Overview
Number of Players: 2 to 10
Texas Hold’em is the fastest, and
certainly the most popular, game in
card rooms today.
Terminology
|
Blind
Bet |
This
is a forced bet made
"blind", that is, before you
get your cards, to get the
action going. The player to
the dealer's left posts the
Small Blind which is half of
the lower-level bet. The
player to his left then
posts the Big Blind which is
a full bet. |
|
Pocket |
The
two "hole" cards dealt to
each player, face down. |
|
Flop |
The
first three communal cards. |
|
Turn |
The
fourth communal card dealt. |
|
River |
The
fifth (and final) communal
card dealt. |
|
Button/Buck/Puck |
A
moving disc that determines
the player in the dealing
position for each hand. This
player is the last one to
act in the hand. The button
moves from player to player
in a clockwise direction
after each hand is dealt. |
Betting Structure (Example
for $10/$20 game)
|
Small/Big Blinds |
1st
Round |
2nd
Round |
3rd
Round |
4th
Round |
|
$5/$10 |
$10 |
$10 |
$20 |
$20 |
Note: Bets and raises are
limited to 1 bet and 3 raises per
betting round. Therefore, in the
$10/$20 example, betting would be
capped at a total of $40 in rounds 1
and 2, and $80 in rounds 3 and 4.
Starting a Game
In Texas Hold’em, the game is
started with the two players to the
left of the dealer posting a Big
Blind and a Small Blind, the value
being determined by the stakes of
the game. Then the two pocket cards
are dealt to each player. The
betting begins with the player to
the left of the Big Blind. Because
the blinds are bets, not antes,
players can not check in the first
betting round; they must either
fold, call or raise.
Second Round
After the first round is complete,
three cards (the flop) are dealt
face up on the table. These cards
are common to all players. Betting
starts with the first active player
to the left of the dealer button and
he/she may either check or bet.
Third Round
For the third round, a fourth
communal card (the turn) is dealt,
and another round of betting ensues.
Fourth Round
A final communal card is dealt,
called the river, and is followed by
another round of betting.
Players then use their two pocket
cards and the five communal cards
(shared by everyone) to create the
best five-card hand possible, with
the winner receiving the pot. If two
or more players have the same
winning hand the pot is split
equally between them.
Tips
- Five out of the total of
seven cards are available on the
second round of betting, giving
you a very good idea of how
strong your final hand will be.
- Because five cards are
communal, any good hands there
(such as trips) don’t really
affect the outcome, as it is how
they interact with your pocket
cards that determines if you win
or lose.
- After the flop you haven’t
lost much if you have a weak
hand and fold. Make your
decision about whether to
hold’em or fold’em early on.
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