Articles
Article:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Texas Hold'em Rules
Texas Holdem Rules
by Mike Greenberg
Here's a quick guide to Texas Holdem rules, so grab your pad and pencil or commit this information to memory and learn this popular game. There are a few variations of the game: no-limit, pot-limit and limit Texas Holdem. Each one is dealt the same and has the same fundamentals, yet strategy changes with variations in the betting limits. Just keep that in mind as your level of play progresses.
Step One
The dealer always deals to the left, and the action follows suit. This remains consistent throughout the game. The dealer will place a dealer button in front of the player to their left, and the next two players in the action will post blinds. If you're unfamiliar with the term, blinds are simply pre-determined amounts of money that begin building a pot. The first player to post will offer the small blind and the next player will offer the large blind. In essence, these two players have already offered a bet on the hand before cards have been dealt. The dealer will deal around the table offering each player two cards face down. These cards are known as your pocket or hole cards.
Step Two
After the initial deal, a round of betting takes place. In order to stay in the hand, you must match the largest bet on the table. The betting in this round begins with the player to the left of the large blind, because two players have already contributed to the pot via blinds. If you choose not to bet, you can fold or quit the hand by offering your hole cards back to the dealer. There's no need to show anyone your cards unless you have a strategic reason for doing so. (The only exception is if you see another player to the showdown. If they beat you and wish to see your cards, you've got to show.) For those staying in the hand, once all bets are equal, play continues.
Step Three
The flop is the first move the dealer makes offering cards face up. Three cards are placed in front of the dealer and are used as community cards, which are shared by everyone at the table. After the flop, another round of betting takes place beginning with the first of the remaining players to the left of the dealer button. After everyone has placed their bets, you will see the next community card.
Step Four
The turn is a single card placed face up next to the flop. Another round of betting follows. At this point, there are six cards available to choose from to build a hand. Your two pocket cards and the four community cards. You may use any combination of cards in Hold'em to build your strongest five-card hand. After the round of betting on the turn, the dealer will deal the final community card.
Step Five
The river: another single community card played face up. No doubt, you've heard all about the river if you've tuned in to any televised poker event. For the players remaining at the table, there is a final round of betting. After all bets are matched, you enter the showdown. Each player, beginning with the first remaining player in the action, will show their cards and the highest five-card hand built from the seven available cards will take the pot. The dealer button slides one player to the left, as do the blind responsibilities and the whole process is repeated.
Not a difficult game to play, but you'll soon learn that it is a complicated game to master. A quick hint as you begin your trial play: Texas Holdem is not only a game where you play your cards, but where you play the other players too.
| 
