The most popular type of poker game and perhaps best for beginners to try is texas hold em poker. Within minutes, anyone can learn the rules, which usually start with the two players to the left of the dealer placing a blind bet. Two face down cards are then dealt to each player. A betting round ensues, this time starting with the person to the left of the first two to place the blinds at the start. Players can choose to check, raise, or fold when their turn to bet comes to them.
After that, the dealer places three cards face up on the table. Called the flop, players can use these cards with the two cards they already have to form their hand. After this is another betting round, after which the dealer places another card, known as a turn card, face up on the table. This card can be used to make five cards, if it increases the hand they already hold. The players place their bets, and the dealer places the last card on the table. Known as the river card, players can now use this as well as the other four on the table and the two they have to make their final poker hand .
After one last betting round, the players who are still in the game reveal their cards, this is called a showdown. With a few rounds of practice, anyone can master the rules. However, mastering the game of poker itself is another story. More than just a practice of luck, Texas holds em, despite its simplicity it involves the brain and practice, as such, continues to challenge those who play it.
Texas hold em poker has become increasingly popular as more and more online sites attract people to play from the comfort of their homes. More and more people are starting to play the game competitively, honing their skills and strategies, often in hopes of earning some extra cash. Many also participate in online texas hold em tournaments where the cash prizes can be very high.
Many other sites and resources have also sprung up to help people perfect their games, offer winning tips and proven strategies, and direct them to the top sites where to play. The organization that brought players together had also become famous. Television shows, such as “Celebrity Poker” on the Bravo network, where celebrities compete against each other playing texas hold em have proven to be ranking successes. It has also helped raise the profile of the game which was once relegated to the casino or to the weekly men’s bonding activity.
Wider, more diverse people are involved, from Ivy League college students to stay at home moms, many from the comfort of their homes as they log onto thousands of sites online. Sales of poker equipment have increased as well, as people either take the game much more seriously than before or they are just discovering it for the first time. Nonetheless, it remains to be seen whether this texas hold em revival is just a fad or one that will prove to have a strong hold.
