The Ultimate Poker Knowledge Book

Introduction to Texas Hold'em

Texas Hold'em is the most popular variant of poker. It's a community card game where players are dealt two private cards (hole cards) and share five community cards to construct the best possible five-card hand. Strategy, psychology, and probability are key components to mastering the game.

Gameplay Flow

  1. The Blinds: Before any cards are dealt, the two players to the left of the Dealer (BTN) post forced bets. The player immediately left is the Small Blind (SB), and the next player is the Big Blind (BB). This ensures there is money in the pot to play for.
  2. Preflop: Each player receives their two hole cards. The first betting round begins with the player to the left of the BB (UTG). Players can choose to call the big blind, raise, or fold.
  3. The Flop: Three community cards are dealt face-up in the middle of the table. The second betting round begins, starting with the first active player to the left of the dealer. Players can check, bet, call, raise, or fold.
  4. The Turn: A fourth community card is dealt. The third betting round occurs, following the same rules as the flop.
  5. The River: The fifth and final community card is dealt. The final betting round takes place.
  6. The Showdown: If two or more players remain after the final betting round, they reveal their hands. The player with the best five-card hand, using any combination of their two hole cards and the five community cards, wins the pot. If hands are of equal value, the pot is split.

Hand Rankings

Straight Flush

A, K, Q, J, 10, all of the same suit.

Four of a Kind

Four cards of the same rank, like four Aces.

Full House

Three cards of one rank and two cards of another, like 8-8-8-K-K.

Flush

Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence.

Straight

Five cards in sequence, but not of the same suit.

Three of a Kind

Three cards of the same rank.

Two Pair

Two cards of one rank, two cards of another rank.

One Pair

Two cards of the same rank.

High Card

The highest card in your hand when no other hand is made.

Table Positions (6-Max)

Your position at the table is crucial as it determines when you act. Acting last ("in position") is a significant advantage, as you have more information about your opponents' actions.

  • UTG (Under the Gun): First to act preflop. Generally requires a strong hand to play.
  • HJ (Hijack): Middle position. Can play a wider range of hands than UTG.
  • CO (Cutoff): Late position. A great seat to steal the blinds from.
  • BTN (Button): The best position. Acts last postflop, giving maximum information.
  • SB (Small Blind): Acts before the Big Blind preflop, but is one of the first to act postflop.
  • BB (Big Blind): Acts last preflop, but is early to act postflop. Gets to defend their blind against raises.

Common Poker Slang & Acronyms

BB (Big Blind)

The larger of the two forced bets in a game. The player in the big blind position is two seats to the left of the dealer.

SB (Small Blind)

The smaller of the two forced bets. The player in the small blind is immediately to the left of the dealer.

UTG (Under the Gun)

The player who acts first preflop, seated immediately to the left of the big blind.

HJ (Hijack)

The player seated two seats to the right of the dealer. This position is 'hijacking' the betting opportunity from the later positions.

CO (Cutoff)

The player seated immediately to the right of the dealer. This position can 'cut off' the dealer's positional advantage.

BTN (Button)

The dealer position, which is the most advantageous position in poker as they act last in postflop betting rounds.

RFI (Raise First In)

When a player makes the first raise of the pot preflop.

3-Bet

The third bet in a sequence. Preflop, it's the first re-raise over an initial raise.

VPIP (Voluntarily Put Money in Pot)

A statistic that measures how often a player voluntarily puts money into the pot preflop.

PFR (Preflop Raise)

A statistic that measures how often a player raises before the flop.

Equity

A player's mathematical share of the pot, calculated based on the probability of winning the hand.

Pot Odds

The ratio of the current size of the pot to the cost of a contemplated call. Used to determine if calling a bet is profitable.