RULES FOR TEXAS HOLD’EM

The most popular of all the poker games today is Texas Hold'em, or more commonly termed “Hold’em” throughout the casinos and cardrooms all over the world. The game begins with each player (maximum 10 per table) being dealt two cards, also known as “hole cards,” face-down. Five cards are dealt face-up on the table (or the "board"). These are called “community cards” since all players can combine these five cards with their two hole cards to create the best five-card poker hand.

In Texas Hold'em, a disc called "the button” is used to denote which player is the honorary dealer for the current hand. The player sitting to the left of the “dealer” must post the “small blind,” which is usually the smaller bet (for example, in a $5/$10 game, the small blind would be $5). The player sitting to the left of the small blind must post the “big blind,” which is always the larger bet (in the case of the $5/$10 table, the big blind would be $10). The betting begins with the player sitting next to the big blind and advances clockwise around the table.

As the action proceeds, players have the option to fold, check, call or raise. Unlike Limit or Pot Limit games, in No Limit Texas Hold’em there is no maximum raise amount. Players may raise an unlimited amount of chips if they so choose.

After the initial round of betting, three cards are dealt face-up on the board. This is known as the “flop.” These three community cards are accessible to all active players. Another round of betting ensues with the player directly clockwise from the button.

Upon completion of the betting round, another card is dealt face-up on the board. This card is called the “turn.” This is the fourth community card in the game of Hold’em. Once again, betting takes place starting with the active player to the left of the button.

Once betting is finished after the turn, a fifth card is dealt face-up on the board entitled the “river.” This is the very last community card of the Hold’em game. Betting starts with the first active player sitting clockwise from the button.

After the final round of betting, the last player to bet or raise shows his cards to determine the winner. If no bet was made during the final round then the player sitting clockwise from the button must reveal his cards first. The player with the best five-card hand wins the pot. If players share the same winning hand then the pot is split equally amongst them.

Once the winner of the hand collects his pot, a new game of Hold’em may commence. The button moves clockwise to the next player at the table.

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If you enjoy playing Texas Holdem, you may also enjoy using our poker rules section to learn how to play Omaha and Seven Card Stud.