Poker Rules - Texas Holdem

This article explains the concept for playing Texas Holdem including betting rounds, how the cards are dealt and the overall basics of the game. Texas Holdem is usually played in three formats – Pot Limit, No Limit and Fixed Limit. Every online poker room provides Texas Holdem for free or for real money.

The Blinds

When playing at the casino or in an online poker room you will see a button which will rotate clockwise to the dealer. The button is to distinguish who at the table is in the blinds. The player who is seated to the right of the button will be the small blind and will post half of the big blind bet. The player to their right is the big blind and will post the full bet at the table. As an example if you were playing $1/$2, the small blind would need to post $1, and the big blind would post $2 prior to any cards being dealt. Once the blinds are in everyone will receive their two hole cards

Betting Rounds

Once you have your cards you will need to look at them and determine if you want to play your hand and how you want to play. You have three options available to you, call, raise or fold. If you intend to raise, your bet will depend on the type of Holdem you are playing. As an example in a FL game of Holdem the pre-flop bet/raise would be one big blind, where as pot limit allows you to bet the pot plus one big blind and no limit will give you the ability to bet all your chips. Each player will take their turn starting with the player who is to the right of the big blind.

The Flop

Once the betting round has finished the dealer will place three cards on the table face up, also known as the flop. These cards will be shared among all players at the table, which is also why they are referred to as “community cards”. The first player to the right of the button who is playing the hand will open the betting round, and any subsequent rounds here on out.

The Turn

Once the betting round has come to a complete the dealer will lay another card on the table face up. This card is referred to as the turn which is the 4th community card. Players will again have another betting round with the same rules applying here as listed above. The only exception is when you are playing a game of Fixed Limit where the best will now double the big blind.

The River

The river is the final and 5th community card placed on the table, again face up. Once this card is laid players will have their final betting round and the player with the best five card hand will win the pot. If players end up tied the hand the dealer will divide the pot between the winning players.