this amount prior to the deal. Therefore, every pot has at least the blind money in the pot.
The Deal
Every player receives two down cards – called pocket cards. The SB receives the first card and the BB gets the next card and this continues around the table, twice, ending with the button receiving his second card. Then the first round of betting begins.
Betting
The betting round after the pocket cards are received is called “pre-flop” betting. It begins with the player to the left of the BB. He has three choices. He can fold (called “muck”) his cards and refuse to play and therefore does not put any money into the pot. (As a result, 8 of the 10 deals are free if you choose to muck your pocket cards each time. However, you must put up blind money in the SB and BB seats which you cannot take back). He can choose to “call” the big blind bet by putting in a matching one dollar. The third option is to raise an amount equal to the big blind. You must make it clear prior to putting in money that you wish to raise either by putting the raise money in at the same time as the call money or stating “raise”. The next player has the same three options. He can muck his cards and not pay anything, he may match (i.e. “call”) the $1 bet or he may raise it to $2. The betting, then moves around the table with each player either mucking, calling the bets or raising by $1 more. Betting is usually limited to four bets.
The betting is completed when all participating players have called the last raise.
The flop
Three cards are then placed face up after the pre-flop betting is concluded, the casino dealer places these three cards – face up – in the middle of the table. This is called the “flop.” This initiates another round of betting. The betting begins this time with the player to the left of the “B”. It may be the SB* if he is still in the game and he must make his choice of “checking” (i.e. no bet) or betting $1 (the size of the original BB).
The next player to the left must then choose his options. If the first bettor has checked, then he may check. If there was a bet of $1, he must match it (“call”) or he can raise it two bets to $2 or he can fold his cards. This continues until all participating players stop raising and have all called the bets. The 4 bet cap continues to apply throughout the hand.
After the flop betting is completed, the casino dealer places a fourth card, face up with the flop cards. This is called the “turn” card or “fourth street”. Then another round of betting starts with the first active player to the left of the button. It is the same routine as the betting in the other rounds except that the bets are now doubled to $2 (twice the size of the BB.) The four bet “cap” is still the maximum allowable.
After the betting is completed a fifth card is placed face up with the other four. This is called the “river” card or “fifth street.”
The river betting is the same routine as the others, with $2 bets. Players may check, call, fold or raise. Upon betting completion, the cards are shown. The highest hand wins and all ten players plus the casino dealer may help identify the best hand even if it wasn’t called by the player. In other words, the cards “speak for themselves.”
The last raiser shows his pocket cards first. The next player to his left then shows his cards or mucks them so that he loses but doesn’t have to show anyone what he was holding. If there is only one bettor on the river and all others drop out, this person wins and does not have to expose his pocket cards.
*If the SB folded, pre-flop, the betting begins with the first player to the left of the button who is still active in the game.
Table Stakes
You’re betting and raising in any given game is limited to the amount of money you have exposed on the table. If you end up with all your money in the pot, it is called “all in”. You continue to play but the size of the pot you can win is limited to the size of the pot after your “all in” has been called. Subsequent betting money is placed in a “side pot” and the others compete for it. If you have the best hand you win your designated pot but not the side pot. (You are not allowed to increase your table stake until the game is over which is the reason you are limited to your table money). The side pot is won by the highest hand owned by the others. If you do not have the best hand, all of the money goes to the player with the best hand.
Etiquette
While the players are trying to make money many also want to enjoy the game. Casinos have rules, such as, all players must speak English, and you are not allowed to criticize others and other helpful requirements are mandated. Casino dealers will answer polite questions with respect to rules etc., (but simple questions to the dealer will broadcast to players that you are a novice and this could affect how others play against you). It is a good idea to be polite and also not to unfairly delay the game by taking a long time to decide on your bets. Do not show individual players your pocket cards, even after the hand is over, if you do there are rules that apply and you could be required to show the cards to all the players. Do not intentionally show your pocket cards when you are mucking them. There are other polite and ethical considerations that you will learn as you play but if you are trying to be fair, you will be forgiven the occasional faux pas. Do not worry too much about etiquette as players will recognize that you are learning and will make helpful suggestions.
It is customary to tip the dealer when you win a pot. By watching the other players you can figure out the tipping etiquette. In limit games of $1/$2 or lower a usual tip would be 50 cents and for larger limit games one dollar is reasonable. In very large pots or very large limit games the expectation might be a couple of dollars.
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Introduction
Texas Hold’em (holdem) is a poker game where the best five card hand is selected from seven cards. The best hand wins based on the usual hand categories with a Royal Flush being the top hand. It is assumed that readers are at least aware of the winning order of poker hands.
The delivery of the cards by the casino dealer starts with two down cards given to each player. The casino dealer does not play. Each player looks at their down (“hole” or “pocket”) cards. Then a betting round begins.
Seating
Most commonly, there are ten players at a table. Although I have seen more, especially in tournaments and often with player drop-outs, it can be smaller. We will assume ten players and later relax this assumption. The casino dealer is not among the ten players as he does not play.
For each game, one player is considered to be the designated dealer, despite the deal actually being done by the casino dealer. For instance, suppose I am four seats to the left of the casino dealer (cards are dealt clockwise) and I am the designated “dealer.” In front of me will be a little white “button” or “puck” with a “D” or “B” on it. This button rotates one seat to the left after each game so that you are the button once every 10 hands.
Blinds
The player immediately to my left (if I am the button) is called the “small blind” (SB). The player on his left is called the “big blind” (BB). In a $1/$2 game the BB puts $1 out as an initial bet before the cards are dealt. The SB usually puts up half of this amount prior to the deal. Therefore, every pot has at least the blind money in the pot.
The Deal
Every player receives two down cards – called pocket cards. The SB receives the first card and the BB gets the next card and this continues around the table, twice, ending with the button receiving his second card. Then the first round of betting begins.
Betting
The betting round after the pocket cards are received is called “pre-flop” betting. It begins with the player to the left of the BB. He has three choices. He can fold (called “muck”) his cards and refuse to play and therefore does not put any money into the pot. (As a result, 8 of the 10 deals are free if you choose to muck your pocket cards each time. However, you must put up blind money in the SB and BB seats which you cannot take back). He can choose to “call” the big blind bet by putting in a matching one dollar. The third option is to raise an amount equal to the big blind. You must make it clear prior to putting in money that you wish to raise either by putting the raise money in at the same time as the call money or stating “raise”. The next player has the same three options. He can muck his cards and not pay anything, he may match (i.e. “call”) the $1 bet or he may raise it to $2. The betting, then moves around the table with each player either mucking, calling the bets or raising by $1 more. Betting is usually limited to four bets.
The betting is completed when all participating players have called the last raise.
The flop
Three cards are then placed face up after the pre-flop betting is concluded, the casino dealer places these three cards – face up – in the middle of the table. This is called the “flop.” This initiates another round of betting. The betting begins this time with the player to the left of the “B”. It may be the SB* if he is still in the game and he must make his choice of “checking” (i.e. no bet) or betting $1 (the size of the original BB).
The next player to the left must then choose his options. If the first bettor has checked, then he may check. If there was a bet of $1, he must match it (“call”) or he can raise it two bets to $2 or he can fold his cards. This continues until all participating players stop raising and have all called the bets. The 4 bet cap continues to apply throughout the hand.
After the flop betting is completed, the casino dealer places a fourth card, face up with the flop cards. This is called the “turn” card or “fourth street”. Then another round of betting starts with the first active player to the left of the button. It is the same routine as the betting in the other rounds except that the bets are now doubled to $2 (twice the size of the BB.) The four bet “cap” is still the maximum allowable.
After the betting is completed a fifth card is placed face up with the other four. This is called the “river” card or “fifth street.”
The river betting is the same routine as the others, with $2 bets. Players may check, call, fold or raise. Upon betting completion, the cards are shown. The highest hand wins and all ten players plus the casino dealer may help identify the best hand even if it wasn’t called by the player. In other words, the cards “speak for themselves.”
The last raiser shows his pocket cards first. The next player to his left then shows his cards or mucks them so that he loses but doesn’t have to show anyone what he was holding. If there is only one bettor on the river and all others drop out, this person wins and does not have to expose his pocket cards.
*If the SB folded, pre-flop, the betting begins with the first player to the left of the button who is still active in the game.
Table Stakes
You’re betting and raising in any given game is limited to the amount of money you have exposed on the table. If you end up with all your money in the pot, it is called “all in”. You continue to play but the size of the pot you can win is limited to the size of the pot after your “all in” has been called. Subsequent betting money is placed in a “side pot” and the others compete for it. If you have the best hand you win your designated pot but not the side pot. (You are not allowed to increase your table stake until the game is over which is the reason you are limited to your table money). The side pot is won by the highest hand owned by the others. If you do not have the best hand, all of the money goes to the player with the best hand.
Etiquette
While the players are trying to make money many also want to enjoy the game. Casinos have rules, such as, all players must speak English, and you are not allowed to criticize others and other helpful requirements are mandated. Casino dealers will answer polite questions with respect to rules etc., (but simple questions to the dealer will broadcast to players that you are a novice and this could affect how others play against you). It is a good idea to be polite and also not to unfairly delay the game by taking a long time to decide on your bets. Do not show individual players your pocket cards, even after the hand is over, if you do there are rules that apply and you could be required to show the cards to all the players. Do not intentionally show your pocket cards when you are mucking them. There are other polite and ethical considerations that you will learn as you play but if you are trying to be fair, you will be forgiven the occasional faux pas. Do not worry too much about etiquette as players will recognize that you are learning and will make helpful suggestions.
It is customary to tip the dealer when you win a pot. By watching the other players you can figure out the tipping etiquette. In limit games of $1/$2 or lower a usual tip would be 50 cents and for larger limit games one dollar is reasonable. In very large pots or very large limit games the expectation might be a couple of dollars.
Read More...
Guide created: 12/13/05 (updated 10/31/06)
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