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In 2002, Chris Moneymaker (yes, that\u2019s his real name) was an accountant and amateur poker player in Tennessee. He played online quite a bit, and occasionally in casinos, but mostly ended up in debt. By the end of May 2003, he had won the World Series of Poker — and the $2.5 million main prize. Moneymaker beat the best players in the world, and amazingly, it was the first live tournament he had ever been in. And it all started with an online game that had a $39 entrance fee.<\/p>\n
After that, as you can imagine, the popularity of Texas Hold\u2019Em poker skyrocketed. All of a sudden men and women around the world were trying to figure out how to play the game that was at one time reserved for outlaws and back-alley hucksters. Weekly or monthly house games popped up as folks honed their poker skills in hopes of hitting it big someday.<\/p>\n
The tide of amateur players hoping for a big payday ebbed a bit after 2007 or so, but the game of poker retained a newfound respect. Groups of friends and coworkers realized that a casual night of cards could be both fun and competitive, and Texas Hold\u2019Em became the de facto game of choice for guys\u2019 nights and bachelor parties.<\/p>\n
It was with that sentiment that I hosted a poker game at my house for a friend\u2019s bachelor party<\/a>. I had no idea what I was doing, but I had a poker table and some chips, and figured it would be a good time. It ended up being so much fun that I now host a monthly game at my house with 7-10 regular guys, and it\u2019s always a big hit. (Look for a piece on how to start your own poker night later this year.)<\/p>\n At the beginning, I didn\u2019t know what the heck I was doing. Even though I was host, I had to lean on others to know the rules and etiquette of the game, let alone strategies for actually winning. Even though my buddies didn\u2019t really care, it was embarrassing to have to be reminded as to which hands won and the protocol that keeps the game moving along. Now that we\u2019re 6 months in, though, I\u2019ve largely got the hang of things.<\/p>\n When guys who haven\u2019t played much poker drop in on our group these days, they often start out like I did \u2014 a little nervous and a little lost. Besides just losing money, these newbies often interrupt the flow of the game, and have to be coached along. That\u2019s okay by us, but it\u2019s definitely more fun for everyone involved when each player has a good understanding of the game and is able to compete.<\/p>\n If you find yourself in the position of playing your first games of Texas Hold\u2019Em, you\u2019re probably not looking to win big and move on to the World Series of Poker. You just want to be able to hold your own and not look like a total newb. The information below will help you get there and be able to confidently play with your buddies, and even win a few hands. We\u2019ll cover basic terms, table etiquette, and general strategic tips to keep in mind. Let\u2019s dig in!<\/p>\n Note: Although there are many varieties of poker, this article focuses just on Texas Hold\u2019Em, as it\u2019s far and away the most popular version these days.<\/em><\/p>\n Honestly, the game play itself isn\u2019t all that complicated compared to betting strategies, knowing your table position, etc. (more on those later). That said, you should know how Texas Hold\u2019Em works before you get yourself into a game. Rather than doing so at length here, I encourage you to check out this good intro on the rules and game play<\/a>. You can also watch this short video which visually walks you through a hand:<\/p>\n1. Know the Rules of the Games<\/h3>\n