Poker games online

Playing Poker Online - Texas Hold 'em

Most online casinos offer several different variations of the many Poker games that are available but one stands out as the most popular and most frequently encountered poker game of all - Texas Hold 'em.

Texas Hold 'em is another of the community style poker games that features a group of cards dealt face up in front of the dealer. Players then use cards from their own hands and the community cards to build hands. This game is similar to the Omaha Poker games in that each player gets a turn to deal and the active dealer is indicated by a small disc called a dealer button.

Each time a hand is concluded the disc moves on to the next player in a clockwise direction giving everyone at the table the chance to deal and make the first or "blind bets". Texas Hold 'em follows a strict pattern of plays that is best laid out as follows.

• First or "blind" bets are made
• First deal - each player is dealt 2 cards
• Bets are placed
• The Flop - first 3 community cards are dealt
• Bets are placed
• The Turn - the fourth community card is dealt
• Bets are placed
• The River - the final community card is dealt
• The Showdown - Hands are compared and a winner nominated

In the beginning of any Texas Hold 'em game so called "blind bets" are placed. These are typically made by the person sitting to the left of the dealer which is know as the "small blind" bet and is typically half of the minimum stake and then by the person two places to the left. This bet is known as the "big blind" and is usually the minimum stake value.  

Player betting is started with the player seated to the left of the big blind and players then have the opportunity to bet raise or fold. If a player folds the next player has the opportunity to bet and the rest of the table to call.

"Checking" is the practice of sitting a bet round out and can only be done before any bets are placed in that round. Once bets have been place players can only raise, fold or call. On the first and second betting rounds bets are limited to the lower table limit. On the third and fourth rounds bets are limited to the maximum table limit.

At the showdown players may use any number of their own and community cards to build a hand ad may even enter the entire community spread. This is known as "playing the board". Texas Hold 'em is a challenging and fun game and is extremely popular so go out now and log on for some Texas Hold 'em action.