Hold'em Poker Tournaments Ruled Legal in Texas

The Poker Gazette: A recent attorney general opinion requested by a West Texas prosecutor says the popular 'Texas Hold 'Em' poker tournaments are legal as long as players don't risk money for a prize.

District Attorney John Smith asked Greg Abbott whether holding the tournaments in bars violates state anti-gambling laws.

Gambling is permitted in a private setting as long as every player has the same chance of winning and the house doesn't take a cut. The rules change for public places, where gambling is forbidden at sites that have on-premises alcohol licenses.

However, Abbott's opinion said public tournaments that either do not require a 'buy in' or in which the winner does not receive a prize - even if they are held in bars - don't technically constitute gambling.

In February, Smith said he asked for Abbott's opinion because several local business owners had asked about holding bet-free poker tournaments at bars."

Poker, Texas Holdem, No Limit Holdem, Limit Holdem

The 3 Types of Texas Hold'em Poker

There are three major variations of Texas Hold'em poker: Limit, No Limit, and Pot Limit Hold'em.

Limit Texas Hold'em Poker Limit Texas Hold'em poker is the most popular form of non-tournament poker. If you've understood the basics of Texas Hold'em, you've pretty much mastered Limit Hold'em.

No Limit Hold'em Poker Simply put, in No-Limit Hold'em poker, you can make as many Bets or Raises as you want. There are no limits to the number of raises allowed. This form of Hold'em poker is most popular in Tournament games.

Pot Limit Hold'em Poker Pot Limit Hold'em poker is very similar to No Limit. The only difference is that in Pot Limit, you can never bet more than the current size of the pot.

If you're a beginner in the game of poker, our advise is to stick first with Limit Hold'em. Because although No Limit and Pot Limit seem have easier rules, the strategies are much more complex and difficult.

Texas Holdem, or Texas Hold'em, poker is the most popular poker game in the world--- both among online and offline casino players. It is the game you see televised on the World Series of Poker (WSOP) and World Poker Tour (WPT).

For more Texas Hold'em lessons and flash tutorial, go to Poker Lessons-- Poker Lesson Online, Game Lessons for Texas Holdem, Stud & Omaha

WSOP, Texas Holdem, No Limit Holdem, Pot Limit Holdem, Limit Holdem, WSOP 2005

House OKs Bill To Let Charities Host High-Stakes Poker Game

The Poker Gazette: AUGUSTA, Maine -- The Maine House has overwhelmingly approved a bill to allow charities to raise money by hosting high-stakes poker games. It's a measure that backers say legalizes and regulates gambling activity already going on under the radar in many social clubs and charities.

After House members approved the so-called Texas Hold 'Em bill Tuesday, the Senate referred it to the appropriations committee for review because it adds three staff positions to the Department of Public Safety.

It remains unclear if Gov. John Baldacci would sign the bill. His spokesman reiterated Baldacci's opposition to expansion of gambling in Maine and said he's undecided on the measure.

The bill would allow charities to apply for a poker license once every two months. The maximum entry fee for the games would be $100 per person and no more than 100 people would be able to play at a time. Seventy-five percent of the money raised would go to charity."

Play Texas Hold'em online at Bodog and win a seat to the 2005 WSOP! On June 11, 24 WSOP seats are up for grabs at Bodog in 24 hours. Visit Bodog now and be a poker millionaire!

World Series of Poker, World Series Poker, 2005 World Series of Poker, WSOP, 2005 WSOP

How To Play Texas Hold'em Poker

Texas Hold'em, or Texas Holdem, poker is the most popular poker game in the world. In fact, poker's growing popularity is credited to the Texas Hold'em game. This is the game being played on televised poker tournaments like the World Poker Tour (WPT) and the World Series of Poker (WSOP).

Texas Hold'em is very easy to learn and the rules are simple. Here's how Texas Hold'em poker is played:

First, each player is dealt with two face down cards (also called hole cards). Then the dealer places five “community” cards face-up that the players will share to combine with their two cards and make the best possible five-card hand.

• Then the first round of betting follows.
• Play proceeds clockwise from the blinds where players are free to either fold, call the blind bet or raise.
• The blinds are usually “live”, meaning the players may raise themselves when the action gets back around them.
• Next, three cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table; this is known as the “flop”.
• A new round of betting begins starting on the first blind, immediately to the dealer's left.
• Another card is dealt face up, the “turn”, then another round of betting follows, again beginning to the dealer's left.
• Then the final card is dealt, the “river”, and the final round of betting.

Remaining players will have to create the best five-card hand using any combination of the hole cards and community cards. The highest hand wins the pot.

Texas Hold'em has three variations: Limit, No Limit, and Pot Limit Texas Hold'em games.

See Texas Hold'em poker in action at the 2005 World Series of Poker Championship from June 2-July 15 in Las Vegas. Watch your favorite poker superstars like Annie Duke, Daniel Negraneu, Chris Ferguson, Phil Ivey, Howard Lederer, Doyle Brunson, and a lot more!

Play Texas Hold'em Poker now!

More 2005 WSOP Championship coverage at The Poker Tournaments Page and the World Series of Poker 2005 Championship.

Poker, Texas Hold'em, WSOP 2005