Texas Holdem Poker

Poker has gained immense popularity over the last few years. More people are interested in watching and learning to play poker at home, in casinos, and even online. These days, it's not uncommon to find televised poker games on ESPN and even a few network channels, including shows like Celebrity Poker, The World Poker Tour, and The World Series of Poker. Watching poker has gained immense popularity mainly due to the technical innovations which allow spectators to view each player's hand with tiny cameras in the table, adding a higher level of drama as the action unfolds. Of the many poker game variations that exist, Texas Holdem is by far the most popular type of poker game to play and watch in major poker tournaments.

The structure of Texas holdem poker is particularly suited for tournaments that are both exciting to watch and exhilarating to play. Texas Holdem is a fast-paced poker game that has only four betting rounds. Players are dealt only two cards, and the rest of their hand is dependent upon five community cards which all players will be able to see and share to create the highest five card hand. This aspect of the game makes texas holdem, like other community card poker games, primarily a game of strategy rather than luck. The key to playing texas holdem is in learning to read the other players' hands as perceived by their behavior, as well as understanding the basics of poker probability and odds.

How to Play Texas Holdem:

Each player is dealt two cards face down. These are the only cards each player will receive individually, and they will not be revealed until showdown. A "pre-flop" betting round then occurs, starting with the player to the left of the big blind (or the player to the left of dealer, if no blinds are used).

The dealer deals a burn card, followed by three face-up Community cards in the center of the table, known as the Flop. A second betting round takes place. (This and all subsequent betting rounds will begin with the player to the dealer's left.

The dealer scraps another burn card, and then deals a single community card face-up, known as the Turn. A third betting round takes place. F

After a final burn card, another face-up community card is dealt, known as the River. The fourth betting round takes place, followed by the Showdown if necessary.

At the showdown, each player plays the best five-card hand he can make from his two downcards and the five community cards (also known as the board). A player may use both of his downcards, only one, or none at all to form his final five-card hand. If the best five-card hand he can make is to play the five community cards, then he is said to be playing the board, and is entitled to split the pot with others playing the board if no one can play a better hand. Kickers often are needed to break ties, but one must be careful not to break the only-five-cards rule from Poker hand. Straights often split the pot, and multiple flushes may occur where the ranks of the cards in each flush must be counted carefully to determine a winner.