Texas hold’em is the poker game of choice

Texas hold’em remains the most popular form of poker played across the world, both in casinos and on line. For serious poker gamblers, Texas hold’em is also the form of poker played in all the major tournaments, including of course the Irish poker open which takes place this year during Easter weekend at the Burlington Hotel in Dublin between the 22 and 25^th April. Texas hold’em is played with 2 ‘hole cards’ dealt face down, and 5 ‘community cards’ dealt face up in the middle of the table which are available for any or all of the players to make the best poker hand with their hole cards. The first two players to the left of the dealer each place a blind bet to establish a pot, and two hole cards are then dealt to each player one at a time, face down. The first round of betting then takes place during which all the active players eventually equalise their stakes. The first three community cards are then dealt face up in the middle of the table, and the second round of betting takes place, again until all the active players have staked the same amount. Two more rounds of betting take place, one after each of the last two community cards have been dealt, followed by the showdown when all the active players reveal their cards and the winner takes the pot. If you are a poker gambler, it is not too late to qualify for the Irish poker open with Paddy Power currently holding daily qualifying rounds with various buy ins, as well as excellent sponsorship packages which not only provide the buy in to the main event, but also include flights and accommodation. Poker gamblers who enjoy the excitement of Texas hold’em with the pot building as the game progresses, really should consider having a go at qualifying for the Irish open poker, if only to test their prowess against the best players, and you never know you may get the chance to play in one of the top poker tournaments in the world.