What is Hold em poker?

Texas Hold em poker or more popularly just called hold em poker is the most popular variation of poker that there is. This is the game of choice of beginners are poker hobbyists. You will see table after table of Texas Hold em in the big casinos all over the world. Online interactive poker games are usually Texas Hold em. This is the most popular probably because among all the poker variations, this is the easiest to learn and the simplest rules. Some call this type of poker the most player friendly of all the types of poker.

Hold em is played on a table with 2 to 10 players. The objective of the whole game is to win the most number of chips and to stay on the table the longest. To do this, you have to have the best hand or a fantastic strategy if bluffing. At the start of the game, each player will be given 2 cards and the dealer will lay down 5 more cards. The player with the best 5 card combination who has not folded will win the pot. You will find out about the possible 5 card combinations a bit later. Betting, raising and calling are all part of this poker game.

There are quite a number of combinations that you can achieve in Texas Hold em. You can have a Pair when you have 2 cards with the same number on them. Another combination is having two pairs and a kicker or a single card to make a 5 card combination. Another possible combination is three of a kind. This happens when you’re holding on to 3 cards with the same number. This is a very strong hand. When this trio is combined with a pair it then becomes a full house. Another combination is called a straight. This happens if you have any 5 cards that are in consecutive order no matter the suit. The next combination is called the flush. This happens when you have 5 cards of the same suit. There is also a combination called 4 of a kind where you have 4 of the same cards in your hand plus one kicker. The second to the highest combination is called a Straight flush. This happens when you have five cards that are in consecutive order also sharing the same suit. The highest combination in Texas Hold em is a called a Royal Flush. This happens when you are holding on to 5 cards in consecutive order, being in the same suit including the King, Queen and Jack.

These are just some basic rules of Hold em that you need to know before diving in and playing with everyone else.