Basic Rules of Texas Hold’em

Starting the Game

The minimum number of players in Texas Hold’em is two, but any less than eight may be considered a shorthanded game. A full table is nine or ten players. Types of Texas Hold’em include Limit, Pot Limit and No Limit. In Limit, bets and raises can’t exceed the amount that is set before starting the game. In Pot Limit, each player’s raise is limited by the current amount in the pot. In No Limit, when players say “all in” it means they may bet everything they have.

High card becomes the first dealer. A dealer button, which is a white chip, indicates the position of the dealer which continues to the left throughout the game. The term being on the button means taking a turn being the dealer.

 

Pre-Flop Betting

Big blind and little blind are forced bets that are pre-determined amounts put into the pot before the dealer deals the cards. Only the big blind and little blind players have money in the pot before the first deal. The little blind amount must be half of the big blind amount. The seat to the dealer’s left is always the little blind and the big blind position is on the little blind’s left.

After shuffling a standard 52 card deck, the dealer deals each player two face down cards one at a time. These are called hole cards, down cards or pocket cards. Each player picks up his or her cards after all players receive their cards. One possible play is to match the big blind’s bet which is to call it. If the cards aren’t great, the player can fold which means to not make a bet. The third option is to raise by adding more money. The little blind plays one of the three choices first and so on throughout the table.

 

Things to keep in mind

*The amount to call increases with each new raise. However, once a player raises, he or she may not raise again after being called, but may raise after being re-raised. A re-raise increases the previous raise and may be made by any player at any time.

*If no raise is made to the big blind, the player in the big blind position may choose to check which means he or she has decided not to raise and add more money.

*Some Texas Hold’em games are played with only one blind or with more than two blinds.

*When the last raise has been called or when all players have folded, this betting round ends.

 

Flop Betting

The dealer deals one card to the side and burns it which means keeps it out of play. The dealer then places three cards face down before turning them up again which is called the flop. Players use these face up cards in combination with their pocket cards to create the best possible poker hand. The little blind player is now said to be under the gun (UTG) which means he or she is the first to call, fold, raise or check. This betting round ends when all players have folded or called.

 

Turn and River Betting

Next, the dealer burns another card before dealing a card face up called the turn. Another round of betting occurs with the little blind player again being UTG. After the turn round, the dealer burns one more card and deals one more card face up called the river. When a player is called after the river and two or more players are involved, a showdown takes place. Players that haven’t folded must show their hands in order beginning with the last player to bet. After the last betting player shows his or her hand, the other players in the showdown may muck their hands, which means to fold and not show. The winner of Texas Hold’em has the best five card poker hand.