Bare Basics Poker

Poker is one of the oldest and easiest to grasp of all the various cards games, winning at it though, is where the skill comes in.

First, you need to know how the game is played before you delve into the skill of the game.

Texas Holdem is fast becoming one of the most popular poker games thanks to the Internet boom. Now that it is so widely available on the Internet, player’s skills are being pushed higher and higher. Pot levels are increasing along with it. You can sit at a table where the blinds start at 5 cents up to the dizzy heights of $500 and more.

The bear basics are that the deal rotates clockwise around the table, the two players to the left of the dealer place specified blinds, these being small blind and big blind. If it’s a competition then these blinds will increase, generally at time intervals thus aiming to force people to play.

Each player at the table receives two cards face down. These are called pockets cards. Then there is a round of betting (going clockwise). Players choose between folding (put down their hand and take no further action in that round), check (staying in the game but not betting or raising) or to make a bet (if no other bet has been made in this round). Once everyone has finished betting, checking or calling then three cards are dealt face up in the middle, these are called community cards. These three cards are known as the flop. Players then have a round of betting. Once finished then a fourth community card is dealt known as the turn. Another round of betting then the fifth and final community cards is dealt, called the river. A final round of betting takes place. If there is more than one player left at the end of all this betting then the player who has the best hand utilising their pocket card/s and others from the community cards (using five cards maximum) then wins the pot of chips for that game.

 Though this may be the basic of the game, it’s vital to learn which hands are valuable, worth betting and raising on and just as important to understand the importance of knowing when to bet, raise or fold.

 These skills are needed as early on as possible but can take years to perfect and master.

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