Texas Hold'em: rules. Texas Hold'em: Combinations

"Texas Hold'em" - a game that turned the notion of cards. The rules of poker "Texas Holdem", a combination of it can be learned in five minutes, but you can not find at least one person who will say that he has learned all the subtleties of the game. Precisely because this game is so incredibly deep, and even losing and losing, an intelligent player gets a lot, opening the way for future victories, it makes sense to learn the rules. Poker can give much more than just an interesting hobby.

"Texas Hold'em": combinations

As in any other poker, here the winner is determined by certain combinations of cards. Before you start playing "Texas Hold'em", the combination must be learned first. The order of their following by seniority determines whether you won in a particular hand or not. In fact, this is the main rule of "Texas Hold'em."

There are 10 combinations in all, where the kicker is the weakest, and the royal flush is the strongest and unbeatable combination. The first three of them are very rare and almost invincible. Combinations with 3-7 are considered strong, but even a formidable "full house" can be defeated in the game. Couple and deuce often bring victory, but require attentiveness when playing.

1. "Flush the Royal" - "straight flush" from 10 to an ace.
2. "Straight Flush" - five cards of the same suit in order.
3. "Kare" - four cards of the same denomination.
4. "Fulhouse" - a pair and a set in one combination (only five cards).
5. "Flush" - five cards of the same suit regardless of dignity.
6. "Street" - five cards in order regardless of suit.
7. "Set" (or triple) - three cards of the same value.
8. Two pairs - a combination consisting of two pairs of the same value.
9. A pair is two cards of the same value.
10. "Kicker" is the highest card.

Thus, when playing Texas Hold'em, combinations are what determines the superiority or weakness of one player over another in a particular hand.

Beginning of the game

The modern rules of the game in "Texas Hold'em" clearly prescribe all the stages, from the distribution of cards and ending with the determination of the winner. The game involved from 2 to 10 people. Cards are dealt either by the dealer (in casinos and gambling clubs), or by the players themselves in turn.

Cards in the game are distributed by the player making the last bet. That is, the last one at the table in the current hand, to determine the position of this player, there is a special token - "baton", denoting the last player in the hand. With each new game he moves to the next player. Clockwise.

The next two players clockwise put the mandatory stakes - small and big "blind." They correspond to the minimum table rate. After the cards are dealt, the first bet is made by the player sitting to the left of the big blind.

First Circle

The game "Texas Hold'em" - poker, which is played with two cards. After the cards are dealt, tenders begin, during which each participant evaluates the strength of his hand. Depending on the pleasant decision, the player who breaks the auction can choose one of four actions:

1. "Call" is a bet equal to a big "blind".
2. "Raise" - increase in the rate (at least twice).
3. "Paz" - refusal to continue playing and discarding cards.
4. "All-in" or "all-in". All available chips are placed in the bank.

Of course, you can not bet below what was set earlier, except for the fact that the number of chips in the pot is lower than the bet. In this case, the player, if deemed correct, declares "All-in".

Each player in the order of priority does one of four actions until the bets are leveled, or all players fold to the pass, losing to the most aggressive player.

The basic rules of "Texas Holdem" say that the right decision at this stage is crucial for the entire distribution, especially for beginners.

Playing on the "flop"

After all bets are made, the dealer opens a "flop" - the first three cards on the table, called "flop". Thus, the players remaining in the hand receive maximum information about their hand. More often at this stage of the game in the "hold" combinations are made able to win in the game.

"Flop" gives a detailed idea of the prospects for a particular hand. The player may receive a ready-made combination or collect an incomplete "flush" or "straight" (without one card), which give the opportunity to play further, with moderate opponent rates.

If three cards on the table did not improve the hand, then, most likely, the player must throw the cards in the "pass" on the opponent's bet. An exception is on the hands of a pair of ladies, kings and aces. Trades on the "flop" are conducted in the same way as on "preflop" (the first round of trades). However, rates are usually much higher.

"Turn" and "river"

Any player who remained in the distribution of the ambassador "flop" without a ready combination, wants to see on the table that card, which will all change in his favor. However, only with proper calculation such hopes are justified more often than in 50% of hands.

"Turn" raises the question - play in the hope of the last card or declare "pass" and calculate the losses. The choice depends on the opponent, if his bet is too high, the cards should be thrown away.

"River" is the last fifth card in the game. After it is announced another round of bidding, and the participants open the cards to find out who will get the bank.

"River" is translated as a river, which is associated with the end of the path. On the "river" is not always winning a strong combination, very often someone takes the bank, replacing the other players from the game.

When playing Texas No Limit Hold'em, the rules say that the best 5-card combination, selected from seven cards, wins. Five cards laid out on the table, and two pocket cards. Despite the apparent simplicity, "Texas Hold'em" is poker, which has 2,869,685 variations of various combinations.

Limit and unlimited poker

Unlimited poker is the most popular type of game in which the maximum bet is limited only by the number of chips a member has. In this kind of card game, excitement and cold calculation are best combined, since even from a very strong professional overnight luck may turn away. When playing Texas No Limit Hold'em, the rules allow you to go all-in at any time in the game, making even the strongest of opponents nervous. It's quite another thing - a game with limited stakes.

"Limit Hold'em" means that the maximum "raise" of a player does not exceed one or two big "blinds". The maximum possible bet for the entire distribution is 24 times the minimum, and only if the opponents will constantly raise the rates. "Limit Hold'em" - a game of calm and measured, very often it is chosen in order to start playing on the Internet.

Tournaments in "Texas Holdem"

Tournament rules are slightly different from the usual game. The number of participants also starts with two people, but there is no upper limit. So, in the biggest event of 2014 - the main tournament of the WSOP world series in Las Vegas, 6680 people sat at the tables. And the total prize fund exceeded $ 65 million.

There are two main differences from the usual cash game:

- The stakes are raised through a certain passage of time. As a result, the number of blinds in the game decreases with time, and with each new stage the intensity of the game increases.

- The second difference is that the participants of the tournament can finish it only in two cases: having won or lost all the chips. In the cache game, you can leave the table at any time.

Tournament experience on the Internet is very important for novice players, as it allows you to get used to playing with a different number of chips. It is believed that tournaments are more athletic than cash games.

Sit-and-Go Tournaments

These games are very popular on the Internet, in fact they represent a tournament at the same table with the participation of 2-10 people. At the first stage, players have from 50 to 200 big blinds.

In tournaments, from 1 to 3 prize places are played, and in the first place players are attracted by the dynamism of Sit-and-Go. The tempo increases, the participants drop out one by one until at the end there is only one left.

The benefit of Sit-and-Go is that the player participates in all the main stages of the tournament for 30-50 minutes. For a successful game, you need flexibility of thinking and the ability to quickly change tactics depending on the circumstances.

One-on-One Poker

The game is one-on-one or "heads-up" has its own rules. "Texas Hold'em" together is, above all, the battle of the characters. He is distinguished by a high percentage of bluffing and a very aggressive style of the game, waiting, here not to win.

With this game, the cards "ace" and "king" with a second card below the tens, which are considered controversial in the usual game, acquire great strength. With these hands, players often go all-in.

The game "heads-up", first of all, allows you to understand the psychology of the enemy, which in itself is of great importance.

The ability to play one-on-one Texas Hold'em is found in all types of games, and it is extremely important to be able to play this poker, but not many can boast of this skill.

Fundamentals of poker strategy: position at the table

The closer the player is to the "loaf", the higher his chances of winning the game. And vice versa, the position of players in the first positions is dangerous for the draw of weak and medium strength hands. The table is divided into 4 zones depending on the position.

The most difficult game in the early position is three people sitting after the blinds. Common designation UTG 1-3. Then the blinds go, their position is weaker than that of UTG, but the blinds are the last to bet on preflop, and therefore can make more profitable decisions.

The average position, three places after the UTG, is indicated by the letters MP 1-3. It is believed that these places are particularly profitable with strong starting hands. The most advantageous are the last two hands in the draw. This is "kat-of" and "dealer", they close the distribution and decide when all the players have already said the word. These hands are best suited for bluffing.

When the number of players decreases, the UTG position is shortened first, then MP. In the game six remains only one early and middle position.

Strength of hands

It is very important to assess correctly with which starting hands to place bets depending on the position. In the early position, bets can only be made with very strong hands: AA; KK; QQ; JJ; TT; AK; AQ.

The range of hands on the MP position is complemented by all cards over the tens, as well as pairs from 77 and above.

In the late position, the range increases due to suited maps of all pairs and cards that can form straights and flushes (suited 56, 67, 78, etc.). In case the bet was made from an early position, you can call it TT cards; AK; AQ. Maps AA; KK; QQ; JJ is the right solution for "cutting". With the rest of your hands it's better to go into the fold.

The proposed recommendations are well suited for beginners, with experience the strategy of the game changes, becomes more flexible and technically equipped. "Texas Hold'em" - poker, which provides unlimited opportunities for development.

Bluffing in poker

The rules of the game in "Texas Hold'em" do not say anything about the bluff. However, without this element, a successful game is impossible. Bluffing is good when it works out, and can be useful when it is opened.

In the first case, it brings profit, in the second it allows to deceive the opponent, if after the exposure, change the strategy of the game.

However, in the absence of sufficient experience, it is worthwhile to identify some rules. "Texas Hold'em" does not forgive mistakes on the bluff.

• Bluffing is necessary only from late positions, when all the players have already said their word.
• Never bet against players who made "raises" or big bets.
• Do not bluff often. Only in the event that there is a tangible chance of success, and with the observance of the first two rules.
• Never bet a lot, the bet should be less than the pot, but more than half of it (best 2/3).
• Do not fight for big banks. The chips lost on a bluff are hard to return.

There are several effective bluff strategies, but they are all built on experience and subtle knowledge of psychology, and therefore in this part of the game you need to enter carefully, without taking dangerous decisions in the game.

Poker as a philosophy

Playing "Texas Hold'em", rules, combinations, the first steps in the game - this is not even the beginning. Poker is the matrix of human society, which reflects all the strengths of a person and his weakness. Understanding how to play Hold'em, many believe that they have found the missing link in life, have become more integrated and stronger.

The popularity of poker is due to the fact that everyone can find their place, their table, their limit and even their company in the game. And the rules of "holdem" only help to find this road. The main thing in the game is the ability to correctly find your moment, to see the second weakness of the opponent or, conversely, to guess the treacherous "flash" behind the nervous nervousness. This game is the cognition of the world, of yourself and of other people. Poker is the art of winning, even losing.