29 Aug 2024 studying Card dealing in poker is the process of distributing cards to the participants of a game. In addition, dealing in Texas Hold'em can also involve a single play from blind betting to showdown. In today's session, we'll examine the Hold'em card dealing guidelines, discuss starting hands and the optimal combinations, and clarify what is meant by "hands" in the language of poker. Let’s go! How to Deal Texas Holdem: Basic Rules We’ll start with the fact that a poker hand consists of several rounds of betting. At the start of each round, players are dealt pocket or community cards. Before beginning a new game, the dealer or the player with the dealer button position carefully shuffles the cards. After that, the first hand takes place — the dealer deals pocket cards to all players (2 for Texas Hold'em, 4 for Omaha). Next, the common cards are put in front of the players on the board. The goal of the participants is to collect the best combination of pocket and hole cards. The deal's participants engage in betting, placing the proper chips, in between each of the 4 betting rounds. Each player can say: Call (support the opponent's bet); Raise; Check (pass); Fold. Betting rounds also have their own names: Preflop; Flop; Turn; River. The only exception to this rule is the Seven Card Stud game, in which the betting rounds have no names, but are numbered (first street, second street, etc.). At the end of the hand, the winning hand goes to the owner of the strongest combo or the one who is left with the cards in hand after all other poker players have dealt. These simple rules are the same for most varieties of the poker games. One more rule of dealing cards in Texas Hold'em, which is also true for other types of games — cards are dealt to players clockwise, as well as the roles around the table change. Thus, all participants of the deal can play from any position. Rules of dealing in Texas Hold'em The rules of dealing cards in poker are quite simple and clear, but in different types of poker this process has some differences. Now we will take a closer look at the rules of dealing in Texas Hold'em — the most popular poker game in the world. The main rule of card dealing in Hold'em is that all players receive cards clockwise, and the board is laid out in three stages: First, the dealer shuffles the deck and deals two pocket cards to all poker players. Players make their first bets based only on their own hand strength. Next, the dealer places the first three cards of the table (the flop) on the table and the players bet again. On the next street, the 4th card is placed on the table (the turn) and the betting takes place again. When all players in order either bet or fold, the dealer deals the last fifth card (river). After the final round, all players open their hands in turn and the winner is determined. The rules of dealing cards in Texas poker online and offline provide for just such an order of actions. The last stage of the game is called the showdown. Here the players compare their combinations by seniority and determine which of them got the best hand combination in poker. However, the rules of the poker hand allow it to end early — the game can end on any street after all but one player has folded. Not only Texas Hold'em, but also Omaha, Lowball and other types of games function on the basis of these simple distribution rules. Here the number of pocket cards or the rule for determining the highest hand may change, but the mechanics will always remain fairly typical. Texas Hold Em dealing cards by seniority As you already know, dealing is not only the process of distributing cards between players, but also one game from big blind betting to showdown. You have already learned the rules of dealing in Texas Holdem, but beginners are often also interested in how many variants of poker hands there are, and how to learn how to analyze them competently. Absolutely all players analyze their hands, but at the same time online players usually play a lot more hands than offline, because virtual poker allows you to multitabling. Accordingly, analyzing the hands in poker by seniority, online poker players deal with more information than their colleagues who prefer live play. Usually the distribution of played hands in a certain order helps beginners in this case, which makes the task much easier. Special poker software can perform this function for you, but you can also keep a quick record of hands for further analysis. For example, if every hand in poker is sorted in the correct order by precedence, it will be easier for you to find failures and pay attention to your mistakes. In addition, the cards dealt in Texas Hold'em by seniority allows you to track tilt and your own tells. Players should also know that dealing cards by seniority and then analyzing the strength of cards from hand and table helps to avoid predictability in the game. Remember, if every hand in poker is analyzed by you and not forgotten, you will learn to deal with difficult moments in the game faster and understand how to avoid mistakes. However, the hand of cards in Texas Hold'em is also a convenient tool for analyzing the actions of opponents, which we will briefly discuss below. If you need more than just studying by yourself, you may visit our Poker Coaches section. Analyzing dealt and played hands in poker Analyzing the cards dealt in Texas Hold'em is the most important exercise for every player. Not only beginners, but also experienced poker players must work on their mistakes. For some players, the process of analyzing the hands played takes as much time as online gaming sessions. In addition to your own mistakes, analyzing poker hands allows you to identify the real faces of your opponents. This is especially useful when you regularly play at the same limit in one online poker room — here you will constantly meet the same opponents, notes on which will eventually allow you to easily read their cards. By calculating your opponents' tells and counts, you'll be able to optimize your own line of play and move away from ABC poker. As you already know, the rules of dealing cards in poker are quite simple and understandable even to those who are just getting acquainted with the game. However, it is on this elementary foundation that the whole complex system of poker strategies is built. Studying the rules of Texas Holdem dealing cards and methods of analyzing the hands played will allow you to identify winning combinations in your own hands and easily read the cards of your opponents. Keep going, keep growing, keep evolving!