In the beginning of the game each player usually paid a small fee in the form of a small blind. The blinds values were decided before the game and were adjusting until the 20th century. In the modern form of holdem only two blinds are paid. In some games the fee system was removed and in all forms of holdem since the 70s strong possibility of winning the pot was the rule. The game came to the United States in the 1950s. Since then the game has undergone lots of changes and trends. Today the game is one of the most popular forms in the world, more than 100 million people play the game all around the world.
The structure of the game is as follows: Each player is dealt two cards face down (hole cards). The first round of betting is begun by the player to the left of the big blind (also called UTG or under the gun). During the betting round each player can call (increase the stakes), raise or fold (get out of the hand). There are three possible ways of betting: players can bet the minimum, the big blind or they can bet the maximum, raising or folding. The minimum bet is usually half of the blind or it can be the full blind. The raising of the blind is referred to as re-raising. The minimum raise is double the big blind. There are certain hands which fall into these categories (Full house, trips, flush).
When the first betting round ends, the dealer deals three cards face up on the table. This is called the flop. Another betting round occurs, beginning with the player to the dealer’s left. After the betting is done, the dealer flips the fourth card, also called as the turn. This is again followed by another betting round. After the betting is finished, the dealer flips the fifth and final card (also called as the river) and there is one last round of betting. This process continues around the table to each of the players. During the betting each player has the option to raise, call or fold. In case the player fold, he loses his bet. In case the player call, he must match the bet with his money or give it all back. In case the player raise, the maximum allowed is folding. The first bet is set at the lower level of the stakes structure. The second bet is usually the higher level.
Once the flop is dealt and the betting is completed, the house will separate the first and second place finishers. The winner gets first place on the table and second place gets second place. The house usually respects the rankings of the finishers the same way as poker is organized. This means that first place finisher is always higher than second place finisher.
Now that you have a rough idea of the game, you can try playing it. Most players say that mastering holdem is not necessary for playing good poker. It is besides the point. You will learn plenty of variants of the game not just in holdem but also other variants of poker as well. Spend some time to read and play poker strategy on Nexiantpoker.com and you will master poker in no time.