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In the game of Texas Hold ‘Em Poker each player is dealt two cards down. These are called “Hole” cards or “Pocket Cards”. This is followed by a round of bets known as the “pre-flop round”. Players can now either check, call, raise, or fold. These are explained below;
Check: A player can only check if no one has yet opened the betting round. It is the same as calling the current bet of zero. It shows that whilst the player doesn’t want to make a bet at this stage, he does want to keep his cards in play. However, the option of checking is only allowed in games without blinds. In a game played with blinds, the blinds are live bets and must be called or raised.
Call: To call is to match a bet or match a raise.
Raise: If a player raises it means they increase the size of the bet required to stay in the pot.
Fold: Folding means discarding your hand of cards and losing any money put into the current pot.
For the betting round to end and the game to continue, all active players have to bet an equal amount. So if a player were to confidently raise their bet then all subsequent players must call this new amount if they are to stay in the game.
Assuming that you choose to stay in the game at this early stage, next comes the “Flop”. First the dealer takes the top card of the deck and discards it. This is called a ‘burn card’. Then three cards are dealt face up onto the table. These cards are communal cards and anyone can use them in combination with their two Hole cards to make a combination of five. These five cards will form the player’s poker hand. Depending on the combination of cards, you may have a very strong hand or a very weak one. The different combinations are listed below from best to worst;
Royal Flush: This is the Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Ten all of the same suit.
Straight Flush: Five consecutive cards all of the same suit.
Four of a kind: Four cards of the same rank. For example, four tens plus any fifth card. The higher the rank the stronger the hand.
Full House: Three cards of the same rank and a pair of another rank. The higher the rank of the three cards will determine which full house beats another players.
Flush: Five cards the entire same suit. A flush is ranked from the top card on down to determine who has the stronger hand.
Straight: Five cards of different suits but in sequence. For example, 35476
Three of a kind: This is three cards of the same rank, like 666, but with two unpaired cards.
Two Pair: Two cards of one rank, two cards of another rank, and a kicker of a third rank.
One pair: Pretty much as the name implies, two cards of the same rank and then three unrelated ones.
No pair, high card: This when a Poker hand has none of the above combinations. The highest card in this hand determines the winner.
Now players have had a chance to see the three Flop cards, they can make more informed decisions about their next moves. A second round of betting begins, starting with the player left of the dealer. After the betting is done, the dealer the burns another card and places a card known as the ‘turn’ card onto the table. Players can use this card to form a five card poker hand.
A third round of betting ensues. In many games, it is this round of betting where the bet size doubles. To finish, the dealer will burn a final card and place one more on the table face up known as the ‘river’. Players can use any of the cards on the table or in their pocket to create their poker hand.
There is one final round of betting left and then the remaining players begin to reveal their hands. This is called the showdown. Depending on which combination of cards they use, the player with the best hand wins. Sometimes players have equal hands and share the winnings.
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