Texas Hold’Em has evolved into one of the most popular poker games in the world both online and offline. The game is believed to have originated in Texas but cannot be pinpointed to a specific location although the state of Texas has officially acknowledged the game’s birthplace as Robstown, Texas.
Online poker has further increased the game’s popularity, providing players with easy, 24/7 access to Texas Hold’Em. This page was created to relay the advantages and disadvantages of online Texas Hold’Em for US players and to give insight on what to expect when playing online.
Is Playing Online Texas Hold’Em Legal?
Yes, there are no US federal gambling laws that make online poker illegal. Playing Texas Hold’Em online is allowed in 49 of 50 states excluding Washington. That state has specific laws directed towards online gambling while the other 49 have no such legislation directed towards offshore online poker rooms.
Live Texas Holdem Online Poker Sites for Real Money. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Texas Holdem poker became very popular. Otherwise known as “Texas holdem”, ‘hold ’em’, and “holdem”, this variation took the real money online gambling industry by storm.
- How to Play Texas Hold’em Poker Online for Real Money Texas Hold’em is arguably the most popular version of poker as we know it. Just like most games of poker, Texas Hold’em uses a standard 52-card deck, which gets shuffled before every hand.
- Hold’em is played using a standard 52 card deck, and between two to ten players. A pair of aces, “pocket rockets” is the best starting hand for Texas Hold ‘Em. Texas holdem online for real money described as a “thinking man’s game”. Most authors recommend a tight-aggressive approach to playing Texas hold ’em.
Best Legal Online Texas Hold’Em Poker Sites
The following sites have been vetted by our team of industry professionals and determined to be the best options for USA online poker players. Each of theses sites are located offshore and have the legal licenses to service the US. In addition they all have a trusted reputation and multiple bonus options.
| Site Name | Bonus | Rating | Type | USA | Visit Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1000 | Poker | Visit Site | |||
| $500 | Poker | Visit Site |
Intro To Texas HoldEm Poker
When Playing Texas Hold’Em the dealer will give each player two cards face down. These cards are what you will use to place a bet. Three community cards are then drawn face up. The first three community cards dealt face up is known as the flop.
After bets are placed, a 4th community card will then be dealt. This 4th community card is known as the turn. Players are then given a chance to raise their bet, call, or fold their hand. A 5th community card is then dealt (the River), players are given a chance to raise their bets, call or fold. The player with the best 5cards, including their two cards and 3 of the community cards, is declared the winner.
Can I play Real Money Texas Holdem Games On Mobile Devices?
Yes, thanks to the modern advances in mobile technology, playing Texas Hold’em, Stud poker, HORSE, or Omaha on a smartphone or tablet is easier than ever. Most sites have a responsive HTML5 design that will allow users to sign in on the homepage and play on a mobile device with just a few simple clicks.
Are There Online Texas Hold’Em Bonuses?
Yes there are poker bonuses online that can be utilized for playing Texas Holdem. These bonuses are one of the components that make online poker quite attractive since these offers are not usually found at brick and mortar poker rooms. There are several types of bonus options available, but if you are signing up for the first time the Welcome Bonus is what you should look for.
The welcome bonus is known as the industry standard incentive and entails a deposit match up to a determined percentage. Reload bonuses, referral bonuses, and various tournament promotions and freeroll offers are also plentiful.
Poker sites usually release their bonus funds in increments as the wagering requirements are met. Make sure to read the terms and conditions before accepting any online bonus offer.
Hold’Em Terminology
Texas Hold’Em terminology is based of poker terminology in general. While seasoned poker players know all these terms and more, it is helpful for beginners to understand the lingo. The following terms are common when playing poker or Texas Hold’Em
Button – The button or dealer button is a chip or button that represents who the dealer is. Everything in poker goes clockwise, so the player to the left of the dealer button would be known as the small blind, the player to the left of the small blind is known as the big blind.
Blind – When playing poker there is a big blind and a small blind. The small blind is the player located to the immediate left of the dealer, the big blind is located on the immediate left of the small blind. Small and big blinds are the players who must throw in a certain amount to play a hand, that just gets the game started.
Pre-Flop – After seeing the cards you were dealt, and the blinds have been paid, the player next to bet is the player to the left of the big blind. The player has the option to fold, call or raise the big blind. To calla player must match the big blind, to raise a player must bet more than the big blind. Betting before the community cards are dealt is betting on the pre-flop.
The Flop – The first 3 community cards dealt by the dealer are known as the flop.
The Turn – The turn is the 4th community card dealt by the dealer in a game.
The River – The fifth and final community card dealt in a game. When someone says bet on the river, that means that all community cards have been dealt.
The Showdown – The showdown occurs if there are more than one player left after the river. The last player to bet shows their cards first or if there is no bet in the last round the player closest to the dealer button’s clockwise side shows their cards first.
Texas Hold’Em Variations
Texas Hold’Em is a very popular legal online poker game and since it is so well known there are several different ways to play. The game is the same with a few exceptions, but the betting rules change across the variations of TexasHold’Em.
Limit Texas Hold’Em – With Limit Texas Hold’Em betting is predetermined. Pre-flop and on the flop all bets are the same as the big blind. On the turn or the river, the bets and raises are double the big blind.
No Limit Texas Hold’Em – With No Limit Hold’Em the minimum bet is the same as the big blind bet, but players can bet a lot more if they want, hence the name No Limit.
Pot Limit Texas Hold’Em – The minimum bet is the same as the big blind in Pot Limit Hold’Em, but players can bet up to the amount that is in the pot.
Mixed Texas Hold’Em – Mixed Hold’Em is when the game switches between different types of Hold’em, in most cases it goes from Limit to NoLimit Hold’Em
What To Expect Playing Texas Hold’Em Online
When playing online there are some obvious differences. Online players open up a browser or in some cases download a poker program or interface to get to the platform where they can choose their preferred variation of poker. Online interfaces host a variety of tools including, cashier, poker variations, note taking, hand histories, and other casino-style games that can also be wagered on.
Online Vs. Traditional Hold’Em
When playing online there are a few major differences than when playing at a physical table with other players. For one, in online card games, you can’t see who you are playing against. A lot of seasoned Holdem players tend to look for tells or ticks that other players often give away when holding a good or bad hand. Online poker tells are completely different than face to face games.
Online Hold’em can be played faster than face to face games and bets are often played more conservatively. Online there are multiple table options such as limit or no limit Hold’Em, there are multiple buy-ins such as micro, low, medium, or high, and players can also choose between a variety of other online poker games to play in the same visit. You can also play multiple hands at multiple tables simultaneously.
How To Calculate Odds For Hold’em
If you have a strong knowledge of poker odds you will have a better chance of winning in the long run. The best way to calculate odds is to compare the number of unknown cards to the number of cards that can help you.
For example, say you have pocket ace’s and there are 3 cards on the river, you can account for 5 cards. You know there are 2 more ace’s in the deck or in your opponent’s hand. Since there are 52cards, you now know that there are 47 unaccounted for cards since there are 2 more aces, your odds are approximately 23/1of drawing another ace.
While playing Texas Hold’em for fun can be…well, fun, it’s nothing like the real experience of playing Texas Hold’em for real money. Real Money Texas Hold’em is filled with intensity and drama that just doesn’t exist when you’re competing for play money chips. Whether you just want to casually play low stakes online poker for real money, or aspire to be a poker pro, Texas Holdem for real cash is where the serious action is. Take a look at the table below where we recommend the best real money poker sites below specific to your country.
Best Real Money Poker Sites for Players in Germany:
Tutorial on Signing up and Playing Poker for Real Money
This video by our US poker expert Matt explains how to play online poker for real money. Matt will guide you through the sign up process and answer any questions you may have about playing online poker at your favourite poker site. While this video is geared towards US poker players it still applies to non-US players and is very beneficial for anyone new to playing online.
Where to Play Real Money Texas Hold’em
There are literally hundreds of different sites available online for playing real money Texas Hold’em, from the huge sites that you’ve seen advertised on television and in magazines, to smaller sites that may not have the name recognition of their larger competitors, but offer great features and incentives to those who play there.
Each of these sites has something different to offer to players in terms of games available, the bonuses they offer, and their incentive programs. With so many options open to you, you’re certain to find a real money Texas Hold Em site that feels like home. Check out the table above where you will find the top real money poker sites.
Advantages to Real Money Texas Hold’em
Play For Real Money Texas Holdem Old Em Usa
Playing online poker for money is where the cash is, so if you want to use poker as a way to earn some extra income, you’re going to have to play in real money games. But even for new players who are only playing casually, real money Texas Hold’em has several advantages.
First of all, players who wish to improve at poker will get way more out of low-limit real money Texas Hold’em games than they ever would from a play money game. The play will much more closely resemble the kind of play you’d expect to see in a competitive setting, and with real money on the line, you’ll be more likely to play your best game as well. Even if you’re not that concerned with improvement, though, real money Texas Hold’em is really the only way to get a true poker experience, since money is an integral part of the game.
Disadvantages to Real Money Texas Hold’em
All of that being said, there are some players who are best served by playing free Texas Hold’em instead of real money Texas Hold’em. If you’ve just learned the rules of Texas Hold’em, you’re probably not ready to jump into real money games right away (or if you do, you’d better be prepared to lose). Instead, playing free Texas Hold’em will allow you to get a grip on how hand rankings work, how the course of play flows, and other basics that you’ll want to be intimately comfortable with before you start playing poker online for real money.
In addition, playing for free is a great way to check out a new poker site you haven’t played at before. Instead of worrying about whether or not you’ll be happy with a site you pick, you can always jump in and play some free Texas Hold’em games first to see if you like the software client, features, and other aspects of a given site before committing. Once you’ve found a site you like, you can then make a deposit and move on to playing real money Texas Hold’em, confident that you’ll be happy with the experience.
Depositing To Texas Holdem Sites
Real Money Texas Holdem Sites
Two of the biggest of these online eWallets are NETeller and MoneyBookers (not available to USA). The advantage of using one of these is that players can hold all their poker money in a separate account and move the money between accounts quikcly and easily. For beginner players it is not as important but the majority of experienced online poker players will usually transfer money using these eWallets.
Newer players, like most recreational players, normally use credit or debit cards to deposit. Cards are an instant deposit method and are much easier to use as they do not require the setting up of any other accounts. eWallets require first setting up account, then depositing into the eWallet and then depositing from the eWallet to the poker client. Since the UIGEA bill was passed, many US poker rooms are having issues accepting credit card deposits from players residing in the USA. Be sure to check the TexasHoldemOnline.com homepage as we list all the US sites that accept credit card deposits.
Free Poker For Real Money
Cashing Out Texas Holdem Winnings
When cashing out, poker players are also presented with a large choice of options. Players may cash out to a large number of eWallets, direct to their credit/debit card or by bank transfer (credit card are normally not available to USA players where paper checks are the standard withdrawal option).
Players wishing to access their money in the fastest time are recommended to use direct bank transfer. Transferring out to a card will take three to five working days. Transfers to eWallets take up to 48 hours to process; however it will take further time if a player wants to withdraw from an eWallet to his or her his bank account. The advantage of withdrawing to one of these accounts is that the funds are available to use to deposit in any other poker client immediately. This can be a deciding factor for a serious poker player that wishes to keep their real life bankroll separate from their poker bankroll.
Many players who are just starting their poker careers, start depositing by card and withdrawing by direct bank transfer. As a player becomes more serious, they will usually start using an account such as Neteller to keep all their poker funds in the same place so there is no need to redeposit from a bank account.
Online Poker For Real Money In The USA
While 2011 saw the exodus of the two of the world’s biggest poker sites – Full Tilt Poker and Pokerstars – from the US market, there are still a wide number of options for players who want to play online poker for real money in the USA. Right now there are 4 poker networks that still take US real money poker players, including the Merge and Everleaf networks. Both of these long serving real money poker sites allowing US players have been around for several years and represent the top options for players residing in the USA who still want to play poker for money online.