Texas Hold'em Poker in the World Series of Poker

Texas Hold'em Poker is one of the most popular forms of gambling and is quickly catching up with Black Jack in popularity. The World Series of Poker (WSOP) events shown on television bring in thousands of competitors - amateurs and pro poker players alike. If you ever dreamed of winning millions playing poker then check out Texas Hold'em. Be prepared, Texas Hold'em tournaments are not for the weak hearted. You will need to understand the basics of Hold'em before playing in a tournament.

Texas Hold'em poker is played with each player being dealt two hold cards followed by a round of betting. Once all bets are placed the dealer burns the top card (removes top card from stack placing it face down off to the side) and flips face up the next three cards. The first three cards are called the flop cards. The flop is followed by another round of betting. Following the second round of betting the dealer burns another card and places one more card face up. This is called the turn card and again is followed by a round of betting. Finally, the dealer burns the last card and turns up the river card, now having five cards faced up on the table. The final round of betting follows the river (last card for this round of play). The winner is determined from the best five card combination of the seven cards available (five board cards and two hold cards in each hand of remaining players still in the round).

Now that you understand the basics of Texas Hold'em you are ready to play - but not in the WSOP. First, you might try invite friends and family over for poker night for small cash games. Play online on any number of popular poker sites available - Pokerstars, Full Tilt Poker, BugsyClub Poker just to name a few. Familiarize yourself with the rules of the game. Buy a copy of books written by the pros like Doyle Brunson's Super System and Super System II. Learn the many different variations of hold cards (cards dealt to you) which you might play - providing different statistical odds of win/lose. Understanding your opponents tell (physical, emotional or visual signs that gives away what the other player may have) could mean the difference between you winning with the best hand or being beat by your opponent with a bluff. During this time you will want to learn even more of the basic principles of play, along with hand rank and odds for various hand combinations to win.

The WSOP tourney you've seen on television is one of the biggest being held today with a buy in of $10,000. That buy-in doesn't count your lodging, food or anything else other than a chance to play against another 6,000 plus poker players for millions. Don't worry though you only have to make it to approximately 850th place to get your money back playing a WSOP event (depending on total number of actual players).

Some other things to consider if you want to compete in a WSOP tournament are to plan on spending at least five days in Las Vegas. Aside from your buy-in for the poker tournament you may also need money for food (sometimes Hotels will include meals with the room - check around for possible lodging deals for best values), transportation (if you are plan to stay someplace other than the hotel where the WSOP is being held), and other activities you may wish to do before or after the poker tournament.

During tourney play you may find yourself all in (risking all your chips or your $10,000) any number of times. All-in is an option you have while playing in No-limit Hold'em and is considered the ultimate bet that involves betting all of your chips. Many players will use an All-in bet to scare their opponents out of hands, while others will use it to quickly try to build up their chip count. How well you understand the odds of the game and your ability to pick up on your opponent's tell could make the difference with this bet.

If this isn't enough to think about keep in mind you are doing all of this while trying to make it to the money rounds. Just to win enough to break even. That's not counting making it to the final few rounds of play, where you will be competing for hundreds of thousands of dollars - maybe even millions.

During an average day of no limit Texas Hold'em poker you may be faced with any number of different options of play. As mentioned above, you may find yourself deciding to go all in or have an opponent come over the top (betting more than you bet) with an all in bet. Going all in is betting all of your remaining chips during a betting round of play. Going all in is an ultimate risk bet in no limit Texas Hold'em. Generally going all in means you are telling your opponent that you have the best possible hand. It could mean that you are daring them to call a possible bluff. Going all in is an option but is not required. Knowing when and where to make an all in bet is one of the most important aspects that you will want to understand. The pros of no limit Hold'em poker will tell you that there are times when you must be willing to risk it all just to move forward and be willing to fold to stay alive.

Before you run off to Las Vegas and throw down $10,000 to play in a tournament against thousands, play as much as possible in local cash games. Check around where you live to see if there are authorized poker rooms (we have four or five around here) or start your own poker nights at home. Cash games at home can be a great way to entertain your friends and family and learn to play Texas Hold'em.

Playing Texas Hold'em is a fun pastime and great way to make a few bucks. Before you play with the pros understand the game, know how to read your opponent and be willing to take risk. If you play well enough and go far enough you might be the next World Series of Poker Champion.