Basic Rules of Texas Hold’em Poker

Texas Hold’em poker is a slight variation of the traditional poker card game (played with one deck of 52 cards). All players participating in the game receive two cards (called Hole cards or Pocket cards) and share 5 community cards in the middle of the table. Each player needs to make the strongest 5 cards combination using his 2 pocket cards and the 5 community cards that are revealed on the table.

Texas Hold’em game can be played with a minimum of 2 Players (Heads up) and up to a full table (Full ring game) with 10 players. All players are sitting around the table, and the person who is dealt last is regarded as the dealer button. At the end of each round, the dealer button is passed clockwise to the next player.

Let's Start

Blinds Placement

Every poker game begins with forced betting for 2 players, Small Blind (SB) and Big Blind (BB), and they must put bets before pocket cards are received. This is to ensure that there is some action on every hand. The big blind is always the minimum bet at the table and the small blind is half of the usual minimum bet.

Your options – Check, Bet, Raise, Re Raise, Call or Fold

Texas Hold’em Poker game is based on four betting rounds, during each betting round each player can act as follow:

1. Bet – Put money in the pot.

2. Call – To match another player's bet.

3. Fold – Give up hand participation and hand over the cards to the dealer.

4. Check – To pass on making an action.

5. Raise – To increase another player's bet.

6. Re-Raise – To increase another player's raise.

Betting Rounds

First Round

Pre Flop Bet

When blind's bets are placed, the dealer gives out two cards to each player. Each player will have to decide if he would like to make a bet. The first player seated after the big blind player will start. In the first betting round players can't check but can bet, call, raise or fold. All players shall put the same amount in for the game to continue. So, if one player raises, all other players must either call, raise or fold.

Second Round

Flop Bet

After the first round of bets end, the dealer will reveal the first 3 community cards on the board, which are called the Flop. Each player will try to put together the strongest hand possible with the two pocket cards he received at the beginning and with the 3 community cards he can see now. The first player sitting left to the dealer will start the second round of bets which is similar to the first round.

Third Round

Turn Bet

The dealer will reveal the Turn – the fourth community card, and again, the first player sitting left to the dealer will start the third round of bets. (If he is out of the game, the player on his left will start).

Fourth Round

River Bet

When the third round of bets ends, the dealer will show the fifth community card which is called the River and again, the first player sitting left to the dealer will start the fourth round of bets. When the fourth round of bets ends, it’s time for the show down and all players will now show their hands.

Determining The Winner

The player with the strongest hand according to the ranking hierarchy wins and collects all the chips. Additionally, a player can win a hand if they placed a bet and no other player matched it. A winning hand can be declared at any betting round if a player made a bet and none of the others matched it.