All About Poker

However, one style of Poker that has gained immense popularity is called Hold'em, or Texas Hold'em. Omaha is another variation of Holdem Poker. A player must be 18 years or older to play at a poker site.

Texas holdem poker game is meant for two to ten players. The object is to make the best 5-card poker hand using any combination of the 2 cards dealt face down to you and the 5 common cards dealt face up on the table. In the game of Omaha, the object is to make the best 5-card poker hand using 2 of the 4 cards dealt face down to you and 3 of the 5 common cards dealt face up on the table.

The games comprise the following:

The Dealer: The dealer is a person who deals the cards. This position rotates clockwise around the table after each hand. The player designated as Dealer for a particular hand is identified by a round "D" marker on the table.

Blinds: To begin the game of holdem poker, the player to the left of the Dealer puts up the Small Blind and the player to his left posts the Big Blind. This starts the pot.  After these two bets are made, other players also make their bets. These bets are called "blinds" because these bets are made before any cards are seen.

The Deal: Each holdem poker player is dealt two cards called Pocket Cards, which are visible only to the player holding them.

Betting: After all holdem poker players receive their pocket cards, the Round of Betting starts with the player to the left of the player who posted the Big Blind. Depending on his cards, a player can fold, check, call, bet, raise or re-raise within the bounds of the Game Limits and Table Stakes. A round of betting continues for several times if there are raises and re-raises. The round ends when all players have either called the last bet or folded.

The Flop: Flop is where 3 cards are dealt face-up in the common area of the table, followed by another round of betting.

The Turn: Then comes the Turn, where a 4th common card is dealt face-up next to the Flop, and a third round of betting occurs.

The River: The final common card in holdem poker is called the River. It is placed face-up next to the Turn and is followed by the last round of betting.

The Showdown: The Showdown in holdem poker occurs after betting concludes. The remaining players compare the best five-card poker hands they make using any combination of their 2 pocket cards and the 5 common cards. The player with the highest hand rank takes the pot.

Next Hand: After the pot is distributed, the Dealer button moves to the next player in a clockwise direction.

 The difference between Texas Hold'em and Omaha is very slight. The difference is only in the number of cards dealt and their showdown. While in Texas Hold'em, each player is dealt 2 cards, in Omaha they are dealt 4 cards each. For Showdown in Omaha, the remaining players compare the best five-card poker hands. The players must use 2 of their pockets cards and 3 of the common cards in order to comprise their 5 card poker hand. No other combinations are allowed. Players may not use all 5 common cards as they can in Hold’em. The player with the highest hand rank wins the pot.