Best Texas Hold'em Poker Sites

Whether you’re just stepping into the world of poker, or you’re a fully paid up fan, there’s always something to learn about Texas Hold’em poker. I’ve got the complete run down on this poker variant, including how to play, the best places to play, and how it stacks up against other poker variants. 

What is Texas Holdem?

Texas Holdem is the most popular variant of poker in the whole world. It’s the one that most people play in the biggest tournaments and it’s the one that you’ll be able to find the most easily online.

The Best 5 Texas Holdem Sites in the UK

So now that you know what Texas Hold’em is, we’re going to take a look at some of the best places to play Texas Hold'em online. As a UK player, I know all about these sites – the bonuses, rake fees, tournaments and what the players are like. Let's dig into it.

GGPoker

The GGNetwork is now the biggest poker network in the world. It all started in Southeast Asia, but they had their eyes set on something way bigger - taking over the poker world. So, when they launched in the UK in 2017, supported by the UK Gambling Commission, I was itching to try it out. 

GGPoker lives up to the hype. It offers daily and 'special' tournaments throughout the month, with a chance to win $10,000,000 in monthly prizes.

The mobile platform is second to none. It offers a super slick interface and all the games that you’d find on desktop, will fit your screen size. Payouts are speedy, with most processed within 24 hours.

Pros

• Truly outstanding mobile platform (both iOS and Android)
• Huge value in monthly promotions
• Lots of tournaments (also official WSOP Online partner)

Cons

• All deposits are converted into dollars
• Can’t use any third-party software (trackers, heads-up displays, etc)
• The rewards system is pretty convoluted

PokerStars UK

PokerStars, known as the biggest poker site in the world, has hosted over 1 billion tournaments since its launch in 2001.

The client, in my opinion, is the best out there. It’s super easy to use, even for total beginners. You can play on mobile or desktop, plus there’s a huge range of blinds, from $0.01 up to $400.

As is often the way with large sites, there’s going to be tough competition for players. It can be disheartening to lose time and time again. But it’s the only way to learn and it would seem unfair to knock PokerStars for the calibre of its clientele! Bonus points for their fast processing of withdrawals (24 hours).

Pros

• Up to 65% rakeback available in VIP scheme
• Flawless client (mobile and desktop) 
• Huge stake variety $0.01 up to $400

Cons

• Restricted to 4 tables when multi-tabling
• Strong players make competition tough
• Limited bonuses for existing customers

888 Poker

888 Poker is one of the oldest poker sites available to UK players. It started as Pacific Poker but has only grown since the rebrand. The site focuses on Texas Hold’em poker but does offer variants too like Omaha and Stud Fixed Limit. There are also plenty of SNAP poker games which are like Zoom poker.

With so many competitive players, there are always tournaments to join, like the Mystery Bounty and SNAP tournaments. And then there's the Big Shot tournament - it's got the biggest prize at 888 Poker.

Pros

• Can choose to play exclusively with your friends
• Great for multi-tablers, offering up to six tables at once
• Huge choice of tournaments at all times of day

Cons

• Payments other than e-wallets are slow (up to 6 days)
• Fairly low rakeback available (up to 50%)
• Loyalty programme offers less value than some others

PartyPoker

PartyPoker was, like 888 Poker, one of the original online poker sites. Nowadays, they don’t see quite the same traffic as the big guys. But you’ll still be able to choose from hundreds of tables at any time of night or day.

Most tournaments are at the low-mid range level, meaning you won’t need a big bankroll to get started. The withdrawal time is average, with the quickest taking 24 hours. Larger withdrawals can take up to five working days.

Also, they offer an impressive cashback scheme, that can see you get back up to 55% of rake fees. There are a bunch of brilliant Sunday tournaments, with the smallest pot of $300k up for grabs.

They do have a mobile app, which works well, but only in portrait mode. This can make playing on a tablet a little frustrating! Like most other poker sites, you will need to download software to play. To do this, log in and play on your browser. But these are only minor niggles. PartyPoker is a solid choice for amateurs and enthusiasts alike.

Pros

• Impressive, up to 55% cashback on rake and fees
• High traffic at all times, with lots of UK players
• Tons of tournaments, including $300k Guaranteed Sundays

Cons

• Must download the client to play
• App can only be played in portrait mode (difficult to see)
• Can’t use third party tracking software

William Hill Poker

William Hill Poker is a classic choice for UK players, having launched back in 2002. It now has the fifth largest traffic in the world, reaching 7,000 players at peak time. Plus, Texas Hold’em makes up the vast majority of games. Aimed at UK players, you’ll always be able to find a table here.

You can launch William Hill Poker using certified third-party software. This is great news for those who are serious about their Texas Holdem game. The low rakeback is a bit of a disappointment, as is the lack of a mobile app. But, if you’re looking for a busy site where you can use tracking software, this is the obvious choice.

Pros

• Huge daily traffic makes finding a table easy
• Payouts are quick across the board, with Visa Fast Funds available
• Strong options for fans of multi-table tournaments

Cons

• Maximum possible rakeback of 27%
• Client only available for Windows (not Mac)
• No native mobile app (can play mobile browser)

How To Choose a Texas Hold'em Poker Site

There’s a huge choice of Texas hold'em sites out there and, to put it politely, some are better than others. When trying to find a new site to play at keep the following in mind:

• Safety: It’s not the most exciting point on the checklist, but it’s super important. Ensure the site has a valid licence, ideally from the UK Gambling Commission. They should employ SSL encryption and have solid customer support.
• Player Traffic: Look for sites with an active poker community, this means you’ll be able to find tables to suit your ability and stake requirements.
• Variety: Look for plenty of poker tables, with options to suit your bankroll.
• Promotions: See if there are any poker promotions available with player-friendly terms. These types of bonuses can help make your money go further.

Texas Holdem Mobile Apps

If you love your mobile, then a great desktop client might not be high on your list of priorities. Let’s take a look at some poker apps designed for mobile.

Zynga Poker App

Remember Farmville? Well, Zynga Poker is from the same bunch of geniuses that created that. They also turned out to be pretty great at poker. Zynga Poker is what’s known as a social poker app, meaning you don’t need to deposit money to play. This makes it a brilliant choice for those wanting to practise. It’s available on the App Store, Google Play Store and Windows Store. So there’s little excuse not to try it out.

Unibet Poker App

Unibet’s poker offering was so close to making it to our top 5 Texas Hold’em sites, so I gave it a spot on the apps list instead. Unibet’s apps are always excellent, across the board. So, it’s no surprise that the poker one is great too. It offers access to the same game formats, payment methods, and bonuses as the desktop client. Unibet has a casual player base, which means you stand a pretty good chance of actually winning too!

888 Poker App

Sneaking in with the third spot is the 888 Poker app. Alongside its brilliant sportsbook app and casino app, it’s hardly surprising that 888 has a solid poker offering too. The app is well-designed for mobile, letting you play all kinds of poker and even multi-table.

The downside is that there are a few helpful little features. They are only available on a desktop, including player searches and hand histories. For casual players though, this shouldn’t be an issue.

How to Play Texas Hold'em Poker Online: Hold'em Rules and Hands

So you know where to play Texas Holdem online. What’s next? I find that getting to grips with Texas holdem poker rules is the best place to start. Let’s take a look at them.

Texas Hold'em Rules

The rules to Texas Holdem are pretty simple, but it never hurts to refresh your memory. Below are each of the phases of a typical Texas Holdem game.

The Deal

Every Texas Hold’em game begins with the deal. Here, each player is dealt two private cards known as hole cards. The small blind and big blind are placed (one and two positions to the left of the dealer respectively). Then, you place your first bets starting from the player one position to the left of the big blind, heading clockwise. 

The Flop

Once everyone has placed their bets, the three community cards are dealt. These are dealt face up in the centre of the table for everyone to see. Then, a second round of betting takes place, beginning with the player to the left of the dealer.

The Turn

Next, the fourth community card is dealt, also face-up. Then, you guessed it, another round of betting. Also kicked off by the player to the left of the dealer.

The River

Finally, the fifth community card is dealt face-up in the centre of the table. The final round of betting starts, with the player to the left of the dealer. 

The Showdown

It’s time for the big one! All of the players reveal their hole cards and the best five card hand wins the pot. 

Texas Hold'em Hands

Wait a minute, how do you know what the best hand is? You’ll need to know your hand rankings. Below is an explanation of each hand, ranked from the worst to the best. 

• High Card: Five cards that are unmatched, where the highest card is called
• One Pair: Two cards of the same value e.g. 3+3
• Two Pair: Two sets of two cards of the same value e.g. 3+3, 10+10
• Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same value e.g. Q+Q+Q
• Straight: Any five cards in order (not the same suit) e.g. 5+6+7+8+9
• Flush: Any five cards, all in the same suit
• Full House: A three pair and a two pair e.g. J+J+J, 2+2
• Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same value e.g. 5+5+5+5
• Straight Flush: Five cards in order, all the same suit e.g. 4+5+6+7+8
• Royal Flush: Five cards all of the same suit, ranked 10+J+Q+K+A

What Are the Blinds and Button in Poker?

You might have seen that I mentioned the blind in the order of the Texas hold'em rules, but what is it? In Texas Hold’em poker we used blinds to get the betting moving. You can think of a blind sort of like a forced bet. 

The player immediately to the left of the dealer (who has the button which we’ll come on to in a second) puts down a small blind. Then, the person to the left of that player, puts down the big blind, which is usually around twice the value of the small blind.

This means that to stay in, you’ve got to place a bet that’s equal to the big blind, or larger. If one player raises, everybody has to match them. If nobody raises, then when everyone around the table has put in a bet, the player who put in the small blind can bump up the amount to equal the big blind.

To make things fair, and ensure that the same two players aren’t putting up the blinds every time, the button moves around the table. It begins with the dealer for the deal, then moves one position to the left for the flop, and so on. 

What is The Difference Between Texas Holdem and Regular Poker?

Truthfully, it depends what you mean by ‘regular poker’. Nowadays Texas Hold’em is so popular that many people would consider it the most ‘regular’ type of poker you’d come across.

However, there are a handful of poker variants that were around before Texas Hold’em was even invented. So, if they’re what you mean by regular poker, let’s get into it!

• Straight Poker: You’ll almost never see this available to play nowadays, but it was widely played in the US in the early 19th century. Unlike Texas holdem poker, there’s only one round of betting and no community cards.
• Five/ Seven Card Stud: Unlike Texas Hold’em there are no community cards in these variants. Some cards are also dealt face down.
• Five Card Draw: Everyone is dealt five cards, but after a betting round they can exchange two cards to try and form a better hand.

Every casino game, and every poker variant has its pros and cons so let’s take a look at some of the benefits and drawbacks of playing Texas Holdem poker.

Our Final Thought on Texas Holdem

Texas Holdem is the world’s favourite poker variant for good reason. It’s fast-paced, strategic, and frankly, really good fun. If you prefer games that test your intellect and reward you accordingly, then it’s a sound one to choose. Plus, you now know all of the best places to play it!