How to play Holdem
Hold’em is the most popular kind of poker, where players are dealt 2 hole cards known as the hand.
Players use any amount of hole cards and community cards known as the board to complete the 5-card combinations. For example, they can use 2 hole cards + 3 board cards, or 1 hole card + 4 board cards, or only board cards to make the best available combination. For example, if you are dealt J4, and the board is JJ6A3, then your best combination is three of a kind JJJ + two highest of the remaining cards — A and 6.
Combination seniority in Hold’Em
The Hold’Em combinations listed from lowest to highest are:
- High card;
- A pair;
- Two pair;
- Three of a kind (set, trips)*;
- Straight;
- Flush;
- Full House;
- Four of a kind;
- Straight Flush;
- Royal Flush.
*Set is three cards of the same rank, two of which are hole cards. Trips is three cards of the same rank, two of which are community board cards.
Game phases in Hold’Em
First is the preflop phase. The players are dealt 2 hole cards also known as a hand. Before the players see their cards, they post ante. Additionally, the first two players on the left from the button (dealer) post blinds. The first of them posts a small blind, the second posts a big blind, which is usually equal to two small blinds.
Then, the players are revealed their hole cards, and each of them takes actions in a clockwise order: the first is the one to the left of the big blind, the last is the player in the big blind position.
When all bets are made, the three community cards are dealt called the flop. Now, the first player to act is the one on the big blind, then the rest of the players act in the clockwise order with the last being the player on the button. If the small blind player folded their hand preflop, then the first to act on the flop is the nearest remaining player to the left of them.
After all players have acted, the single community card is dealt called the turn. Here, the order of action is similar to the flop.
The last community card is called the river. Here, the last round of betting is done, and if there is still more than one player remaining, their cards are revealed. The first to reveal their hand is the player who made the last raise, and if there were no raises, then in the clockwise order starting from the small blind.
The winner of the hand is the player who has the best combination. If multiple players have the identical best combination, they split the pot equally.
How to find Hold’em cash games
In the PokerKing lobby open the “HOLD’EM” section. Below, you can select the desired types of games (No Limit, Pot Limit, Fixed Limit) and limits (High, Medium, Low and Micro) and Play Money.
How to find Hold’em tournaments
In the PokerKing lobby go to the “TOURNEY” section, “ALL” tabs. Then open “FILTERS” and tick all the boxes of the desired Hold’em variations.
