Texas Hold em Rules
Texas Hold em is the most popular of poker games with millions of players worldwide. It uses a standard 52 card deck and a small disc, known as the dealer button. The dealer button indicates the dealer of each hand and is moved clockwise to the next player after a hand is complete. This way all players get the chance to play early or late and all players post blind bets.
The Blind Bets
The next player clockwise to the dealer button places a “small blind” which is half of the lower stake and the player to the left of the small blind places a “big blind” which is the full amount of the lower stake. After the blinds are places, the cards are dealt and the player left to the big blind starts the first round of betting.
The First Round of Betting
Since the small and big blinds are live bets the next player can either call, raise, or fold. If they call, they wager an amount equivalent to the big blind. If they raise, they wager an amount larger the big blind, or if they fold they lay down their cards and lose the chance of winning the pot.
The Second Round of Betting
The second betting round begins after the flop, where the first 3 community cards have been dealt, again starting with the player left of the big blind. The player can check, bet, raise, or fold. When someone checks that means they do not wish to bet and this is only available if there have been no previous bets this round. If a bet is made the remaining players will only have the options of calling, raising, or folding.
The Third Round of Betting
After the Turn (fourth community card) has been dealt the third betting round begins. The same rules apply as those in the second betting round.
The Fourth Round of Betting
Begins after the River (Fifth and final community card) has been dealt. Same rules apply as those in the Second and Third round of betting.
Showdown
If more than one player remains, all players must reveal their cards and the player with the best hand wins. A player can use any combination of their own cards and the community cards including 2 player cards and 3 community cards, 1 player card and 4 community cards, or all 5 community cards. If two players have the same hand the pot is split equally between the two players.
Texas Hold em Hand Rankings
1. Straight Flush: Five cards in sequence, of the same suit
2. Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank
3. Full House: Three cards of the same rank
4. Flush: Five cards of the same suit
5. Straight: Five cards in sequence
6. Three of a kind: Three cards of the same rank
7. Two pair: Two cards of a matching rank
8. One pair: Two cards of a matching rank
9. High card: Any hand that does not qualify under a category listed above
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