Introduction to Hold Em

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It is often said that Texas Hold' Em is a game that takes a minute to learn and a lifetime to master.

Well, time yourself, and see if you can read this post in a minute or less.

A regular game can have anywhere from two to ten players seated in a regular online game. Most sites will have games with blinds ranging from five and ten cents to as high as two thousand/four thousand dollars - which would require a massive hold 'em pokeri bankroll.

Every player is dealt two pocket cards. All players wishing to stay in the hand must at least call the big blind, which is the larger of two forced bets put out before the hand is dealt. Players can either call the current bet, raise the current bet, or fold their hand.

When all players have either called any bets/raises or folded their hand, the community cards begin to be dealt. Three rounds, also called streets, of cards are dealt - the flop (three cards), the turn (one card), and the river (one card) are dealt, with a round of betting after each. On each street, players have the option of checking their hand (to pass the action to the next player) or placing a bet.

If all players check their hand on a street and no one bets, the round of betting is complete and the next card is dealt. If a player bets, then all other players again have to option to call, raise, or fold.

In limit poker, there is a fixed amount that can be bet in any round. for example, in $1/$2 limit poker, a players can bet $1 before the flop or on the flop, and $2 on the turn or the river. In no limit texas pokeri, the player can bet any amount so long as it is larger than the big blind. No limit hold\ 'em poker can involve a lot more strategy, as you figure out what the right bet is, pot odds, and figure out how to read your opponents to determine what the correct play should be.

After the river, if there are two or more players remaining in the hand, it is time for the showdown and the best five-card hand wins, from a royal flush downward.

As stated earlier, a minute to learn, but a lifetime to master. Did you read this post in under a minute?