How to Play Real Money Texas Holdem
Before you can get signed up and start playing Texas Holdem for real money online, it is vital that you know how to play the game.
Playing Texas Holdem is pretty straightforward, and the rules are easy to remember once you have played the game a few times.
Here is a quick and simple step-by-step walkthrough of how to play a game of real money Texas Holdem:
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Step 1: Each player is dealt two private cards, also known as hole cards or pocket cards. Once those cards are dealt, players can choose to increase their wager or stay the same.
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Step 2: Three community cards are placed face up in the middle of the table. Every player uses the community cards with their private cards to assemble the best hand possible. Once the three cards are revealed, players can once again conduct another betting round where they choose to increase, check, or fold.
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Step 3: The fourth community card is revealed, followed by another betting round.
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Step 4: A fifth community card is revealed, followed by the final betting round.
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Step 5: Players reveal their best combination possible using their private cards and the community cards, making the player with the best hand the winner of the game.
Winning Texas Holdem Hands
A big part of knowing how to play real money Texas Holdem is knowing what the winning hands are and how they rank. Here is a chart that ranks them from highest to lowest:
Hand |
Description |
Royal Flush |
A, K, Q, J, 10 all in the same suit |
Straight Flush |
Five cards in numerical sequence of the same suit |
4 of a Kind |
Four cards of the same ranking |
Full House |
Three of a kind with a pair |
Flush |
Five cards of the same suit, but in numerical sequence |
Straight |
Five cards in numerical sequence, but not the same suit |
3 of a Kind |
Three cards of the same ranking |
Two Pair |
Two different pairs of cards |
Pair |
Two of the same card |
High Card |
The highest-ranking card in your hand when you do not finish with an official hand |
Popular Variations of Texas Holdem
Although Texas Holdem is a variation of poker itself, there are multiple variations of Texas Holdem that you will find at several different online casino sites. And different variations have different rules.
For example, some Texas Holdem variations require you to use certain betting formats. Others play with modifications to the draw, such as adding additional private cards for you to use.
Here are some of the more popular variations of real money Texas Holdem that you are likely to come across at an online casino:
Limit Holdem
With Limit Holdem, the bet sizes are pre-determined based on the rules of the game. Players agree to the bet size before entering the game, and then are limited to betting in increments of that number.
No-Limit Holdem
During No-Limit Holdem, bettors can bet or raise as high as their stack of chips will allow them. This is a variation where bettors will use the phrase: “I’m all in.”
Pot-Limit Holdem
In Pot-Limit Holdem, the size of bets are limited based on the size of the pot. Bettors can bet or raise up to the size of the pot, but can not exceed it.
Omaha Hi-Lo Holdem
Omaha Hi-Lo Holdem is played very similar to classic Holdem, only the payout goes to not only the highest-ranking hand, but also the lowest qualifying one as well.
Pineapple Holdem
In Pineapple Holdem, you are dealt 3 private cards instead of 2. However, you must discard one before the flop. This puts an emphasis on the community cards being placed face up.
3 Card Holdem
3 Card Holdem is similar to Pineapple Holdem, except you get to keep all 3 of your private cards. This variation is sometimes also referred to as Super Eight.
Double Flop Holdem
Double-Flop Holdem features 2 flops, 2 turns, and 2 rivers. Players end up with two separate hands, and the pot is split between the two winning hands. It is possible to have the two best hands in a game and win the entire pot.
Speed Holdem
Speed Holdem features 4 private cards, 2 of which you will discard before the flop.
Two-Time Holdem
Two-Time Holdem gives you 4 private cards that you have to split into 2 separate hands. At the end of the rounds, you decide which hand to play.
Texas Holdem vs Casino Holdem
While Texas Holdem is an extremely popular variant of real money poker, another version that many bettors love to play is Casino Holdem. While they are both technically a version of poker, they are played much differently.
Texas Holdem
Traditional Texas Holdem is played with multiple players at one table. Two cards are dealt to each player (known as hole cards) that are only seen by that individual player. After a round of initial betting, three community cards are placed face up in the middle of the table. This followed by another betting round, another community card being revealed, the final betting round, and then the final community card.
From there, players use the two hole cards and the community cards to put forward the best hand possible.
Casino Holdem
Casino Holdem is played similarly to Texas Holdem, only you are playing against the house rather than other players. Your payouts are also determined by a paytable that is associated with the table you are playing at, meaning you can earn money through qualifying hands rather than just having the best hand.
The biggest downside to Casino Holdem is that because you are playing against the house, you face a natural disadvantage. Most poker players would agree that it is more difficult to become profitable while playing Casino Holdem compared to Texas Holdem.
Real Money Texas Holdem vs Free Play Texas Holdem
Most online casino sites will offer free play versions of their games, including Texas Holdem.
But what is the difference between free play Texas Holdem and real money Texas Holdem?
Free play real money Texas Holdem is basically just that, real money Texas Holdem without the real money involved.
For example, if you log onto an online casino site and start playing free play real money Texas Holdem, there is no real bankroll backing up your game. Instead, you will be given some virtual chips to use in order to play the game with. However, these chips cannot be used outside of the free play real-money gambling environment. Once you’re finished playing the game for fun (and not real cash), all of your winnings can only be cashed out back into your personal account on that website.
If you want the chance to increase your bankroll and as a result, your bank account, then you will have to play real money Texas Holdem. However, free play Texas Holdem is great for new players who just want to gain a feel for the game and experiment with different betting scenarios.
Player-Based Texas Holdem vs Machine-Based Texas Holdem
When it comes to real money Texas Holdem, you have a few options on how you can play. You can play the game with other real people, whether that is in-person or online via a live dealer. You can also play Texas Holdem on a machine, where the machine serves as the dealer and the deck is randomly shuffled between each deal.
When it comes to player-based Texas Holdem, there is always the potential to earn more money because you have other people to contribute to raising the stake. When you are playing machine-based Texas Holdem, you are somewhat restricted to the pay table.
The reason is because you are playing against the machine. If your pay table only awards $2,500 for a Royal Flush, then that’s exactly how much you’ll be earning when you hit one of those hands. It does not matter if there is an opportunity to win more money, since the chance for other players to contribute to raising the bet will not come into play.
Despite this, one of the reasons that bettors enjoy machine-based real money Texas Holdem is because the game is played much faster than player-based Texas Holdem. When you play real money Texas Holdem online, there is always a real-time live dealer to oversee the action.
Without the pressure of real people watching your every move, machine-based real money Texas Holdem can be played at a much faster speed than real money Texas Holdem games that use real people.
When playing other players in real life or via an online live dealer, it’s important to remember that even if you lose all of your bankroll playing for hours on end, you’re also able to enjoy the experience and spend time with other people who love to play poker just as much as you do!
Online Texas Holdem vs In-Person Texas Holdem
Along with the differences between player-based and machined-based real money Texas Holdem, there are also some key differences between playing Texas Holdem online and playing Texas Holdem in person with other gamblers.
One of the big differences between playing Texas Holdem online and playing Texas Holdem in person is the difference in the environment around you. For many, real money Texas Holdem online is played in a relaxed and quiet environment. After all, the real-time live dealer is not talking with you most of the time or distracting you from your hand. However, playing real money Texas Holdem in person can be a different story altogether.
When you are playing Texas Holdem in a casino, there is a lot of background noise around you. However, you also get to socialize with fellow bettors. Bets on real people might be accompanied by some small talk or some banter before bets are placed. Just be careful not to over do it, as obsessive conversation at the dealer’s table is considered rude and inconsiderate.
Another difference between online Texas Holdem and in-person Texas Holdem – casino etiquette.
When you are wandering around a casino and you find a Texas Holdem table to play at, you have to remember some unwritten casino rules known as etiquette. Some of these rules include:
- Staying off your phone
- Not drinking too much
- Not talking to the dealer
- Dressing properly
- Tipping the dealer
When you choose to play real money Texas Holdem from the comfort of your own home, you do not have to worry about these etiquette rules.
Las Vegas Texas Holdem
One of the most popular places for people to play Texas Holdem for real money is in Las Vegas, Nevada. In Vegas, there are an insane amount of options to choose from when it comes to playing real money Texas Holdem, and so many high-stakes tables attracts a lot of high rollers.
One of the reasons real money Texas Holdem attracts so many elite bettors in Vegas is because real money poker can be played 24 hours a day, all throughout the year. The game never ends in Vegas real money Texas Holdem games! And this means that if you are looking for action or want to take your real-life or online real money Texas Holdem game to the next level, Las Vegas real money poker offers exactly what you need.
Live Dealer Texas Holdem
In today’s world of advanced technology and increased accessibility, it is rare that you come across an online casino that does not offer live dealer games. In fact, live dealer online casinos almost always offer live dealer Texas Holdem during specific days and times.
Live dealer Texas Holdem is one of the best methods for playing texas holdem online for real money. And the idea is simple. All you do is claim a seat at a live dealer poker table, and then you will be brought into the game at the start of the next round. The dealer on your screen is a real person that is being live streamed to your computer, and will control the flow of the game. When it is your turn in the betting round, all you need to do is click an option that appears on your screen.
Texas Holdem Comps You Can Get At Online Casinos
One of the best things about choosing to play real money Texas Holdem online is the access to online casino comps. If you are not familiar with comps, think of them as sort of a rewards program that casinos have for their loyal bettors.
The comp rewards program is different for every casino, meaning there is virtually no end to the comps that can be earned through casino play.
Some popular online casino comps include:
- Free Offers
- Free casino play
- Free hotel stays
- Free clothing
- Free meals
- Player Rewards
- Cashback on losses
- Betting bonuses
- Risk-free bets
Again, there is basically no limit to the comps you can earn, and different online casinos will have different comp programs put into place. For example, Las Atlantis Casino features an RTG (RealTime Gaming) comp program where you earn 1 point for every $10 that you bet. At 100 points, you can redeem them for $1 for casino play.
How Comps Are Earned
There are many ways that you can earn online casino comps. One of the fastest ways to earn them is actually through losing your bets.
Yes, losing your bets helps you earn comps quicker. This is because you are giving more money to the online casino, making you a loyal customer that is helping them stay in business. Not only will the online casino reward you comps for playing on their site, but to help keep you from becoming discouraged and leaving their site for good.
However, you can still earn comps through being a successful bettor as well. As a general rule of thumb, the more money that you wager in total with at an online casino, the more comps you can earn.
To find more specific information on how to earn comps, check your casino site’s program. This will outline how you can benefit from the comp program and start earning free rewards today.
Learn More About Online Texas Holdem
Getting Started With Texas Holdem Poker
If you have never played Texas Holdem before, then you will want to check out this blog post to get you started. This post covers everything from why you should play, to how to play.
Texas Holdem Guide
Top Texas Holdem Online Casinos
If you want more site-specific information about the top places to play Texas Holdem online, then check out this page.
Texas Holdem Online Casinos
Best Real Money Poker Sites
Looking for the best sites to play real money poker and all of its variations? Check out this page to learn about our top recommended poker sites.
Real Money Poker Sites
Real Money Texas Holdem FAQ
What Is Real Money Texas Holdem?
Real money Texas Holdem is a variant of poker that can be played online and in physical casinos. It is one of the most popular versions of poker, and provides a ton of potential to make money.
Why Play Real Money Texas Holdem?
There are many reasons why someone might want to play real money Texas Holdem. The most obvious reason is that it’s fun! Another reason is for the chance to make a profit from your bets.
Does Texas Holdem Require Skill to Play?
Yes, real money Texas Holdem does require some skill to play. You can’t just stand around and wait for the cards to fall in place, you have to make decisions based on your hand, your probability of having a winning combination, and what other bettors are doing with the wager.
What Is the Best Place to Play Real Money Texas Holdem Online?
There are many great online casinos out there, but we personally recommend Las Atlantis Casino.
Are Online Texas Holdem Sites Rigged?
As long as you are playing Texas Holdem with a reputable online casino, you can rest assured that the games are not rigged. However, there are some predatory casinos out there that rig their games to steal your money from you.
Do I Need Special Software to Play Real Money Texas Holdem Online?
No, you do not need any special software or a high-powered device to play real money Texas Holdem online. All you need is a reliable connection to the internet and a basic understanding of the game in order to play.
Why Is Real Money Texas Holdem So Popular?
There are a number of reasons real money Texas Holdem is so popular. First and foremost, it is a very dynamic game that requires skill to win. Therefore, not just anybody can come in and start mopping the floor with other players. Another reason is because the game is simple to understand, and overall pays out a lot of money to players.
Do I Have to Be Good at Math to Play Real Money Texas Holdem?
Although math skills and card counting can help boost your overall Texas Holdem strategy, it is not necessary in order to win and be a successful player.
What Is Rakeback in Texas Holdem?
Rakeback is when you are refunded a percentage of your wagers from the games you are playing. Rakeback is displayed as a percentage, and helps loyal bettors maintain a profit during cold streaks.
How Do You Win When Playing Real Money Texas Holdem?
Winning Texas Holdem is the same as winning other variations of poker — you need to put together the most powerful hand through the course of the game. The Royal Flush is the highest hand you can achieve.