How to Play Texas Hold 'em Like a Pro

What comes to mind at the mention of poker? Bluffing? Mind games? All-around calculative gameplay? All of these are qualities often used to describe this casino game, and with the American variant known as Texas Hold 'em, even more fun and intrigue is promised. In this guide, we dissect everything there is to know about this game, with a focus on how to play Texas Hold 'em.

Basic Texas Hold 'em Rules

To become a pro at this game, you need to establish a firm foundation in the gameplay and card rules. Here are the fundamental rules to help get started.

Gameplay Rules

• Players are dealt two private cards at the start of every game, also called ‘hole’ cards.

• Five community cards are dealt in three stages, all facing upwards.

• Stage one is “the flop,” with three community cards.

• The second stage is “the turn,” with one community card.

• Stage three is “the river,” with one community card.

• Players must combine their hole and community cards to get their best five cards.

• To play, there are four betting rounds: the pre-flop, the flop, the turn, and the river.

• There is also a betting round called blinds, consisting of small and big blinds, which are forced bets that rotate around the table and keep the action going.

• During a betting round, depending on the round action, players can fold, check, call, bet, or raise their bet during their turn.

Card Play Rules

A standard deck has four suits: spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs. Each suit contains 13 ranks: ace (A), king (K), queen (Q), jack (J), 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, and 2. The ace is typically the highest-ranking card, sitting above the king, while 2 is the lowest. However, depending on the game or hand, the ace can also be the lowest card. For example, in a straight like A-2-3-4-5, the ace is counted low, while in a straight like 10-J-Q-K-A, it is counted high.

In Texas Hold'em, there are ten possible poker hands ranked from highest to lowest, as shown below:

1. A royal flush is the strongest hand in any Texas Hold'em game. It includes A, K, Q, J, and 10 of the same suit.

2. A straight flush is the second strongest hand and a relatively rare occurrence. It includes five cards in sequence, all of the same suit.

3. Four of a kind, otherwise called “quads,” includes four cards of the same rank in different suits.

4. A full house is a strong winning hand that includes three cards of one rank and two of another in different suits.

5. A flush is another strong hand, but if two players have a flush, whoever has the higher card rank wins. It features five cards of the same suit, not in sequence.

6. Straight winning cards can be high or low, but they must be in sequence and of mixed suits.

7. Three of a kind, called “trips” or “a set,” is three cards of the same rank but different suits.

8. Two pairs are two cards of one rank and two of another in different suits.

9. One pair is two cards of the same rank in different suits.

10. The ace is the only strength with a high card, and there are no matching cards or sequences.

There are also weak hands players should know when learning how to play poker Texas Hold 'em; these include:

1. Offsuit low cards are two low cards of different suits. They rarely hit strong hands and will not make a flush.

2. The random connectors are cards with no suit connection. They might make a straight but will often miss.

3. Low-suited cards are of the identical suits but of low ranks. Although they may be able to make a flush, they are often beaten by higher-suited hands, even if they hit.

4. A top pair with a weak kicker hits top pairs like queens, but weak kickers like 8. This means a pair with a better kicker can beat it.

5. Ace with a low kicker, e.g., a spade and three diamonds. Even if played, it can be overtaken by holding a higher kicker.

6. Unsuited gaps, such as 10 of spades and 7 of diamonds, are challenging to make into straights; even if one pair is hit, it is not strong enough.

7. Overplaying small pocket pairs, for example, 3 of clubs and 3 of diamonds. If no set is gotten on the flop, it will be crushed by higher cards.

How to Play Texas Hold 'em at an Online Casino

Having covered the core gameplay basics of the game, let's get into how to play Texas Hold 'em at a casino:

1. Select and register at a licensed US online casino platform.

2. Browse the poker games library on the site.

3. You can choose a table based on stake limit, player count, or table type, such as cash game or tournament.

4. Join the table and wait for the dealer to deal the next hand. 

5. Once a new game begins, quietly review the two hole cards. 

6. Make a pre-flop decision to call, raise, or fold based on the player's hand and position.

7. Observe the flop and then decide whether to participate in another betting round.

8. Pay attention to the cards appearing in each turn and make another round of betting decisions.

9. React to the final community card, the river, before the last betting round begins.

10. If more than one player remains in the river round, the players must decide on and reveal their winning cards.

11. The player with the highest or strongest hand collects the pot. 

12. The last standing player collects the pot if no other player is in the river round.

Types of Texas Hold 'em

There are several types of Texas Hold 'em Poker. Two of the most common include Classical and Ultimate.

Classical Texas Hold 'em is played by real players playing against themselves. Bets are placed in open rounds, and a lot of bluffing and strategies are needed to get other players to fold before the last round. Players try to read their opponents, call out other players’ bluffs, or even bluff themselves.

Texas Hold 'em Ultimate is played on a casino table with players facing the house, not others. It can also be played solo, with faster hands and rounds than traditional poker games. It is a simpler variation with fewer betting decisions, optional bonus bets, and generally easier gameplay. The result is very luck-based.

Difference Between Texas Hold 'em and Poker

New players may wonder if there is a difference between Texas Hold 'em and poker.

Poker is an umbrella term for any card casino game where hand ranking and bluffing are the order of the day, while Texas Hold 'em is a specific variant of poker games. Hence, it is safe to say that all Texas Hold 'em games are poker games, but not all poker games are Texas Hold 'em. Other poker games include Omaha, Five-Card Draw, and Seven-Card Stud.

Texas Hold 'em Tips

New and seasoned players can benefit from poker Texas Hold 'em game tips. With that in mind, here are some valuable tips to help new players learn how to play

• Understand all the hand rankings, what they entail, and what they can beat out or fall short of in any game. 

• A grasp of all the hands and their ranking can help players quickly judge their strength.

• Learn to keep a poker face. Keep your emotions to yourself, keep a straight face, and sell a bluff.

• Try to sit at the end of the table, or as close to the end as possible. Later positions receive more information and strategic power than earlier ones.

• It's better not to overplay weak hands, such as off-suit low cards or random connectors; this can lead to more losses than wins, even when bluffing.

• Learn how to read the board and players to determine who has the best possible hands and what choice to make.

• To reduce risk, play at low-stakes games when you're starting to gain experience.

Popular Texas Hold 'em Variants at Online Casinos

There are three main Texas Hold 'em variants that any player can find on most online casino platforms—Texas Hold ’em Bonus Poker, Live Dealer Texas Hold ’em, and Ultimate Texas Hold ‘em.

Texas Hold 'em bonus poker is available in the best US online casinos. In this variant, players play against the dealer. Another distinction about this variant is the addition of a side bet, where a bet can be placed on the first two cards dealt to a player. 

Live dealer Texas Hold 'em is essentially the same as Texas Hold 'em poker games played in land-based casinos. It replicates the land-based experience of playing poker with human dealers and a real poker table. The main difference is that the entire live dealer Texas Hold'em game is streamed, so players and dealers worldwide can play from anywhere, at their convenience. You can find these live streaming games at the best live dealer casinos.

The Ultimate Texas Hold'em variant is a popular option in many online casino poker libraries. Players can learn how to play Ultimate Texas Hold 'em and take part in the progressive jackpot bonus. 

Common Texas Hold 'em Mistakes to Avoid

For all new players, there are common Texas Hold 'em mistakes that many players fall into. These mistakes include:

• Avoid playing too many hands out of position.

• Never call a bet with a weak hand out of curiosity or just to bluff. 

• Avoid the urge to chase losses by doubling the next bet to win back lost bet amounts.

• Avoid playing long stretches without a break or limit.

• Never start playing without a limit on finance and timing.

• Avoid bluffing boastfully or frequently without understanding the table dynamics or reading the players.

• Do not ignore table positions and betting patterns. They tell a lot about the game and its players.

• Do not hold onto failed Texas Hold 'em poker hands; fold as soon as a beat is obvious.

• Poker is very strategy and skill-focused, so never play when distracted or play multiple games at a time.

• Do not fall victim to board misreading or misjudging hand strength; try to learn the strength of every hand rating.

• Avoid consistent bankrolling, even if affordable, and play responsibly, especially in long-term play.

• Avoid overvaluing marginal hands, such as top pair with weak kickers.

Responsible Gambling

It is every player's duty to gamble responsibly, as problem gambling harms everyone, including the gambling industry. 

Learn to set clear personal limits, including max deposit amount, stop loss, and session time limits, and stick to them for every game. Take advantage of built-in casino tools like self-exclusion, cooling-off periods, and other self-help solutions. 

Never chase losses, and always gamble for fun, not as a means to a financial breakthrough. Once a player identifies problem gambling signs or feels out of control when gambling, they must be wise and seek help. Helpful US gambling resources, like the National Council on Problem Gambling, Gamblers Anonymous, and state gaming commissions, have various solutions and partners to help with gambling issues. Players who need more tips and support tools can visit our responsible gambling section.