Poker may be an easy game to learn, but it’s tough to master. Some might say it’s a game of chance, but many would argue that it’s a skill game. The ability to read your opponents, decide when to fold, and when to bluff is the key to becoming a successful poker player. There are many variations of poker, each with its own rules and strategies, but the basics of the game apply to all of them. Once you master the fundamentals of playing poker, you can adapt to any variation of the game.
Today, JiliAce will focus on the basics of the most popular poker game, Texas Hold’em Poker. Before you begin playing poker online or in person, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the basic Jiliace Texas Hold’em rules.
JiliAce Texas Hold’em Rules – Overview
JiliAce Texas Hold’em is a popular variant of standard poker. It originated in the early 1900s in Robstown, Texas, USA, where it was first played in a local card game called “Hold Me Darling”. Later, the game migrated to Dallas and became famous under the name Texas Hold’em.

The basic rules of Texas Hold’em are quite simple. Each player is dealt two private cards, known as “hole cards,” which they must keep hidden from other players. Then, five community cards are dealt and revealed on the table, which all players can use to create their best possible hand. The goal of the game is to make the best five-card hand possible using any combination of the two private cards and the five community cards.
After the initial deal, there’s a round of betting. Then, three community cards are revealed, followed by another betting round. This process repeats with the fourth and fifth community cards, with a betting round after each card is dealt. Players can choose to fold, call, or raise during each betting round.
Why is it Worth Learning to Play This Game?
Texas Hold’em has become one of the most popular poker games in the world, with millions of players and many tournaments held throughout the year. Some notable Texas Hold’em players include Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu, and many others.

One of the most prestigious JiliAce Texas Hold’em tournaments is the World Series of Poker (WSOP), held annually in Las Vegas since 1970. The Main Event of the WSOP is an unlimited buy-in Texas Hold’em tournament with a buy-in of $10,000, where the winner receives multi-million dollar prizes and a Main Event WSOP bracelet. Other popular Texas Hold’em tournaments include the European Poker Tour (EPT), World Poker Tour (WPT), and Aussie Millions.
With its widespread popularity among players worldwide and the variety of online poker platforms, Texas Hold’em is one of the best poker games to learn when you start playing poker.
Is it Difficult to Learn How to Play Texas Hold’em Poker?
Texas Hold’em is considered relatively easy to learn, especially for beginners. The basic rules are quite simple, and once you understand the rankings of different hands, the game becomes easier. However, mastering the game and understanding the strategies requires time, practice, and perseverance.
One of the reasons why Texas Hold’em is so popular among beginners is because it has a simple structure and straightforward rules. Compared to other poker variants like Stud or Omaha, Texas Hold’em is much more accessible. Additionally, there are many learning resources available such as books, videos, and online tutorials, making it easy for newcomers to learn the game.
However, as players gain experience, they’ll realize that Texas Hold’em is a complex and sophisticated game. To excel in Texas Hold’em, players need to develop deep strategies, including position play, hand selection, betting, and bluffing. They also need to have the ability to read their opponents and make accurate judgments about their hand and tendencies.
In short, while Texas Hold’em is easy for beginners to learn, it is a complex and deep game that requires time and effort to master.
The Basics of How to Play Texas Hold’em Rules
Now that we’ve gained an understanding of what Texas Hold’em is and why it’s worth learning, let’s move on to the important part: learning the rules, the betting rounds, and other complexities of the game.
Dealer Button

In online poker, to make things fair for all players, the dealer button rotates. Typically, it is a disc with the word “Dealer” on it, and the player holding the dealer button is considered the “dealer” for that round. This player also receives their cards last.
Blinds (Mandatory Bets)
Before the cards are dealt, players must place mandatory blind bets. Blinds are used to encourage action and to ensure there is money in the pot. The players immediately to the left of the dealer button place the small blind and big blind.
There are two types of blinds: the “Small Blind” and the “Big Blind.” The Small Blind is placed by the player to the left of the dealer button, and the Big Blind is placed by the player to the left of the Small Blind.
Straddle Bet
Here’s another concept you should be familiar with: the “Straddle.”
A Straddle is a voluntary blind bet placed by the player who will act first after the small blind and big blind but before the hole cards are dealt. The player to the left of the Big Blind has the option to straddle by placing a bet that is double the amount of the Big Blind before receiving their hole cards.
Note: Since this is a voluntary bet, it does not happen frequently.
Betting Rounds
In Texas Hold’em, there are four betting rounds: Pre-flop, Flop, Turn, and River.
Pre-flop
After the blinds are posted, each player is dealt two private cards, starting with the Small Blind.
These two cards are known as “hole cards” (cards that only the player can see). A betting round takes place after all the cards are dealt. In this round, players can choose to “Check” (no bet), “Bet” (place a bet), or “Fold” (fold their hand). At this point, decisions should be based on the player’s hole cards. After the betting round concludes, the community cards will be dealt.
The Flop

Once the pre-flop round is finished, three community cards are dealt face-up in the center of the table. This stage is called “The Flop”.
A poker hand consists of five cards. In the Flop phase, each player’s hand will consist of their two hole cards and the three community cards on the table. The second betting round begins with the player to the left of the Dealer. During this round, players can “Bet,” “Check,” “Fold,” or “Raise.”
Remember, decisions should be based not only on your current hand but also on the potential of your hand, as there are two more stages where you can improve your hand.
The Turn
After the Flop round is complete, the dealer will place one more community card face-up in the center of the table, starting the third betting round. This stage is called “The Turn.”
Remember, a poker hand consists of five cards, and with the addition of the “Turn” card, players now have access to six cards. At this point, each player can use any combination of the five community cards and their two hole cards to create the best possible hand. For example, a player could use one card from their hand and four community cards, or two cards from their hand and three community cards.
Again, another betting round will take place after the “Turn” card is revealed. There is still one more stage to go, so players still have an opportunity to improve their hands.
The River
After the betting for “The Turn” concludes, the final betting round begins with the dealer placing one last community card face-up on the table. This final stage is called “The River.”
Now, there are seven cards that each player can use. Each player will create their hand using the best five cards from their hole cards or the community cards. Sometimes, the best hand is formed by using only the five community cards on the table.
The final betting round takes place after the “River” card is revealed.
Determining the Winner in Poker
There are two ways a poker hand can end:
- When a player places a bet that causes all other players to fold. If this happens, the last remaining player wins the pot without having to reveal their hole cards.
- If two or more players remain after the final betting round, they will reveal their hole cards, and the player with the best hand wins the pot.
In some situations, players may tie with the same final hand. When this happens, the pot is split evenly between the players. If there are leftover chips, they are awarded to the first player to the left of the dealer button, in a clockwise direction.
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Poker Hands in Texas Hold’em
The best possible hand in Texas Hold’em is a Royal Flush, which is a straight flush from 10 to Ace, all of the same suit. Other strong hands include a Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, and Straight.
A hand with two cards of the same rank is called a Pair, and higher pairs are stronger than lower pairs. For example, a pair of Aces is stronger than a pair of Kings.
A hand with three cards of the same rank is called a Three of a Kind, and a higher three of a kind is stronger than a lower one. For example, a three of Aces is stronger than a three of Kings.
Five cards of the same suit form a Flush, and a higher flush is stronger than a lower one.
A hand with five consecutive cards is called a Straight, and a Full House is a combination of three of a kind and a pair. A Full House with a higher three of a kind is stronger than a Full House with a lower three of a kind.

In Texas Hold’em, hands with high cards tend to have better chances of winning, but a hand’s strength is also influenced by factors such as position, the number of players, and betting patterns.
You can download or print out a chart to refer to whenever you forget about hand rankings. JiliAce has also written a guide about poker hand rankings, which you can check out if you’d like to learn more about them.
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