The game's overall goal is usually to make the best combination of your hole cards and community cards, making the highest-ranking poker hand that is made of five cards. You have to follow simple rules and defined hand ranking, which you need to know and understand to play the game. However, the game's simplicity does not necessarily mean that it is an easy game, especially when playing at high levels. You need to learn some strategies to increase your chances of winning at most of the Texas Holdem games you will play. Remember to start from the basic ones and work your way up.
Basic Rules Texas Holdem
Each of the players is dealt two hole cards at the start of the game, both face-down. Then, five more cards are dealt in the center of the table, facing-up, through several betting rounds. The five cards are known as community cards. The community cards have to be dealt in three stages called the flop, the turn, and the river. Each player uses any combination of five cards from a total of seven, five community cards and two hole cards, to form their best possible hand. The player with the highest-ranking five cards wins the game.
Best Hands in Texas Holdem
The best starting hand for when you are pre-flop is, without doubt, pocket aces. Other than that, the answer will depend on a variety of factors. The numerous variables can make the best hand vary each time a community card is dealt. Having pocket kings, for example, might appear to be a strong hand at first. However, an ace on the flop may suddenly make the pocket kings appear vulnerable. That is probably the element that makes the game so appealing to many. The best starting hand is usually pocket aces, which can still be beaten depending on the community cards dealt.
Basic Strategy in Texas Holdem
If you are looking to learn basic strategies to improve your game, start by knowing the game's positioning. On the button is considered the best position to be in Texas Holdem. That is because out of the four betting rounds, you will be the last one to bet in three of them. That means that you will know the number of players still in the game when it is your turn to play, allowing you to make more informed decisions. Small Blind is considered the worst position to be, though you can take advantage of it by acting aggressively.
