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The beginnings of the phrase "poker nuts" are unclear although it is thought to have come from old slang which means "delightful issue, practice or experience". It is really a "delightful thing" needless to say, because in Texas holdem the poker nuts will be the greatest achievable hand that you are able to have at any stage in the game.

If you may have the nuts, you cannot be defeated…at that point in the hand. This is the critical factor that plenty of inexperienced players fail to consider, the nuts can move from 1 gambler to an additional as well as your hand which was the nuts earlier on can end up being smashed!

The subsequent example really should demonstrate the fickle nature of the cards in Texas hold em poker and how your nuts can speedily turn to pulp!

You’re playing a hand of Texas hold’em poker and there are three players nonetheless in the game at the flop. You have dealt seven of clubs, eight of diamonds; Amy has 5 of spades, 5 of clubs and Mike’s palm is King, 9 of hearts.

The flop is dealt and the cards are 9 of hearts, 6 of hearts and 5 of diamonds. This really is a fantastic flop for you – you’ve got the poker nuts! At this point you’ve a directly – five, 6, 7, 8, 9 – which can’t be beaten by any other mixture of cards.

Now you choose to "slow play" your palm and try to draw a bet from somebody having a great pair who will like this flop, so you simply check. Amy likes the look of her hands now as she has flopped 3 5 spades so she makes a bet which is named by Mike as he now has a pair of nines that has a King kicker. You prefer the way it is going so you call the wager.

The turn card is Ace of hearts. Mike is now smiling to himself as he has just managed to make the poker nuts using a flush, his two hearts in his hand plus the three around the table with Ace King great now give him an unequalled hand. Mike wagers as he knows he’s got the nuts except he wants to draw out the maximum cash from the table so he keeps his bet low adequate to have called. You still feel you’re winning with the directly, in reality the Ace has heightened that opinion as you now reckon Mike most likely has an Ace in his side and maybe even 2 pairs.

He’s fallen into your trap! Or so you believe.

The river is dealt and it is the 5 of hearts. This is a blow to you as there are now 4 hearts on view, so anyone using a heart is defeating you which has a flush. Mike is happy with the five as he even now feels he is succeeding using the top flush, although his opponents may perhaps also have made a flush and think they’re winning. Amy obviously may be the real winner as she has just produced the nuts with 4 5s, her 4 of a variety can only be outdone by a directly flush or a much better four of a kind. There aren’t enough connected hearts showing on the table to make a straight flush and there isn’t an additional pair displaying so it’s impossible to produce 4 of a kind.

Amy wins the pot though you and Mike reflect on what need to have been.

Both of you held the poker nuts at one point in the game except failed to realise that the poker nuts – and your fortunes – in Texas holdem can change entirely with one turn of a card.