Poker is one of those games that’s quite intimidating to play for new players. The game is riddled with loads of technical lingo, has got some complex gameplay rules, requires a degree of skill and when playing at land-based casinos, requires the player to be aware of various etiquette practices. 

Despite its relative complexity, poker is surprisingly popular with many casino players. Many actually do love the game’s complexity as it pushes them to become more nuanced pro players. Another factor however which makes poker popular is that it has different variants. These variants have subtle differences in gameplay rules hence different types of players can find variants that suit their preferences. 

While there are dozen different poker variants, there are some which have managed to win the hearts of many players and hence become the most popular poker game for top and new poker players. One such game is Texas Hold ‘Em. In this guide, we are going to highlight what this game is all about and how you can start playing it.   

Texas Hold ‘Em – The Most Played Poker Game

 Texas Hold ‘Em is arguably the most played poker game world over. Such is the massive popularity of this game that it’s played at the top poker tournaments such as the World Series of Poker (WSOP). The objective in the Texas Hold ‘Em game is similar to that of many other poker games that is, players need to get the best possible hand. In doing this, players should be wise in their gameplay that’s going to be highlighted below. 

It’s a prerequisite for players to know what poker hand rankings are before playing Texas Hold ‘Em. This is necessitated by the fact that it’s the poker hand rankings which determine if players will win or not. Apart from this, however, there are also a whole lot of other technical terms that players need to become aware of. 

How to Start Playing Texas Hold ‘Em 

Texas is a game which is played in successive rounds. The first round is the pre-flop and this is the stage where players need to place their bet. Note however that only player on the Blinds position are required to place their bets. Other players may call, fold or raise. Afterwards, the game progresses to the flop where the first three community cards are dealt. 

This round is followed by the Turn and the River rounds where the fourth and fifth community cards are dealt. After each round where the community cards are dealt, players should follow up by taking different decisions which include call, fold or raise. The last round is the showdown where cards are revealed to determine the winning hands.  

Other Popular Alternatives 

• Omaha Hold ‘Em: Omaha Hold ‘Em is similar in most aspects to Texas Hold ‘Em. The glaring differences however are that players at the initial stage are dealt four cards rather than two. However, only two of these can be used at the end of the game to determine the five-card combination. 

• Five Card Draw Poker: This game is quite popular with new players. All players at the start of the game are dealt five cards. Afterwards, the game progresses to the card exchange round where players can trade up to three of their cards in creating the best possible five-card combination. 

Seven Card Stud: This game is quite simple to understand but difficult to win. Upon initiating a gaming session, players receive seven cards where three are dealt face down while the four are dealt face up and they are visible to everyone. From these 7 cards, players are tasked with creating the best possible hand. However, with all players knowing the bulk of cards one has, creating a great hand or an illusion of a great hand is quite difficult.