If you are completely new to Texas Hold'em, it is a poker variation that will seem strange at first. People with little knowledge of poker usually have a familiarity with stud and draw variations because of their portrayal in popular culture. Stud games "Five-Card" and "Seven-Card" are the most popular versions) deal hands that are a mix of cards known only to the holder and cards seen by everyone.
As cards are dealt and bets placed, only the player has complete knowledge of his or her hand, but others make guesses based on partial knowledge from the exposed cards. For draw games (Five-Card Draw
is the most popular), there are no exposed cards. Only betting patterns and the number of cards drawn for improvement provide information to the other players.
Texas Hold'em is in a completely different class of poker variants known asflop games. Flop games have elements of both stud and draw games. Like draw games, the cards dealt to the players are not exposed and are known only to them. Like stud games, hands are improved through exposed cards. The twist is that the exposed cards belong to everyone.
The use of shared (or community) cards to complete a poker hand is the defining characteristic of flop games. Some of the other flop variants (Omaha, Omaha Eight or Better, and Pineapple) are described in Appendix I. Of the flop games, Texas Hold'em is the most intricate and challenging to play. The annual World Series
of Poker uses Texas Hold'em to determine the champion. This book specifically addresses Texas Hold'em. While some of the information presented is relevant to the other flop games (and poker in general), the correct strategy and tactics for a game such as Omaha are different from Texas Hold'em, even though on the surface the games look remarkably similar.
Opportunities to play Texas Hold'em are more widespread than most people realize. Aside from the obvious locations (Atlantic City and Las Vegas), there are public cardrooms throughout California and the Northwest, on Native American reservations throughout the United States, and on riverboats up and down the Mississippi River system in the country's heartland.
The Internet has actually provided unlimited opportunity to play Texas Hold'em because of the growth of online poker games.
Be aware that the legal issues surrounding online gambling are murky. Discussion of online poker is for informational purposes only. In no way should anything in this book be construed as legal advice or an endorsement or guarantee of online services. It is the reader's responsibility to know the appropriate laws governing any activity undertaken and to consult with a lawyer when unsure.
Online poker play is covered in this book because the Internet-and the opportunities and risks brought by the Internet-are here to stay.
It will become increasing difficult for the government to regulate online activities. Therefore, it is more important than ever to be informed and responsible when online.
