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Holdem is the most popular form of poker in the world today. It is simple to learn, but can take a life time to master.
There are three styles of holdem, each of which affects the way the betting is structured.
The aim of the game
In Holdem you make your best 5 card hand using the two cards you have been dealt face down and the five community cards dealt face up in the middle.
The dealer button
Every hand, one player will be the virtual dealer, as indicated by the dealer button (small black disc with a white D). In holdem, the players closest to the dealer button have an advantage, as they are last to act and have a chance to see what actions other players have made before it is their turn. Therefore, the dealer button moves round the table in a clockwise fashion, one seat at a time.
The blinds
In order to get the action started, two players are forced to make compulsory bets, called the blinds. The person to the left of the dealer button posts the small blind, and the person to his immediate left posts the big blind. The size of the blinds are dictated by the stakes of the table you are playing at. In Limit holdem, the big blind will be the size of the smaller bet, and the small blind half the size of the big blind. For example, in a $2/$4 Limit holdem game, the small blind would be $1 and the big blind $2.
The opening deal
Once the blinds have been dealt, the opening deal begins. Starting with the person who made the small blind, and dealing in a clockwise rotation, each player is dealt two cards, face down. These cards are also called your hole cards, or pocket cards. Only the player can see these cards.
First round of betting
Betting starts with the person to the left of the big blind and moves round in a clockwise direction.
The person who is the big blind has effectively opened the betting for this round, so there is no option to check. Each player has three choices; call, raise or fold.
Once the betting gets round to the big blind, if no one has raised, they will have an option to check, or raise.
Betting continues until all players have bet exactly the same amount or they have folded. (The exception to this would be if a player goes all-in.)
In Limit holdem the first round of betting is at the lower stakes. For example, in $2/$4 the bets are in units of $2. The maximum number of raises on any round of betting is three (one bet and three raises.)
The flop
After the first round of betting is complete, the flop is dealt. The flop consists of three community cards, dealt face up in the middle of the table. Each player combines there two cards with the community cards to make their best 5 card hand.
There now follows another round of betting, starting with the first player (who still has cards) to the left of the dealer. Each player has the option to check, bet or fold. Once a player has bet, players may call, raise or fold.
In Limit holdem the betting on the flop is at the lower level.
The turn
When the betting on the flop is complete, a fourth community card is dealt face up in the middle. This is called fourth street, or, the turn.
There follows another round of betting. In Limit holdem the betting on the turn is at the higher level.
The river
When the betting on the turn is complete, a fifth and final community card is dealt face up in the middle. This is called fifth street, or, the river.
There follows another round of betting. In Limit holdem the betting on the river is at the higher level.
The showdown
When the final round of betting is complete, all remaining players show their hand, and who ever has the best 5 card hand hand wins the pot.
If at any time a player bets, and there are no callers, the automatically win the pot and have an option to show their hand if they wish.
And finally...
If all of this sounds a little complicated, don't worry. We have play money tables where you can play for fun and get used to how every thing works. In no time at all you will soon get the hang of it.
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