Texas Hold 'Em Poker Rules

 Rules of Texas Hold 'Em poker

Texas Holdem, also known as Texas Hold 'Em, is the main version of Poker used in most casinos. This version can be seen on TV shows like ESPN's World Series of Poker and the Travel Channel World Poker Tour.

The Shuffle and The Deal.

The dealer flips 52 cards from a standard 52-card deck.

The dealer does not play in casino games. A "dealer" button is a round disc that moves clockwise from one player to the next with each hand. The button signifies which player will be the dealer, if the deal is advanced from one player after another.

Most Texas Hold 'Em Poker games begin with the players to the left and right of the button putting money in the pot before any cards can be dealt. This ensures that every hand has something to win. This is called "posting your blinds." The "first blind", the player to left of the dealer, usually puts up half the minimum wager, while the "second blind," the player to his right, places the full bet.

Each player gets two cards, each face down. These cards are also known as "hole card".

Bets begin

One round of betting begins, with the player to his left of the two who posted blinds. When it is their turn to place a bet, players have the option of calling, raising, or folding.

The Flop

The dealer discards the highest card in the deck after each round. This is called "burning the card" and it is used to make sure no one sees the top card accidentally and to prevent cheating.

The dealer then flips three of the remaining cards face up on the table. These cards are called "flops."

NOTE: At the end, five community cards will be displayed face-up on a table. Players have the option to use any combination from the community cards or their two hole cards in order to make the best five-card Poker hand.

A new round of betting begins after the flop. It starts with the player left of the dealer (the buttons). During the next round of betting, players may check, call, raise or fold.

Fourth Street

The dealer then plays another face-up card onto the table and burns another. This is the fourth community card and it's called "turn" or "Fourth Street."

The third round begins for the player left of the dealer (the buttons).

Fifth Street

Before placing the final face-up cards on the table, the dealer first burns another card. This card is also known as the "river", or "Fifth Street".

Final Betting and the Winner

Players can now combine any seven cards, the five community cards as well as the two hole cards, to form the best possible five card Poker hand.

The fourth and final round begins with the player left of the dealer (the buttons).

All players remaining in the game are required to reveal their hand after the last betting round. The hand shown first is that of the player who placed the first bet and the one who raised the least. Poker - How to Play Texas Holdem