Texas Hold’em Poker
The Rules of Texas Hold'em Poker
There’s a reason why Texas Hold’em is the most popular card game in the world. It takes a few minutes to learn, but years to master. The thrill, strategy and unpredictability keeps you coming back for more. So now you want to learn to play?
Well GGPoker are here to help. Below we’ve outlined how to play Texas Holdem poker online for beginners, giving you the basic information you need to get started. Soon, you’ll be developing your own strategy and style of play.
Texas Hold’em Rules
Texas Hold’em is the most popular type of online poker in the world. It’s played with a standard 52 card deck, and there can be between 2-10 players at a table (at GGPoker the max number of players we have is 6). To start with, the dealer gives everyone two hole cards (your own personal cards that no-one else should see).
There is then four betting rounds (which we’ll outline below), resulting in five cards being dealt face up on the table that every player uses (community cards). You must then use your hole cards and the community cards to make the best five-card hand possible.
No Limit
All Texas Hold’em poker games on GGPoker are ‘No Limit’, which means there is no limit to the maximum a player can bet at once. Thus players can go “all-in” and bet all of their chips on their betting turn.
Positions
Positions on the poker table – Big Blind, Small Blind & Dealer Explained
The image shows the positions that you should know before playing online poker. The “Dealer” chip will move clockwise around the table after every hand.
- Big Blind – The player on the left of the small blind. The big blind is the same as the minimum bet size.
- Small Blind – The player immediately left of the dealer has to post the small blind.
- Dealer – Each hand has one designated dealer. The dealer position determines the small and big blind positions. The dealer button is passed clockwise after every hand.
Actions
Your options at the poker table – Check, Bet, Raise, Call or Fold
In each round of betting, the player has the option to do each of the below.
- Fold – The player feels they can’t win the hand, so forfeits any chips they have in the pot. They give their hole cards back to the dealer without showing anybody.
- Check – If there is no new bet, the player can pass the bet to the next player without betting or folding. But if another player raises before the round of betting is complete, the player will then need to call, re-raise or fold.
- Bet – The player bets a certain amount based on the strength of his cards (or bluff if they’re feeling adventurous). The bet must be more than the Big Blind.
- Call – If a bet has been made before it reaches the player, they can choose to Call to match the bet. If you don’t have enough to match the
- Bet and you still want to play, you can go “All-In”; but you can only win the amount of chips you have left.
- Raise – You can choose to bet more than the other bets that have been previously made. It needs to be at least double any previous bets made.
Betting Rounds
Pre-Flop
The Pre-Flop – Everybody gets their first two cards (Hole Cards)
This is the round of betting made when you receive your two hole cards and before any community cards are seen.
The Flop
The Flop – 3 Community (Everyone’s) cards are dealt
Once the first three community cards are dealt there’s a second round of betting. You combine your hole cards and these community cards to make the best hand possible.
The Turn
The Turn – A 4th community card is dealt
A fourth card is dealt called “the turn” followed by another round of betting. The additional card can completely alter player’s actions as their hands get stronger or weaker.
The River
The River – A final 5th community card is dealt
A final fifth card is dealt and another round of betting commences. You now need to see what your strongest hand is, and figure out if your competition has a stronger hand, missed a card they were chasing or are bluffing to win the pot.
The Showdown
If two or more players are left after the action ends on the river, you enter The Showdown. All active players show their hole cards, the best hand is determined and the pot awarded to the winner. If two or more players show equally ranked winning hands at showdown, the pot is split evenly.
No Limit Hold’em Table Information
Details & Limitations
- This game uses 1 deck of 52 cards and the deck is shuffled after each hand.
- Amount committed to the pot will still be in play in an event of a disconnection.
- GGPoker players accept the risk of internet disconnection, due to problems with the connection between their device(s) and the servers, lag or freeze or some other problem in the player’s device(s) or how that device accesses the internet.
- Contact support should you experience any difficulties.