The Basics of Texas Hold’Em Poker

Poker

Poker, also known as Texas Hold’em, is a game of strategy and skill. There are many different variations of the game, but all share the basic rules: players are dealt a hand of cards, betting rounds take place between each new card being revealed, and the player with the best hand wins.

The Game

In Texas Hold’em, each player is dealt a hand of 7 cards. These cards are then turned face down. The goal is to make the best possible 5-card hand out of those cards.

Assertive Betting

Poker is an aggressive game, and it’s important to know when to bet. Skillful poker players recognize when to bet big on a premium opening hand, like a pair of Kings or Queens, and they also realize that they can’t go big on a week hand hoping to catch a River winner.

Ante & Blind

In most poker games, there is an amount of money that a player must put in before they are dealt cards. This amount is called the ante and is typically the minimum bet in the game.

A small blind is the amount that the player to the left of the dealer (or the person with the dealer button) must put in before being dealt cards. The big blind is the amount that the player two positions to the left of the dealer must put in before being dealt cards.

Range & VPIP

The term “range” refers to a distribution of possible holdings that a player may have. It can be determined by many factors, including how often the player voluntarily puts chips into the pot preflop. Having a range can increase your winnings, and can also help you decide when to call or raise.