When you start out playing Texas Holdem you will think that the rules are deceptively simple. Beleive me, they are a lot more complex than you may think and will dictate how you play the game.

The Big Blind and the Small Blind are put on the table. These bets are mandatory and they revolve around the table so that eveybody gets a turn to pay.

The dealer will first deal two cards to every player. These cards are delt down and are called you hole cards or pocket cards. This is your hand to be held tight to the vest. Show no one these cards. Now you can do 1 of three things. Call the bet of the Big Blind by putting a matching amount into the pot. Raise the pot by putting at least double the amount of the Big Blind. Or fold your hand. If you are smart you will take this option more than not.

If you are sitting at the Big Blind or the Small Blind you had to put money into the pot before you saw your cards so you can raise yourself. A word of caution. If one of the blinds raises. Watch out.

After everone has thier money in the pot or has folded their cards. The dealer will deal the Flop. He burns the first card and then deals out three cards face up in the middle of the table. You now have five cards. The three community cards of the Flop and your two pocket cards. The best poker hand that you can make out of the five cards is what you bet on for the next round. It is called the turn. The dealer burns another card and deals the turn face up on the table. At this point the minumum bet doubles.

After the action is completed the dealer then burns another card and deals the final community card called the river. There is a saying that in Texas holdem poker, "You live or die on the river." after the next round of betting the best poker hand wins.

Rank Of Hands In Texas Holdem

The rank of hands is the same as in regular poker but it played with common cards. You get two cards that are yours and yours alone while five cards are used in common by everybody at the table. No Pair - The best no pair hand is called Big Slick. It is Ace/King. The worst no pair hand is Two/Three. With Two/Three get out of the game unless it does not cost you anything to play because you are sitting on the Big Blind.

Pair- The best pair is Ace/Ace. It is the most powerful hand before the flop. Also known as American Airlines or Pocket Rockets. My favorite is the Eyes of Texas. The lowest possible pair is deuce/deuce. Be very careful of playing with any low pair especially if you not been in a hand for a long period. The low pair will look, to you, a lot more valuable than it really is.

Three of a Kind - Three Aces is the highest possible hand while Three Deuces is the worst possible Three of a kind. A very good hand but lots of stuff can beat it.

Straight - Any five cards in order but not suited. The best possible straight is Ace-king-Queen-Jack-Ten. The lowest straight is Ace-two-Three-Four-Five.

Flush - Five cards of the same suit. Spades - Diamonds - Hearts - Clubs - The Best Possible Flush is Ace- King - Queen - Jack - Nine. The lowest ranked flush is - Two - Three - Four - Five - Seven

Four of a Kind - The Best is Ace - Ace - Ace - Ace - Any Kicker. The lowest ranked Four of a Kind is Deuce - Deuce - Deuce - Deuce - Any Kicker

Straight Flush Five cards in sequence of the same suit

Royal Flush - Ace - King - Queen - Jack - Ten of the same suit 

If you get into a Holdem game that has nine guys that never drop out you are wasting your time. The key to Texas Holdem is to preserve your money and survive, especially, if it is a tournament. The real test of a champion holdem player is patience. You must be willing to throw hand after hand away. It is not an easy thing to do when you crave the action of playing. But, if you are going to play poker for money it is essential that you drop the notion that you have to play in every hand. In fact you have to get your mind set to play in only one to three hands an HOUR. The rest you throw away early before they cost you money.