There are several variants of poker
among which three main families are Stud poker, Draw poker and Community card poker (Flop poker). The most common and most popular
in the world of these are Texas hold 'em.
This variant is practised with a game of fifty two cards and tokens representing the bet sums. The Ace is the highest card, followed in descending order by the King, the Queen, the Jack,
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2, which is the lowest ranked card.
In casinos the one who mixs and distributes cards and who we call
Dealer doesn't play.
The number of players varies between two and ten players.
The game consists of two cards being dealt face down to each player (clockwise) and then five community cards being placed by the dealer in the following way : a series of three
cards "the flop"; then two additional single cards "the turn" and "the river". The players having the option to check, bet or fold after each deal.
Here is a
Texas hold 'em poker game procedure :
Blinds
A blind is a forced bet placed into the pot by one or more players before the deal begins, in a way that simulates bets made during play. There are two blinds, the Small and the Big.
The Small Blind is the amount put in the pot by the player immediately to the left of the dealer. Then the Big Blind
is the amount put in the pot by the player in the left position of the Small Blind. For example, in a $2/4 Limit game, the Small Blind is $1 and the Big Blind is $2.
And, in a $5/10 No-Limit game, the Small Blind is $5 and the Big Blind is $10.
Preflop
The first betting round of bids is called
Preflop.This round begins with the third player to the left of the dealer in the position
which is called
Under The Gun (UTG) and who is the first one to pronounce. He need to make his first important decision depending on the variables with the hand.
Three choices offer themselves to him: he can pay the amount of Big Blind that is to
Call; to
Raise what means replacing the current bid by a higher amount; or to
Fold what means in that case, he gives up his participation in the round and returns his cards.
Flop
After the first betting round of bids, the dealer places three cards which are turned face up on the table.
These first three community cards are called
Flop.
Turn
After the second betting round of bids, the dealer places a card with turned face up on the table.
This community card is called
Turn.
River
After the third betting round of bids, the dealer places the last card with turned face up on the table.
This community card is called
River.
Showdown
After the last betting round of bids, the active players turn their cards face-up to compare their combinations.The best combination of five cards made
by both individual cards more three of five community cards, is the winning combination of the pot. This action at the end of the final round of betting
is called
Showdown.
In Texas Hold'em, there are three main types of betting :
No Limit, Fixed Limit and Pot Limit.
Here is how's that work :
No Limit
In No Limit games you can bet any amount at any time. That means, you can bet all your tokens on a round of bids.
Certainly, it's risked but it is the format of the most exciting and the most popular Hold'em. Specially for the tournaments.
Fixed Limit
In Fixed limit games you cannot bet more than the fixed limit for each round with a minimum and maximum bet.
It is less risked, but there is no action. That's why this Hold'em's format is not very popular with the passionate players of poker.
Pot Limit
In Texas Hold'em Pot Limit, on a round of betting, the amount of your bet can not exceed the amount of the pot.
The pot is constituted by tokens bet by all the players in the game and placed in the center of the table.
This Hold' em Pot Limit's format is more appreciated than the Hold'em Fixed Limit,
but less popular than the Hold'em No Limit.
Positions
In the poker and more particularly in Texas Hold'em No Limit, the position at the table is a very important fundamental concept. Indeed, if we take as an example a table to
the casino among which the Dealer distributes cards and doesn't play.
The first position of the player immediately to the left of the Dealer, it's
Small Blind,
then the second position it is
Big Blind. They are the first two players to play, without any idea of departure on the hands of their opponents. Thus, they are in positions of weakness.
In the third position, it's
Under The Gun (UTG), that means he's in danger, because he's the first
one to speak and has to make a decision without having an idea on his opponents.
The players to his left come to the following positions :
UTG+1, UTG+2, UTG+3...
more early more the danger decreases to we come to the last but one position before the
Dealer, it's
Hijack, that means a position of power.
Certainly, it's a good position, but the best position is the last one, it's
Cut-Off,
just to the right of the dealer, who in our case, let us call back he don't play. Thus, the player in the position Cut-Off makes his decisions after all the players in every betting round of bids, what means that it has the big
favor to analyze all his opponents before making the best decision.
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