What’s the difference between Texas Hold ‘Em and Poker?

Poker is one of the most popular card games in the world. Throughout the years, it has been modified into several variants to keep the game challenging and interesting. The most prominent poker game that has kept people hooked is Texas Hold ‘Em.

To shed light on these variants of poker, let's explore the different aspects that make them unique and fun to play.

Variations of Poker

Poker has three main variants that differ in gameplay, betting and scoring.

• Community card games

Each player is dealt a number of ‘hole’ cards that are exclusive for their use and ‘community cards’ that other players can use in the game. Texas Hold ‘Em is classified as the most popular community card game which is played using 2 hole cards and 3 community cards.

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• Draw poker games

This poker variant can be played either with five or seven cards which players trade or ‘draw’ to get the best hand.

Explore the fun of draw poker when you play Russian Poker and Jacks or Better.

• Stud poker games

Each player is dealt with cards that they will use throughout the game as they are not allowed to trade in any cards. In stud poker games, the player’s cards are not shown to the opponent until the showdown.

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Similarities of Texas Hold ‘Em and Poker

Ante

An ante refers to the mandatory wager that players must make before proceeding with the game. This forced bet ensures that the pot contains payouts and encourages players to play more hands than fold. Knowing what ante means and how it works can give you a good head start in the game.

Betting rounds

Although the poker variants follow different rules, they involve similar betting rounds consisting of the bet, check, call, raise and fold.

• Bet - Betting signals the start of a round. After making a bet, the actions that the rest of the players can do are call, fold or raise.
• Check - When a player checks, they are merely passing the action to the next player while keeping their cards. Unless they are playing with a big blind and small blind, the player doesn’t have to put a wager in the pot. 
• Call - Calling is done if you want to match the amount of money wagered by another player through a bet or a raise. A player wins the pot if no other players match or raise the bet.
• Raise - Raising is the action taken when a player wants to increase the opening bet. The rest of the players in the game may call, fold or further increase the bet by re-raising.
• Fold - A player can pull out of the current hand by folding. The player tosses their cards towards the dealer and into the muck. Once a player folds, they cannot perform any further action during the hand.

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Hand ranking system

Identifying the cards that make up the poker hands is crucial in winning the game. Through this, players can ascertain what it takes to win a poker hand. This hand ranking system is used in Texas Hold ‘Em, as well as in other variants of poker.

• High card - The high card is the lowest-ranked hand in the system. If you can’t form any other hands with your cards, your best card is the one with the highest value. 
• Pairs - A pair is made when you have two cards of the same rank in different suits. The three highest-ranked cards in your hand or on the table complete the rest of this poker hand.
• Two pairs - You can make two pairs when you have two cards of the same rank in different suits. The hand is completed by the highest-ranked card remaining in your hands or on the table.
• Three-of-a-kind - This hand consists of three cards of the same ranks in different suits. The rest of the hand is formed from the two highest available cards on the table.
• Straight - The straight hand is formed by five cards of consecutive value in more than one suit.
• Flush - The flush is composed of five cards of the same suit and the order of the cards is unimportant. If more than one player makes a flush, the one with the highest valued card wins.
• Full house - You can form a full house when you have a three-of-a-kind and a pair of cards of the same rank in two different suits. If two or more players have a full house, the one with the highest value on three-of-a-kind cards wins.
• Four-of-a-kind - Create a four-of-a-kind hand using cards of the same rank in all four suits. Complete the hand with the highest card in your hand or on the table.
• Straight flush - The straight flush hand consists of all five cards of consecutive value in the same suit. To beat this hand, the player must have the same straight flush with higher-ranking cards or a royal flush.
• Royal flush - The royal flush is considered the best hand in poker. It is formed by five consecutive cards in the same suit. The order or value must be from 10 to ace.

Differences between Texas Hold ‘Em and Basic Poker

Although these poker variants share the same hand ranking system, betting rounds, initial betting and a minimum number of players, their rules, gameplay and order of play are different.

Dealing cards

In Texas Hold 'Em, players are dealt two hole cards along with five community cards. The community cards will remain face-up in four consecutive betting rounds.

On the other hand, players have more information available to them in basic poker since the cards are visible on the board before the first betting round starts. It helps them know what cards to expect as the game progresses, as well as the cards that the opponents may have.

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Betting structure

• Fixed limit

In regular poker, the amount that a player can bet or raise is fixed. The game provides the players with certainty about the potential win at showdown, since the pot cannot be further developed than what is established.

• No-limit

Texas Hold ‘Em provides an unpredictability in the size of the pot at showdown. The potential win is difficult to calculate as any player may go all-in with their entire stack of chips. The development of the pot relies on the character, temper and playing style of the opponents.

The no-limit betting structure encourages the players to take risks and raise their bets as the idea of winning the huge pot looms overhead. This results in a wider range of correct plays that make the game unpredictable.

Order of play

Texas Hold ‘Em follows a linear order of play based on the seating order of players at the table. The stage of the hand currently in play determines the first person to make an action. 

The first to play during pre-flop is the person seated in the immediate left of the big blind called under the gun (UTG). It then proceeds in a clockwise direction:

• Hijack (HJ)
• Cutoff (CO)
• Button (BTN)
• Small Blind (SB)
• Big Blind (BB).

After the flop, the player in the SB position is the first to act. The rest of the hand follows the same order through the flop, turn and river.

On the other hand, basic poker begins when each player is dealt with two cards, one face up and one face down. The first bet is made by the player with the lowest-ranking upcard and then proceeds in clockwise order. 

Gameplay

Texas Hold ‘Em commences with the pre-flop or the first betting round, followed by the second and third betting rounds called the turn and the river respectively. The game then proceeds to the final betting round called the river before heading on the showdown.

In contrast, regular poker starts with a preliminary bet and the player whose face-up card has the lowest value begins the first round of betting. If two or more players have the same value, the one seated in the immediate left of the dealer leads. The rest of the players may fold, call or raise during the hand.

The subsequent rounds follow the same procedure until the final betting round, which then proceeds to the showdown. 

Strategy

Since Texas Hold ‘Em and regular poker vary in gameplay and follow different rules, players must adapt poker tips and strategies that are suitable for the game. 

• Texas Hold ‘Em

Begin the game strategically by considering the number of players in the opening hand. You have more chances to win when you have 6 opponents than when you only have 1. However, it’s easier to bluff when you’re against fewer players.

As you start playing, select an opening hand that will allow you to win more money after the flop. Making calculations as you play is also an effective strategy to win in a match of Texas Hold ‘Em.

Unlike regular poker, Texas Hold ‘Em doesn’t require heavy memorisation since the cards remain visible until the hand ends. Instead, the game requires attentive calculation so that the player can determine the possible card combinations. 

• Basic poker

Take a step closer to winning a game of regular poker by remembering the cards that have been played. Although you don’t have to memorise every single card, it helps to keep track of cards associated with those that you have. 

In a game of basic poker, the bets and acts of a player throughout a hand can help you determine the strength of their cards. Keep a close watch of the cards in their hands and on the table and corresponding acts they take, whether they bet, raise, check or call.

As the game progresses, you can learn more about their tendencies by watching how they play, especially during a difficult situation.

Another technique you can use to ensure a bigger winning is by controlling the size of the pot. If you have high-ranking cards, it’s good to start putting more money into the pot until a player plays a better hand. It’s also a smarter move to lay low when you have a low-ranking hand.

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How to Play Texas Hold’em Poker

Before you specialize in other variants, begin with the most popular of them all, used both in casinos and tournaments. Texas Hold’em is one of the simplest variants of Poker, making it a great place for any beginner to start. 

Hold’em can be played between 6 or 9 players with the goal of forming the best five-card hand amongst all of your opponents. The following table shows the rank of hands in ascending order:

Name of Hand	Definition
High-Card	Refers to the highest-card on a hand, when a player doesn’t have pairs, a straight or a flush. E.g  A♠ or A♡
Pair	Two cards of the same rank. E.g Q♥ Q♢
Three of a Kind	Three cards of the same rank. E.g Q♥ Q♢ Q♣
Straight	Five cards in sequential order, not of the same suit. E.g 7♡ 8♣ 9♠ 10♤ J♡
Flush	Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence. E.g A♠ 9♠ 2♠ 5♠ 10♠
Full House	Combination of three of a kind and a pair. E.g Q♥ Q♢ Q♣ A♠ A♡
Four of a kind	Four cards of the same rank. E.g K♥ K♡ K♦ K♧ 3♧
Straight Flush	Five cards in sequential order, all in the same suit. E.g 7♦ 8♦ 9♦ 10♦ J♦
Royal Flush	High cards in order and of the same suit. E.g A♧ K♧ Q♧ J♧ 10♧

To start the game, cards are given to each player face-down by the dealer at the beginning of each round.

In online poker games, the dealer position is called ‘the button’. He’s also the last one to act in every round, which makes the button the most desirable position as he gets to see every other player make their decisions. 

The sequence of the poker game begins from the left of the dealer position. The player on the left of the dealer places the ‘small blind’ and the player that comes after him places the ‘big blind’. These two blinds are mandatory bets placed to ensure there is pot money to be won. 

Every player has the opportunity to use the button and become the small and big blind as the positions move clockwise. In each round, players have 4 betting options:

• Check: Players pass, but keep their cards.
• Fold: The player gives up his cards.
• Call: Players match the bet of the big blind.
• Raise: The player raises the bet of the big blind. This can imply that a player has a strong hand.
  

When a player raises the bet, the players that play after him must either call the raised bet or fold. After bets are placed, the dealer deals a total of 5 cards in a series of three betting rounds called the flop, the turn and the river.

How to Beat the Blinds in Texas Hold’em

Blinds are a necessary component of Hold’em poker and one that every player has to go through. To increase your chances of winning, you should learn some of the techniques used by professional players who are stealing or defending the blinds. Whether you play the blinds to your advantage or let them be stolen by others, this will have a huge bearing on your success.

As mentioned before, blinds are forced and inescapable bets made to build a pot before the flop begins. The big blind is always double the amount of the small blind, therefore has more at stake.

The term ‘blinds’ is rooted from the fact that players are made to bet blindly before receiving any cards. This makes your position at the table crucial in poker as it determines the dynamics and stakes you are handed even before the game begins. The blinds are generally the first to act, and therefore, their chips are more vulnerable to raises and re-raises. By rule of thumb, the more players that act after you, the less desirable your position becomes. 

With all these factors to consider, you might ask: does being in the big and small blind position automatically mean you’ve lost before the game starts? This question is exactly what professional players tried to answer by defending their blinds.

Defend your Blinds

Some veteran players immediately try the ‘stealing the blind’ technique at the pre-flop, and if you’re in the position of the small or big blind, it’s in your best interest to protect your blinds. 

‘Stealing the blind’ technique comprises raising the bet at a huge amount during the pre-flop in hopes to make the big or small blinds fold. When this happens, the ‘stealer’ wins the uncontested pot containing the blinds and antes, if there are any. This is a good strategy in terms of consistently winning small amounts while minimizing your downside.

However, if you’re in the position of the blinds, this means losing your stake without even having the chance of winning them back—hence the term ‘stealing’ because you are being robbed of your fair share. Naturally, your response should be to develop a strong game plan for defending. This means calling a pre-flop raise from either the small or big blind.

Here are some of the rules you can follow when playing in a blind position.

1. Don’t call too much from the small and big blinds

You’re at an informational disadvantage as everyone gets to act after you’ve made your decision. It’s better to play cautiously and conservatively when in this position. 

2. Don’t get pot-committed

Don’t view your blind bets as investments, rather consider them “dead money”. This makes you less pot-committed and prevents you from calling too many raises from the position of the blinds.

Being pot-committed occurs when a player feels that he/she has invested too many chips in the pot to fold, even if their current hand is not the strongest. This often leads them to bluff with a weaker hand on a big pot. 

Remember that calling or raising too much while you already have chips in the pot will cost you a lot of money if you don’t end up winning. 

3. Observe the table

Every decision made by your opponents conveys information. Discern which players have strong hands and play cautiously against them. Don’t be afraid of ‘folding’ especially with a weak hand. 

It’s better to lose early than to wage a losing war against a stronger hand. You should also become observant of your opponent’s raising frequency and post-flop aggression to determine the right times to defend or surrender your blinds.

Test your luck and start betting!

Now that you know the unique features of Texas Hold ‘Em and basic poker, you’re a step closer to becoming the next master player. Improve your skills and practice by yourself or take on a challenge in Texas Hold ‘Em Pro!

Words by: Joyce Belmonte