Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tips (VIDEO)

The big World Series of Poker Charity game is coming to the Horseshoe Sunday, August 7th and I couldn't be more excited to play! The winner gets $5,000 for the charity of their choice. I'm playing for the Philadelphia Center, so wish me luck! I'll also be facing various radio and TV personalities from the area. I wish I could tell you I was a card shark, but I'm not. I do, however, have a husband who is an avid poker player and it would be hard not to pick something up with the WSOP on the TV all the time! While I'm going to try like crazy to win for my charity, I have another goal... and that is to beat Erin McCarty. You see, we have a history. We were at our company's programming meetings in Dallas several years ago, where we faced each other across the table over Texas Hold 'em. They put us a women's table (sexist pigs) and I knocked her out. She fell for my bluff exactly the way I wanted her to. I went on to the final table, while Erin licked her wounds. The final table consisted of four players... I was knocked out first... which totally sucked because they only awarded prizes to the top 3 which just doesn't seem fair, but either way, Erin and I have talked a LOT of smack since. In fact, she left me this sweet note in mailbox here at work this morning.

Therefore, I MUST take her out at this tournament. MUST!!! BTW, if you're a poker afficiando, Horseshoe Casino is also hosting a WSOP circuit event in September. I'm just so excited they're bringing this kind of entertainment to the SBC! Click here to find out more!

So, with all this smack talk going on, I've gotta start practicing. I'm playing, I'm watching the WSOP on TV and I'm studying my Doyle Brunson poker bible! Here are some tips I found on the internet below as well as the rankings of hands (what beats what) for poker. Hope it helps Erin;) You're going to need it!

Texas Holdem Hand Ranks:

Royal Flush:

Five cards consisting of the A, K, Q, J, and Ten all of the same suit.

Straight Flush:

Five cards in sequential order all of the same suit.

Four of a Kind:

Four cards all of the same rank.

Full House:

Five card hand consisting of three cards of one rank, and two cards of another same rank, or three of a kind plus a pair. This is also called a ‘boat’ or a full boat.

Flush:

Five cards all the same suit.

Straight:

Five cards in sequential order (suit does not matter)

Three of a Kind:

Five card hand consisting of 3 cards of the same rank.

Two Pair:

Five card hand that consists of two cards of the same rank.

One Pair:

Five card hand that consists of two cards of the same rank.