Texas Holdem Information & Rules

 

Overview:

 

 

                                          Community cards:                     Player cards:

 

                

 

Players:

 

 
Up to 10 players are allowed to play in the same game.

 

 

Dealer:

 

 
In Texas Hold'em a button (the "dealer button") indicates who the dealer is. The deal moves clockwise between the players.

 

 

Blinds:

 

 
Texas Hold'em is played with two blinds, the "small blind" and the "big blind". Before any cards are dealt the blinds must be posted. The player to the left of the dealer posts the small blind and the next player in turn posts the big blind.

 

 

The blinds are considered as "live" bets. If you have posted a blind you are only required to make up the difference, if any, between the blind and the current bet. The players in the blinds have the option to fold, call, check or raise in turn.

 

 

Deal:

 

 
Each player receives 2 cards dealt face down. These 2 cards are called the "hole cards". After that there will be 3 community cards dealt face up on the board, "the flop". Then another community card, "the turn" or "fourth street" will be dealt. Finally the last community card, "the river" or "fifth street", will make it 5 cards showing on the table.

 

 

Betting order:

 

 
There are 4 betting rounds in Texas Hold'em. The first betting round takes place after each player is dealt his hole cards. In this round the player to the left of the big blind is first to act. In the following betting rounds the first active player to the left of the dealer button starts the action.

 

 

Showdown:

 

 
If no more betting takes place, after all the cards have been dealt out, there is a showdown to determine the winner. The best 5 card hand wins the pot. The players are allowed to use 1 or 2 of their hole cards, but they can also "play the board" meaning that they use all 5 cards on the board. If two or more players show the same hand they split the pot.

 

 

If there was betting on fifth street the player who made the last bet or raise must show his hand first. If there was no betting the first remaining player to the left of the dealer shows his hand first.