Texas Holdem

Texas Holdem is the most popular form of poker being played today. It is the focus of the World Series of Poker and the World Poker Tour, as well as many online poker rooms. Although there is a great deal of strategy involved, the rules are relatively simple.

The Basics
Every player is dealt two cards face down; these are the hole cards. Five cards are dealt face up on the table. These five cards are the community cards and are shared by all players. The object of the game is to make the best poker hand using any five of the seven cards (the five community cards and the two hole cards). The player with the best poker hand wins the pot. In the case of a tie, the players share the pot equally.

How the Game Works

• The two players to the left of the dealer post the blinds (see Blinds for more information)
• Every player is dealt two hole cards face down
• The first round of betting begins:
  • Each player, starting to the left of the big blind, must decide whether to call (match the big blind), raise or fold (see Betting Basics for more information)
• Once the betting has concluded, the dealer burns (discards) the first card and then turns over the first three community cards (also known as the flop)
• The second round of betting begins, where the remaining players, starting to the left of the button (dealer) must decide whether to check, bet, raise or fold
• Once the betting has concluded, the dealer burns the next card and then turns over the fourth community card (also known as the turn or 4th street)
• The third round of betting begins, where each remaining player must decide whether to check, bet, raise or fold
• Once the betting has concluded, the dealer burns the next card and then turns over the fifth community card (also known as the river or 5th street)
• The final round of betting begins, where each remaining player must decide whether to check, bet, raise or fold
• Once all the betting has concluded, the remaining players turn over their hole cards and show their resulting poker hand (best 5-card combination of hole cards and community cards)
• The player with the best poker hand wins the pot; in the event of a tie, the players split the pot
• The button (as well as the blinds) move one spot to the left and the game begins again