 How to Play
Texas Hold'Em Rules
The Shuffle, the Deal and the Blinds
The dealer shuffles a standard 52-card deck.
Most Texas Hold'Em Poker games start with the two players to the left of the dealer (the button) putting a predetermined amount of money into the pot before any cards are dealt, ensuring that there's something to play for on every hand. This is called "posting the blinds." The "small blind" -- the player to the left of the dealer -- puts up half the minimum bet, and the "big blind" puts up the full minimum bet.
Each player is dealt two cards, face down. These are known as the "hole cards."
Betting Begins
A round of betting takes place, beginning with the player to the left of the big blind. Players must call, raise, go “all in” or fold when it's their turn to act. If the big blind is not raised, the small blind must put in other ½ of the minimum bet, raise or fold. Then, the big blind has the option to “check” or bet.
The Flop
After the first betting round, the dealer discards the top card of the deck. This is called burning the card and it is done to ensure that no one accidentally saw the top card, this also helps prevent cheating.
The dealer then flips the next three cards face up on the table. These cards are called the "flop."
After the flop, another round of betting takes place, beginning with the player to the left of the dealer (the button). During this and all future rounds of betting, players can check, call, raise, go “all in” or fold when it's their turn to act.
The Turn
The dealer burns another card and plays one more face up onto the table. This, the fourth community card, this card is called the "turn" or " Fourth Street."
The player to the left of the dealer (the button) begins the third round of betting.
The River
The dealer burns another card before placing the final face-up card on the table. This card is called the "river" or " Fifth Street."
Final Betting and the Winner
Players can now use any combination of the seven cards. -- the five community cards and the two hole cards known only to them -- to form the best possible five-card Poker hand.
The fourth and final round of betting starts with the player to the left of the dealer (the button).
After the final betting round, the player who made the initial bet or the player who made the last raise shows their hand ( they have been “called”). Each player (starting to the left of the “called” player) will then either show a higher ranking five card hand or can choose to “muck” their loosing hand.
Only the “called” player or a player with a higher hand is required to show their hole cards.
If you know you can not win the hand you can “muck” your hole cards.
The player with the best hand wins |
