Browse > Home /

Poker rules

The premier game of poker is Texas hold‘em. Here’s a peak at the game – its structure poker  rules and mystique. Texas Hold’em was introduced in 1967 to the Las Vegas casinos. It is now the final game of the annual World Series of Poker and is considered the most popular poker game in the world.
Here is a taste of the action. With a dealer at the table two players are required to place blind bets. The player to the left of the dealer places the small blind and the second player places the big blind. Once this is established all players are dealt two facedown cards – known as hole or pocket cards.
The first “move” is carried out by the player to the left of the big blind, he is able to either bet, raise or fold. Wagering will travel clockwise around the table until complete.
Now, three cards are dealt in the center, face up. The board – center of the table – is now furnished with the first three cards of the game. The community cards are called the flop – they are there for everyone to use in sync with their own pocket cards.  Once the flop is initiated betting will pass around the players at the table from the dealer’s left, he is the first player who can either check or wager. The next phase will introduce a new card. This fourth community card, the turn card, is dealt face up and starts another round of betting for the players.  The final lap of the session follows the flop of the fourth card. At this point all remaining players display their cards. The winning player will combine his pocket cards with the cards from the board to produce the best hand. If the table holds the best cards, a rare event, then the remaining players will divide the pot.  The simplicity of the game continues to attract people from around the world. It has gained its most significant mark with the introduction of it online with the Online Poker website. Amateurs and professionals of all ages enjoy Texas Hold’em.

Written by texas holdem Team · Filed Under Poker 

Different Types of Tournaments

Different Types of Tournaments

–

Texas Holdem tournaments, along with most all other poker tournaments, follow a typical path.  All players start with the same amount of poker chips.  At the poker tables, the blinds gradually increase.  And the players are gradually eliminated until a winner is decided. The winner is awarded a prize amount and so are the other top finishers.  Most of these poker tournaments are freezeouts – once a player loses all his poker chips, he’s gone.

-

While that’s the way it usually goes, there are a number of variations on this theme.  One of the most common is Re-buy and Add-on Tournaments.  A re-buy lets a player buy back into the poker tournament.  There’s usually a time limit on when you can re-buy.  After it passes, players can still add-on.  They can buy a set number of poker chips for a set price to “add on” to their stack.  With these options, you can take more chances betting, especially in the early rounds where you can re-buy.

-

If you’re in a hurry to make your money or get chased from the poker tables, you might try a Turbo tournament.  That’s one where the blinds rise very quickly, sometimes every 5 minutes.  Sometimes as quick as every two minutes.  With blinds getting that high, there’s not too much post-flop play because players are often forced to go all-in pre-flop or fold.  In a Turbo tournament, it’s smart to play aggressively.  Steal the blinds as often as you can and hope the poker cards come your way.

-

A satellite tournament doesn’t offer a cash prize.  It rewards the winners with entry into a higher buy-in tournament.  The World Series of Poker uses satellite tournaments.

-

We have Party Poker to thank for the steps tournament.  It is usually a series of single poker table satellite tournaments with increasingly larger buy-ins, with big cash prizes at the final step.  Most steps poker tournaments have five steps.  Winners of the first step are awarded an entry into the second step and so on.

-

These are just a few of the many poker tournament variations you’ll run into in casinos, live poker rooms and online poker rooms and casinos.

Written by texas holdem Team · Filed Under Poker 

Strategies for Texas Holdem No Limit Tournaments

Strategies for Texas Holdem No Limit Tournaments

–

Turn on the television and it’s not to difficult to find a No Limit Holdem Tournament going on.  They are wildly popular because they have lots of drama and suspense that gets paid off every hand.  The World Series of Poker and the World Poker Tour have intrigued viewers and fans who are intrigued by the chance to win big.

-

However, no limit Texas holdem tournaments are very different than sitting at a poker table to play a no limit ring game.  In these poker tournaments, when you get down to the end, all the poker chips get shoved in pre-flop on poker hands that are no better than 50-50 odds.  If you have a pair in the hole or holding AK, you’re ready for a late tournament battle.

-

A major strategic difference between no limit tournaments and a no limit ring game is that you can’t bluff as much.  Players’ stacks of poker chips are usually smaller in relation to the pot.  And the amount of chips you might win from a bluff are worth a whole lot less than the amount you might lose.  So bluffing loses its value.

-

But don’t think you can keep folding and stay in the game.  You have to win pots to keep your seat at the poker table; if you don’t, you’ll watch your chips steadily disappear to the blinds.  In the early going, though, don’t gamble too much.  You just need to win enough to keep you in the tournament.

-

As you get to the middle of the tournament, you need to change your poker strategy.  As the poker tournament moves on, the blinds get bigger.  Stealing the blinds will keep you sitting pretty.  You are still in survival mode and hoping to build your pile of poker chips with a few wins here and there.  And unless you really have the nuts, avoid getting into any costly battles.

-

The end game of the tournament is all about a toss of a coin, 50-50 gamble.  The blinds are so big that it makes sense to go all in on the pre-flop, especially if you’re holding an Ace and a good kicker or a pocket pair.

-

Written by texas holdem Team · Filed Under Texas Holdem 

Next Page »