Online Texas hold’em has ostensibly become the online poker player’s game of choice. If you have decided to join this movement but are not familiar with Texas hold ’em, some review and a few practice hands will put you right in sync. Learning about blinds, flops, turns, and rivers can be the beginning of some real adventures for you as you enter the world of online Texas hold ’em.

Blinding

Texas hold’em begins with two forced bets called “blinds”; these are considered forced because they are placed before any actual cards are dealt. The player to the left of the dealer makes the first blind bet in a half bet amount called the “small blind.” On the left of the small blind, the next player puts up a full bet called the “big blind.” The dealer position rotates clockwise and players in this position are marked with a button.

Playing the Hand

Each player is dealt two cards and starting, each player must then decide whether to call the bet, raise or fold. The small blind has the option to call any raise, re-raise or fold; if there has not been a preceding raise, he may complete the bet, fold or raise. Next, exercises the same options, and if there has managed to be no raise, he can raise himself or check and see the flop for free.

The Flop, the Turn, the River

Three cards are placed face up in the center of the table to start “the board” these cards are called “the flop.” Starting to the dealer’s left, all players have the opportunity to check or bet, and after a bet is made, players games online can call, raise or fold. Once all bets have been called, a fourth card is added to the board and this is called “the turn.” In the betting round following the turn, betting limits are doubled. The final round of betting is initiated by the fifth card added to the board, which card is called “the river.”

Showdown Time

Subsequent to all bets on the river having been called, it is time for the “showdown.” Remaining competitors turn their hole cards over and using these, combined with the cards from the board, players present their best five-card combinations. The player showing the best five-card hand then wins the pot.