Texas Hold’em Rules

Here is how to play ultimate Texas Hold’em poker for US players:

1. Texas Hold’em uses the primary poker hand ranks.
2. Players have to create the best five-card hand from the seven dealt cards.
3. There are five distinctive rounds.
4. Players have to post blinds.
5. Betting happens before each round. Players can fold, bet or call in the first four rounds.
6. Betting works in a clockwise manner.
7. Players should play using a sound Texas Hold’em strategy.

Beginning of the Game

Players on the left of the button or dealer will have to post blind. The player that’s sitting to the dealer’s immediate left will post the small blind and the big blind will be posted by the player sitting on the small blinds left.

At the start of the game, players are dealt two cards face down. These cards are known as hole cards. Players bet according to their hole cards. This first round of betting is called the pre-flop.

For example, your hole cards are J and A

When all Texas Hold’em players have placed their bets, three community cards will be dealt. These cards are placed in the middle of the table. This is called the flop. Some tables will have clear markings of where the flop should be dealt.

For example, the flop is 4, Q, 9

During the Game

The fourth community card is dealt after another round of betting. One card will be dealt, and it is called the turn.

In terms of this example, the turn is K. The community cards on the table are currently 4, Q, 9 and K as well as your hole cards.

Another betting round will happen before the final card is shown. This is known as the River.

Going back to our example, if the River card is 10. The cards on the table are currently 4, Q, 9, K and 10 including your two-hole cards of J and A.

The End of the Game

The showdown; there are two ways to end the game. If more than one player is remaining the player will reveal their cards, and the best hand wins. In the case of our example, if all the cards were of the same suit, you would win the game with a royal flush. Five of the seven cards dealt rank as a royal flush hand (A, 10, J, Q and K).

Another way to end the showdown is that all but one player will fold and regards of that player’s hand she or she will win the game. Proving that you don’t always need the best hand to win.

 Other Recommended Texas Hold’em Guides:

• Texas Hold’em Strategy
• Texas Hold’em Pot Odds
• Texas Hold’em No Limit
• Texas Hold’em Tips
• Texas Hold’em Sit ‘n Go