Texas hold ‘em poker may be the most popular game of any type in the country right now. Tournaments are on cable television almost nightly. Kids play it in the lunch room and at parties.

It is also become more popular with women. Women are joining in the big money tournaments (and are starting to win). They are also playing the game more in casinos, on-line, and for fun with friends.

Why Texas Hold ‘Em

Traditionally women gamble in games that require luck over skill, such as slot machines or video poker. However, with the popularity of poker escalating, it isn’t surprising that women have taken an interest in it.

For women who know little about poker but enjoy an occasional game, Texas hold’ em is the ideal version of poker to play. It is one of the easiest games to learn and one can play well in a short time.

How to Play

The rules are simple. It is played with a regular 52-card deck. Players are dealt two cards, face down each. In poker jargon, the face-down cards are called hole or pocket cards. After bets are placed, the dealer “burns” or discards the top card of the deck to avoid any signs of cheating. The next three cards, called the flop cards, are dealt face up on the table. They are not dealt to specific players, but are communal cards for all players to use with their pocket cards. After another round of betting, the dealer again burns the top card in the deck and places a card called the turn card face up. This card can be used to form a five-card poker hand.

Players do another round of bets or fold out of the hand before the dealer repeats this process on final time. This last face-up card is called the river. Now those left in the game can use any combination of the five face cards and their two pocket cards to create a five-card poker hand.

After one last round of bets, players reveal their hands. This is called the showdown. The best hand wins.

How to Bet

Betting varies from game to game, but the most common method to begin a game is the two players to the left of the dealer bet a predetermined amount of money called posting the blinds. The first round of betting after the pocket cards are dealt is begun by the person left of the two who posted the blinds. Betting in subsequent rounds is led by the person to the left of the dealer.

Practice Practice

Even though Texas hold ‘em is an easy game to learn, the people who play in casinos have mastered it. Before gambling at a casino, it is recommended that players spend a lot of time practicing. Many on-line casinos have Texas hold ‘em rooms that use play money or are free. It is possible to become a very good player this way; a recent world champion honed his skills with on-line play.