Texas Holdem Poker Rules
Texas Hold’em is so popular that it just isn’t funny. It has now become the most frequently played poker game. Its great success is to some extent due to its easy rules, famous for the fact that a beginner can learn them within minutes.
Anyway, you can't get too far without the rules, no matter how simple they are. Therefore, remember to read them first. And do not forget the aim of the game, which is to create the best 5-card hand out of any of the hole cards you get and the 5 community cards.
First of all the players need to determine who will be the dealer of the game. That is indicated by a special marker (usually a plastic disc) placed in front of the dealer. At the end of each hand the disc shifts to the next player. Being the dealer of the round can give you certain advantages over the other players. Most important of all, the dealer is always the last to bet and, therefore, knows his/her opponents’ cards far better than they do his/hers.
The game starts to the left of the dealer in a clockwise manner. Before it actually does start, there is one more thing to be done, and this is posting the blinds.
The Blinds
There are no antes in Texas Hold’em, 2 blinds (the big blind and the small blind) are used instead. They are called so, because 2 players have to place their bets before they are allowed to see their own cards.
The player to the dealers left acts first. He is called the small blind and has to place the bet equal to half the smallest bet in the game. After that the player called the big blind (seated to the small blind’s left) places a bet equal to the smallest bet of the game. This is all done to create a pot right at the beginning, so that the players will have what to fight for.
The Pre-Flop
The blinds posted, 2 cards are dealt face-down to each player. These cards are called hole cards. Right after that the first betting round begins. While it is still in process, there are several ways you can choose from in order to act. Thus, you can check (pass your turn and let the next player act), bet (raise the initial bet of the round), raise (raise the bet for the second, third and fourth time during the round), call (post a bet equal to the previous bet) or fold (give up and let others play). You can fold at any time, so it is never too late. Do not forget that there can be only 1 bet and 3 raises per player in each betting round.
The Flop
As soon as the first betting round is over, 3 community cards are placed face-up in the middle of the table. These 3 cards are called the flop and can be used by any of the players to create their winning 5-card combination. We then proceed to the second round of betting, where again you can check, bet, raise, call or fold, just as in all the other betting rounds.
The Turn
That being completed, the time has come for the turn. This is the name of the fourth community card, which is now placed face up in the center of the table. The 3rd round of betting starts again in a clockwise fashion.
The River
After all the players have placed their bets this time, they get to see the last community cards, which is placed face up on the board. The last round of betting starts.
The Showdown
And now for the showdown. The players that are still active in the game show their cards in a clockwise manner starting from the dealer’s left. The player with the best 5-card hand wins the pot.
Well done! You’ve read all the rules. It wasn’t that bad, huh? That is exactly why so many people choose to play Texas Hold’em. Wanna go online and give it a try? Right you are!