How to Play Texas Holdem

Texas Holdem poker nights are great for all different types of occasion, whether it be a birthday party, Stag night, charity evening or a team building exercise for you and your work colleagues. Texas Holdem is one of the more popular games in the world at the moment as its is very easy to learn, here is a quick guide on how to play Texas Holdem poker.

Before the game starts the dealer will deal everybody a card face up, as this will determine who is on the small blind and big blind. The blinds are a form of betting and designed to get the game under way. The amount will decide upon the table you are playing and they will rise after a certain number of hands.

The game starts with the dealer dealing each player two cards face down. The first player to play is the one immediately next to the big blind and if they wish to play they must match that bet. They can of course raise that bet if they want, or if they think their cards are no good they can simply fold and take no further part in this particular hand. Each player in turn plays their hand, either matching the bets made or folding, and once everybody has played their hand the dealer will then place three cards, face up, on the table for every player to see. In Texas Holdem Poker this is called 'The Flop' with the cards being called 'Community Cards'.

The betting continues as before with each playing taking their turn to act, betting, folding or checking if no bets are made. A fourth card is then dealt by the dealer, with this being called 'The Turn'. The betting continues as before then a fifth and final card is placed on the table, a card that is known as 'The River Card'.

A final round of betting then takes place and the player with the best five card hand be declared the winner, but what are the best possible hands in Texas Holdem Poker? The best hand possible is a Royal Flush which is five cards from an ace to a ten, all of the same suit. A straight flush comes next with five cards of the same suit, like 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of hearts. The third best hand is four of a kind which is self explanatory.

A full house comes next which is hand that consists of three of a kind a pair of another, and then comes a straight which is five cards in order of any suit. Three of a kind is the next best hand in Texas Holdem Poker with two pairs being the next best hand. The final two winning hands in a game of Texas Holdem Poker are one pair and a high card.

If you are planning a Texas Holdem night the instructions will give you a bit of an idea as to how it works, but don't worry on the night our professional croupiers will help you along prompting you wen you need to make an action and what your options are.