Texas Hold'em Poker

By Will Veda

A fresh poker craze has invaded the planet with the television coverage of the World Series of Poker, the World Poker Tour, and even Celebrity Poker.  This phenomenon allows us beer-bellied lazies to dream of striking it rich playing the new “sport.”  Growing up I wanted to be like Pete Rose; well I do in fact possess the gambling addiction.  Now, I want to be like Doyle Brunson and I don’t need to hit a 95-mile an hour fastball to mimic a hero.  In Texas Hold’em (Hold’em), it sometimes pays off to be a different kind of Charlie Hustle.   

Texas Hold’em is the Champion of Games and is more than just a card game.  Luck is involved, as with all gambling, but if you can read people, you can succeed at this game.  I wouldn’t be surprised if a psychologist someday wins the World Series of Poker.  And like becoming a doctor, Hold’em takes a lot of time and patience to master. 

With the advent of the hole-card cam on most poker TV shows, the viewer has the privilege of seeing each player’s cards, but in live action, the cards remain a mystery until revealed.  Unless you can read it in the players’ tells.  Tells are usually slight movements that us humans show when we’re excited or disappointed, like jittering eye movement, scratching the nose, or jumping up and dancing for joy.  To hide tells, a lot of poker players wear sunglasses and/or listen to personal stereo systems using headphones to prevent outside distractions.  I prefer to use only the good old fashioned Poker Face.  Stone nerves. 

The Basics

The game of Limit Texas Hold’em (Pot Limit and No Limit will be discussed later) begins with a small disk, called the dealer button, which is placed in front of a player to designate the “dealer.”   The “dealer player” is just to show who will be the last player to act in the round.  The two players to left of the “dealer” must place bets that are called blinds.  The first player places a small blind, which is usually half the lower stake of the first round; the second player places a big blind, which is usually equal to the stake of the first round.  Hold’um stakes are generally classified with a dollar amount followed by double the amount, such as 3/6 or 5/10 or 10/20.  The lower stake is the amount used for the first two rounds, the higher is for the final two rounds.  So, in a 10/20 game, the small blind is $10 and the big blind is $20.  Blinds assure that there will always be money in the pot, which is the term used for the total amount of money that has been wagered.   

After the blinds have been established, each player is dealt two “hole” cards from a standard 52-card deck and begins a round of betting.  The small blind player has the option to check (which means to pass without making a bet), call (making a bet equal to the stake), raise (doubling the stake), or fold (throw away the cards, also called mucking).   The big blind player then has basically the same options dependent on what the small blind does.  If the small blind checks, the big blind can check also.  If the small blind calls, the big blind can check because his bet is already equal to the stake.  If the small blind raises, the big blind must call his bet (this time equaling the small blind’s bet, not the stake), or re-raise the small blind’s bet, or fold.  The betting continues with each player until either all the bets are equal or a total of three rotations of betting have taken place. 

A card is now burned (taken out of action) and three cards are placed in the center of the table.  These cards are called The Flop and are considered community cards, which means they can be used by each player to help make the best five-card poker hand as possible.  Another lower stake (the number to the left of the slash) round of betting takes place with same rules as the pre-flop round. 

Another card is burned and one more community card is placed on the table.  This card is called either The Turn or Fourth Street.  The betting takes place again—always starting with the small blind—but with the higher stake limits (the number to the right of the slash).  

One more card is burned and the final community card is dealt.  This card is called either The River or Fifth Street.  In essence, each player has seven cards at their disposal to make their hand. 

Poker Hand Rankings Are As Follows:

1. Royal Flush: Ten, Jack, Queen, King, Ace of same suit. 

2. Straight Flush: Five consecutive cards of same suit (non-Ace high). 

3. Four of a Kind: Four like cards in one hand. 

4. Full House: A combination of a three of a kind and one pair. 

5. Flush: Five cards all of same suit that are not consecutive. 

6. Straight: Five consecutive cards not of same suit. 

7. Three of a Kind: Three like cards in one hand with two non-like cards. 

8. Two Pair: Two sets of same ranked pairs with one odd card. 

9. One Pair: Two cards of same rank with three non-like cards. 

10. High Card: In poker if none of the above is present, the hand with the highest ranked card wins. 

The betting now is still the higher stake, but can go on as long as players keep raising, but in some card rooms the re-raises can continue indefinitely only if there are two player left playing heads up.   Other card rooms only allow three rotations on The River, also. 

If the betting ultimately makes it to The River (often times, the game is decided somewhere in the middle of the game), the final showdown decides the winner.  When the remaining players have equal bets, meaning the last player called, they turn up their cards and the best five-card hand wins using one or both of the hole cards plus whatever is needed in the community cards.  If neither hole card is used by any of the remaining players, the result could end up being a tie, which causes the players to split of the pot. 

While paying off the winner, the card room dealer removes what is called a rake from the pot.  The rake is a percentage, typically 5% of the total pot; or a flat fee, usually no more than $5.  It is also customary for the winner to tip the card room dealer a dollar or two. 

The dealer button then moves clockwise and the next game begins. 

Pot Limit and No Limit

Pot Limit and No Limit Hold’um are not structured-stake games like Limit Hold’em.  In Pot Limit, the maximum amount of a bet can only equal the total amount presently in the pot.  In No Limit, there is, well no limit to what you can bet.  This is the type of game being aired on the TV shows and is used in tournament play.  Strategies differ from Limit to No Limit games. 

Strategies

Understanding the importance of hole cards is vital to successful Hold’em play.  In limit play, hole cards will ultimately be mucked more than they will be played.  So patience is necessary.  If a player folds, he should use this non-participation time to study the opponents.  Watch and remember their mannerisms and their betting styles; this info could come in handy in future rounds, especially when playing with weaker hands.  The Flop is virtually the most important part of the game to determine in continuing.  A lot of mucking occurs during the Flop round. 

On the other hand, it is generally wise to stick to playing only strong hole cards, but by varying your own mannerisms and betting styles, other players may not get a read on you.  Strong hole card hands include: a pair of Aces, a pair of Kings, a pair of Queens, a pair of Jacks, and a pair of Tens; A/K suited, A/Q suited, A/J suited, K/Q suited; and A/K unsuited.  Other mid-level pairs, such as nines or eights can be strong starters if the player is betting late in the round, especially on the dealer button; as well as higher suited connector cards, such as the ten and nine of spades.  With these semi-strong cards, it is important to watch the prior players’ betting strategies to figure out if they are stronger than you.  If a lot of heavy action is taking place, it may be wise to muck these semi-weak cards. 

Positioning can also be vital in your decision-making.  If you’re late in the betting round, you get the opportunity to see how the other players’ are betting and their actions in doing so.   If you are early in the round, the late bettors will be watching you. 

When the Flop comes be sure that the combination of your cards and community cards make it worth your while to stay in the game.  If you hold a pair of Queens and the flop is a King, Five, and Three unsuited, chances are another player has one the remaining Kings that has you presently beat.  Once again pay attention to the betting styles that may determine who has that King.  Always try to envision what the possible strongest hand could be when there are community cards on the table.  If after The River, you have figured out that no can possibly have a better hand than you, you are holding what’s called the nuts.  At this point, try to be a little deceiving with your betting to make the players that you have a weak hand.  The more players who stay in and bet, the more the pot will grow to add to your chip count. 

With the Turn and River rounds, your hand should continue to improve or you could be in trouble.  More often than not, the field becomes only two or three players on the River.  If dueling it out with someone who appears strong, don’t let your ego get in the way of losing money; if you know you’re beat, throw in your cards with dignity.  This can be considered a good lay down because in the long run you need the money to continue playing until you have the opportunity for plotting revenge. 

Tells

This is where a psychology degree comes in handy or you just need to be a good study of people.  We humans have tendencies that reveal our souls.  In poker, you can get the edge learning these tendencies and if you possess this talent, bluffing those weaker hands could land more pots. 

The eyes are the most telling feature of a person if not kept under control.  Hence the sunglasses (or the bizarre hologram-eye glasses) that many poker players adorn.  Unknowing players will sometimes stare at strong hole cards or roll their eyes at weak hands or shift their glazes in perusal of earlier players betting habits. 

Listen for dialogue that tends to be reverse psychology.  “Man, I have a bitchin’ hand that could never lose.”  Chances are, it will.  “God, these cards suck, can I deck the dealer?”  You should probably fold, right then and there.  Noticeable nervousness could also be a sign of a strong hand or just too much caffeine.  If a player’s hands are shaking that generally are calm, he probably has the nuts.  Watch for body language; slouching could mean weak, erection could mean strong. 

Experienced players will sometimes ask questions, like “How much money ya got?” to novices to read their reaction.  Facial and body tics can reveal a nervousness that shows weakness.  Don’t let them intimidate you; just plead the fifth.  Experienced players could also show all of the above tells and actually have the exact opposite of what they should usually entail.  Practice your poker face in front of a mirror while someone tickles you. 

Pot Odds

Another tool to use in advancing to the higher level of Hold’em play is called pot odds, which are a calculation of the amount in the pot versus your next move.  In computing pot odds, compare your outs (cards to give you a winning hand) with the size of the pot.  Your pot odds are very good if the chance of getting a winning hand is much better than the ratio of the pot size to a bet.   I would recommend reading a detailed book on Texas Hold’em to fully grasp an understanding of outs and pot odds.  This knowledge is valuable. 

 Tilt

Poker and gambling in general can lead to a dangerous condition of going on tilt.  You get a bad beat, like losing a strong hand to an improbable stronger hand on the river draw, and you want to just go crazy.  You feel you must make up the loss all in one hand.  I’ve been there and have succeeded losing all my money in a short period of time.  It is an awful feeling.  If you sense the ire rising, take a time out like Mom used to give you.  Breath deep, count to ten or one hundred.  Listen to Barry Manilow (well, that might really piss you off – never mind).  Do whatever it takes to calm the nerves and then get back in the game.  Poker is always a roller coaster ride and chances are that a huge hill will follow a plunging dip. 

Final Note

As The Gambler says, “You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em.”  Nothing can be further from the truth when it comes to successful poker playing.   There are a plethora amount of books available from experts worldwide.  Read as much as possible and practice, practice, practice.  On-line poker rooms are a great way to learn and practice.  Remember that Chris Moneymaker and Greg Raymer won the World Series of Poker by winning cheap tournaments on-line.  They are now millionaires.  But, I bet they’ll agree that nothing beats the rush of playing in a live poker room and raking in a huge pot.  Just keep your cool and don’t show up the other players no matter how much your innards are trembling.