| No Limit Texas Hold'em Poker is the most popular | | | | fifth card is dealt each player has to showdown |
| poker game in casinos and in online poker rooms | | | | (show their two cards face up on the table) for |
| today. Many people are attracted to No Limit | | | | the dealer to determine who has the winning |
| Texas Hold'em because of the large televised | | | | poker hand and has won the pot. |
| tournaments which offer huge pay outs, poker | | | | As a new player to No Limit Texas Hold'em you |
| professionals, Hollywood celebrities and lots of | | | | need to know which starting hands are considered |
| action. If you are new to poker there are a few | | | | strong. As you become more skilled and learn |
| basic fundamentals you will need to know before | | | | more about Texas Hold'em you will learn that it's |
| you hit the poker rooms. This article will cover | | | | not just the best starting cards that count, |
| Texas Hold'em: starting hands poker for beginners. | | | | position also plays a huge role and will dictate the |
| What is No-Limit Texas Holdem? | | | | strength of your starting hand. |
| Texas Hold'em is a community card game where | | | | Here is a list of the best starting hands-poker for |
| each player is dealt two cards face down and | | | | beginners |
| then five community cards are dealt in the middle | | | | A-A This hand is considered the strongest hand in |
| of the table. Players have to make the best | | | | poker. Pocket Aces are also known as bullets, |
| poker hand using any combination of their dealt | | | | pocket rockets and American Airlines, |
| two cards or "hole cards" and the community | | | | K-K The second strongest hand in poker. Pocket |
| cards. | | | | Kings are also known as King Kong and cowboys, |
| Texas Hold'em is played using small and big blind | | | | Q-Q Pocket Queens are known as the Hilton |
| bets which are forced bets placed in the middle of | | | | sisters, Sigfried and Roy and the ladies. |
| the poker table by the first two players left of | | | | J-J Pocket Jacks also known as fish hooks. |
| the dealer button. The dealer button is placed in | | | | 10-10 Pocket Tens are known as Bo Derek, |
| front of the player that has been dealt the | | | | Dimes, or Tension |
| highest face up card before the game starts, and | | | | A-K Ace King is also known as Anna Kournikova, |
| the button moves clockwise after each hand. | | | | big slick |
| The small blind is posted by the player to the left | | | | A-Q Ace Queen also known as little slick |
| of the dealer and is usually half of the big blind. | | | | A-J Ace Jack is also known as Ajax, blackjack, |
| For example if the big blind is $5 then the small | | | | hijack |
| blind is $2.50. The big blind is posted by the poker | | | | A-10 Ace Ten also known as bookends, Johnny |
| player to the left of the small blind. Players who | | | | Moss |
| want to play in the hand then either call the big | | | | K-Q King Queen also known as royal couple |
| blind bet or place bets to make a pot by making | | | | Also there are all the medium and small pocket |
| a raise. | | | | pairs from 9-9, 8-8, 7-7, 6-6, 5-5, 4-4, 3-3, and |
| The pot is the sum of all antes, blinds and bets | | | | 2-2, with these types of hands you really want to |
| wagered in a round in the middle of the table and | | | | hit another card on the flop, this way you will |
| the player with the best hand at the showdown | | | | have three of a kind which is a very strong hand. |
| after the 5 community cards are dealt wins the | | | | If you stick to the basics of playing good starting |
| pot. After every player receives their hole cards | | | | hands when you next play Hold'em Poker with |
| and calls, bets and raises have been made, the | | | | your friends or at a casino, you will see a great |
| community cards are dealt as follows: | | | | improvement in your play. |
| 1. Three face-up community cards called the flop | | | | Playing like this is called tight - aggressive play and |
| are dealt | | | | requires discipline not to get bored as you will fold |
| 2. Round of betting or checking | | | | a lot of hands because you are only playing the |
| 3. Turn or Fourth Street card dealt | | | | top 10% of hands. Remember as soon as you |
| 4. Round of betting or checking | | | | get a good hand like A-A, K-K etc, raise the bet |
| 5. River or Fifth Street card dealt | | | | to at least 3-5 times the blind to force people out, |
| 6. Round of betting or checking | | | | this way you will have a better chance of winning |
| If there are more than two players left after the | | | | against fewer players in the pot. |