TEXAS HOLD'EM

 

The Start

In Texas Hold'em, a “Disc” or “Buck” known as "the button" serves to indicate which player is the nominal dealer for the current Texas Hold'em hand. Before the hand starts, the player immediately clockwise the button posts the "small blind", typically half a small bet (for example, $1 in a $1/$2 game). The player immediately clockwise the small blind posts the "big blind", which is always a full small bet ($2 in a $2/$4 game). Now, the each player is dealt his/her two hole cards or “Pocket Cards”.

 

Pre-Flop

After seeing his/her pocket cards, each player now has the option to play his or her hand by calling or raising the big bet. As mentioned before, the big bet is the size of a full small bet. Thus in a $2/$4 Texas Hold'em game, it would cost $2 to call in this initial round of betting (known as the "pre-flop").

In Texas Hold'em the available actions are bet, call, check or raise. These options are available depending on the action taken by the previous player. Each poker player always has the option to fold. The first player to act has the option to bet, call, check or raise. Subsequent players have the option of calling, raising or folding. To call is to bet the same amount as the previous player has bet. To raise, is to match the previous bet and increase the bet.

 

The Flop

Now, the "flop" is dealt face-up on the board. The flop is the first three community poker cards available for all active players to utilize. Betting begins with the active player immediately clockwise of the button. All bets and raises occur in small bets (increments of $2 in a $2/$4 game). The same rules apply from above to complete this round of poker betting.

 

The Turn
When betting action is completed for the flop round, the "turn" is dealt face-up on the board. The turn is the fourth community card in a Texas Hold'em poker game. Play begins with the active player immediately clockwise the button. On this round, Same rules apply as above except that poker betting doubles from the small bet to the big bet. In a $2/$4 game, betting on the turn is done in $4 increments.

 

The River
Once the betting action is completed for the turn round, the "river" is dealt face-up on the board. The river is the fifth and final community card in a Texas Hold'em game. Betting begins with the active player immediately clockwise the button and the same poker rules apply as they do in the fourth card explained above.

 

The Showdown
At the end of the final betting round, if there is more than one remaining poker player, the last bettor or raiser shows his or her cards first. If there was no bet on the final round, the player immediately clockwise the button shows his or her cards first. The player with the best five-card hand wins the pot. In the event of identical hands, the pot will be equally divided between the players with the best hands. Texas Hold'em rules state that all suits are equal, so split pots are more common than in other variations of poker.