JazzPokerRoom.com | Online Poker Room by Jazz Casino and Sportsbook

Texas Holde'm| Omaha Hi | Omaha Hi Lo

- Poker Tips and Strategies at JazzPokerRoom.com - Español

Texas Hold'em Poker

Texas hold 'em (or simply hold 'em or holdem) is the most popular of the community card poker games as of 2006. It is the most popular poker variant played in casinos in the United States, and its no-limit form is used in the main event of the World Series of Poker (abbreviated WSOP), as seen on ESPN, widely recognized as the world championship of the game.

Although it can theoretically be played by up to 22 players (or 23 if burn cards are not used), it is generally played with between 2 and 10 people. It is one of the most positional of all poker variants, since the order of betting is fixed throughout all betting rounds. Holdem is commonly played in the rest of the world as well, but seven-card stud, Omaha hold 'em and other games may be more popular in some places.

Starting Hands

The first thing you must understand when you play Texas Holdem is which hands are good and which are bad. Though it depends on the number of people in the game and the type, here is a general guide to use when you are just starting out but want to be a winning player at the lower limits. I suggest starting out at a fixed limit of $1-2 or lower.

Note: the following guidelines are only for fixed-limit Hold'em

Hands to Raise with:

These are 'premium hands' that you want to jam the pot with preflop:

AA, KK, QQ, AK, JJ, AQ, TT

Hands to call with:

You want to see the flop with these hands and then decide.
Do not call three bets with these hands, call only one or two.

AJ, KQ, QJ, JT, T9 (only if of same suit), 99, 88, 77, Ax (same suit)

Play of the hand

Play begins with each player being dealt two cards face down. These cards are the player's hole cards. These are the only cards each player will receive individually, and they will only (possibly) be revealed at the showdown, making Texas holdem a closed poker game. The hand begins with a "pre-flop" betting round, beginning with the player to the left of the big blind (or the player to the left of the dealer, if no blinds are used) and continuing clockwise. After the pre-flop betting round, the dealer deals a burn card, followed by three face-up community cards called the flop. The flop is followed by a second betting round. This and all subsequent betting rounds begin with the player to the dealer's left and continue clockwise. After the flop betting round ends, another card is burned, and a single community card called the turn (or fourth street) is dealt, followed by a third betting round. A final burn card is followed by a single community card called the river (or fifth street), followed by a fourth betting round and the showdown, if necessary.

Back on Top