How to Get Started with Online Texas Hold'em

As Texas Hold'em is offered by a large number of online poker rooms, players who want to play the online version of the game have plenty of options. In case you want to get started with the game, there are a few simple steps that you have to follow.

Find a Site

To make your gambling experience enjoyable, opt for a poker site that offers many variants of Texas Hold'em. The most widely played variants are Fixed Limit, Spread Limit, No Limit and Pot Limit.

Another aspect that should be considered when selecting a poker site is the kind of tournaments it runs. Opt for one that offers many Texas Hold'em tournaments. Playing online poker tournaments is one of the best ways to enhance your poker playing skills. Such tournaments also offer ample scope to earn money. Players looking to earn big should opt for sites that conduct online poker tournaments.

Create an Account

Once you select a poker site, sign up as a registered member. This is a requirement that players have to meet to access poker games on poker sites. The sign up procedure at most poker rooms will require you to share details like personal and financial information. Such details are safeguarded at reputed poker sites through efficient encryption systems that meet industry standards.

After you create an account, you will have to deposit money at the poker room. To make a deposit, visit the cashier section of a site. Click on the 'deposit' option. On doing so, you will find a host of payment methods that the site offers. Choose the one that suits your requirements. Follow the same process when making a withdrawal. Most sites have a maximum and minimum deposit and withdrawal limit. Make a deposit based on the limit and the amount you want to wager. Most poker rooms require players to meet certain requirements before they make withdrawals. In case you request for a withdrawal before meeting the criteria, you may lose all your wins.

Select a Game

On creating an account with a poker site, you will have access to a large number of games that the poker room has to offer. Choose the Texas Hold'em game that interests you and start wagering.

Top notch poker sites have exclusive poker school sections on their websites. Visit this section of a site to know the basic rules and winning strategies that can be used when playing your favorite game. This will enhance your chances for winning and help you make more money.

Rules for Playing Texas Hold'em

Texas Hold'em can be played by 2-10 players. The key goal in Texas Hold'em is to win as many chips as possible. You can achieve the goal if you have the best hand. If all your opponents fold before you, you will win the hand. The game starts with the distribution of equal number of chips to all players. When a hand completes, the player who acted as the dealer transfers the task to another player.

The dealer deals two face-down cards to each player. These are called 'hole cards'. Before the cards are being dealt, two players have to put a certain amount of money into the pot. This is referred as, 'posting of blinds'. After the cards are dealt, the first round of betting begins. It is started by a player who had not posted a blind. Players can 'fold'. 'raise' or 'call'.

The flop comes after the initial betting round. In this round, the top card on the deck is discarded by the dealer. This is referred to as 'burning the card'. It is done primarily to prevent players from cheating in the game. After this, 3 face-up cards called flop cards are flipped on the table. Another betting round takes place after the flop. In this round and others that follow (the turn and river), players can call, check, raise or fold. They also have the option of making a bet if they are the first to act.