History of Texas Holdem
Although very little is known about where and how the game was invented, the Texas Legislature officially recognizes Robstown, Texas, as the birthplace of Texas Holdem. The invention of the game dates back to the 1900s. After the game was widespread throughout Texas, it was introduced to Las Vegas in 1963 at the California Club by a professional poker player, Felton "Corky" McCorquodale. And, from there, began the realm of Texas Holdem.
Now that we learned about the history of Texas Holdem, let us understand the basic rules and how Texas Holdem winning hands work.
Basic Rules of Texas Holdem
Texas Holdem is the most popular variant of online poker that can be played between 2-10 players online with a standard deck of 52 cards. To start this game, each player is dealt 2 cards, visible to his/her eyes only that are called Hole or Pocket Cards. A total of 5 community cards are dealt face-up on the table in three stages - The Flop, Turn, and The River. Each player is required to form the best five-card hand using these community cards and the 2 pocket cards. Any combination of 5 cards out the total 7 cards can be used to form your Texas Holdem Winning Hand. The player who forms the best five-card hand in the game as per Texas Holdem winning hands wins the money in the pot.
The game begins as soon as each player receives their pocket cards and proceeds with each player taking action in a clockwise manner starting with the player immediately left to the Big Blind. Let's go through the gameplay of this variant of Online Poker that progresses in 4 stages.
Stage 1: The Pre-Flop
After seeing their hole cards, each player has four options - Call, raise, fold, or check. Only one player acting at a time to bet in the game takes one of these options based on the strength of their Texas Holdem winning hands. The first betting starts with the player left of the big blind and continues clockwise until all the players have placed an equal bet.
Stage 2: The Flop
Once the pre-flop round is over, 3 community cards are dealt face-up on the table, known as The Flop Cards. The action starts with the active player immediately left of the button. Each player bets in a similar manner as in the pre-flop based on their combination of 3 community cards and 2 hole cards.
Stage 3: The Turn
A single community card is dealt face-up on the table after the flop round is completed. It initiates the betting similar to the previous rounds based on the new strength of card combinations. The action starts with the active player immediately left of the button and each player has similar options: to call, raise, or fold.
Stage 4: The River
When the Turn round comes to an end, the final community card is dealt face-up on the table, known as the River. The betting progresses in a similar manner till all the remaining players either have equal bet amount or go all-in.
Showdown
All the active players left in the game show their cards, that marks the Showdown in Texas Holdem. The player with the best five-card combination is chosen as the winner and takes home the entire pot money.
Now that you are clear on how Texas Holdem winning hands work and the basic rules of online poker, hit the Play Now button to start your poker journey.
