Texas Hold'em Rules
The Texas Hold'em mantra, "it takes
a minute to learn and a lifetime to master," is certainly
fitting. This poker game at the outset is simple, yet it surprisingly
grows in breadth and complexity once the concepts of betting
and bluffing are added.
The Texas Hold'em sequence of events vary
from casino to casino, but basic play is as follows:
- Before dealing the cards, the two players
to the left of the dealer place a bet in the pot. The person
to the immediate left of the dealer bets
the ?small blind? amount, and the person
two to the left of the dealer bets the ?big blind?
amount. These amount are labeled "blinds" because
the players bet before seeing their hands. The "blinds"
are the ante to ensure that every hand has "action."
Blind amounts vary, but typically, the "big blind"
is twice the "small blind."
- Each player at the table is dealt two
cards face down. These are called ?hole? or "pocket"
cards. The players review their two cards and the first
round of betting begins with each player
choosing to fold, call the "big blind" amount,
or raise. The player to the left of the "big
blind" makes the first bet and betting continues clockwise
around the table.
- After the first round of betting is
complete, the dealer turns over three community
cards face-up in the middle of the table (also
known as, ?the flop?). The community cards are shared
by the all players at the table. Next, the second
round of betting starts, again, beginning with
the player to the left of the dealer. Players may
"check" or bet if there is no betting before them,
and may call, raise, or fold if there is betting or raising
before them.
- After the second round of betting is
complete, the dealer turns over a fourth community
card (?the turn? or ?fourth street?) and the third
round of betting begins. Again, players may
check or bet if there is no betting before them, and may
call, raise, or fold if there is betting or raising before
them.
- After the third round of betting is
complete, the dealer turns over the last community
card (?the river? or ?fifth street?) and the final
round of betting begins.
- After the final round of betting is
completed, the player with the best poker hand wins
the pot (see our Texas Hold'em
FAQ for a ranking of poker hands).
There are many betting variations of Texas
Hold'em, but the three most prominent are:
"Limit"
- bets are limited to a specified amount in each game and
on each round of betting.
"Pot Limit" - maximum bet is
the total pot at the time of the bet.
"No Limit" - player can bet as
much as they have on the table at the time of the bet.
Now that you know the basics,
play a few rounds with friends, to get the hang of the sequence
of events. |
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