Poker: Texas Hold'Em

If you're playing a poker game and you look around the table and and can't tell who the sucker is, it's probably you.

-- Paul Newman

For anyone who has played or watched a game of Texas Hold’Em being played there are terms that a dealer may use while distributing the playing cards around the table.  For those who are not familiar with this particular poker game I’ll explain briefly how this interesting and fun game evolves.

Texas Hold’Em is a variation of poker with the exception that it is played with seven cards instead of the usual five, and there is no draw.  Each player is dealt two cards face down on the poker table.  An additional five cards are dealt face up in the center.  These five cards are called community cards which are shared by all players at the table.  The object is to use your two cards that are face down with a combination of three community cards to build the best or winning hand.

Once the first two cards are dealt to all players the blinds are placed in the pot by the players to the left of the dealer.  Blinds are automatic forced bets.  The player to the left of the dealer, called the small blind, places the initial agreed upon bet with chips.  The next player to the left of the small blind places the big blind bet (usually double that of the small blind).  The remaining players can then choose to call (match the big blind), raise, or fold.

The next three cards called the FLOP are dealt face up in the center of the table for the remaining players.  The players beginning to the left of the dealer can check, raise/call, or fold.  The fourth card, called the TURN, is then dealt face up and, once again beginning with the player to the left of the dealer, the players can check, raise/call, or fold.  The final card called the RIVER is dealt face up.  Remaining players can then choose to check, raise/call, or fold.  The winner with the best five-card hand, as determined by poker rules, collects the chips in the pot.

Normally, the small blind and big blind would then be passed to the next player(s) on the left and the deal would begin again.  As with any poker game, the objective (if a time limit or bet limit has not been set) is to be the last player remaining after all chips have been collected.

Another variation of Texas Hold’Em is called H.O.R.S.E.  This is played with various rounds of:

·         Texas Hold’Em

·         Omaha eight or better

·         Razz

·         Seven Card Stud

·         Seven Card Stud Eight or better

A more complete explanation of these games can be found on the Internet.

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