These days, poker is synonymous with Texas Hold’em. Popular games have exploded onto the scene in recent years, and online poker rooms are clogged with players looking to win big or just have fun.

The game has grown so big that it’s not just a simple card game – thanks to movies and television, Hold’em poker is a sport for its own audience . Before you get into the fun, here’s a basic overview of how to play the game.

Like almost all types of poker, the goal is to win the bet. Players try to make the best hand from up to seven cards dealt. The game begins with each player being dealt two cards face down – these cards are known as hole or pocket cards.

Since most Hold’em games do not require players to bet, the game often uses big blinds and small blinds to ensure there is money in the pot. The small blind is set by the player left of the dealer, usually half of the big blind amount, set up by the player left of the small blind. The big blind then becomes the minimum bet in what is known as a “pre-flop” betting round.

The dealer throws a burn card, followed by three open community cards called the “flop”. Give another round of betting, another burn card and then a fourth community card called the “substitution.” More betting is followed by one more burn card and a final community card called the “river.”

After this, the final betting round, and if more than one player is still standing, the fight, where the regular poker rules apply to the winning hand. If two players draw their best hand completely from the community cards, then the pot is divided between them.

There are various forms of Hold’em poker, the most popular of which is limit hold’em. In this version, bets in the pre-flop and the flop round must equal the big blind. On turn and river, the bet must be equal to twice the big blind. In other versions, Hold’em is no-limit, there are no limits on bets, and players can raise as much as they can.

Now that you have a basic understanding of the game, you are ready to play. Just remember, practice makes perfect!