Texas Holdem Rules

Texas Hold'em is arguably the most popular form of poker. It is widely considered to have the most strategy of all poker games, yet the rules are quite simple. Texas Holdem could be played with as many as 23 Players but is generally only played with between 2-10 players. Here is how a hand of Texas Holdem is played:

1. Hole Cards. Each player is dealt two cards face down. The player immediately to left of the dealer is the Small Blind, he has to put a forced bet equal to half the big blind into the pot before he sees his cards. The player to his left is the Big Blind, he has to put a full bet into the pot before he sees his cards. Betting action begins with the player to the left of the big blind.

Example:	2nd to Act	3rd to Act
You In this example you would act first Pre-flop.			Dealer
	Big Blind	Small Blind
	If no one has raised the big blind can check and see the flop, or raise and make everyone act again.

2. The Flop. Three cards are dealt face up on the table. For this and all subsequent betting rounds of betting, the first player to the left of the dealer who is still in the hand acts first. He has the option to Bet or check. If he bets each player can then Call, Fold, or Raise. Action continues until all players have, checked, called or folded.
3. The Turn. A fourth card is dealt to the table.
4. The River. Finally, a fifth card is dealt to the table.

Example:

4th to Act

5th to Act

3rd To Act
You

Community Cards all players Share
Flop	Turn	River

Last To Act
Dealer

2nd To Act
Big Blind

1st To Act
Small Blind

The five cards on the table are community cards. Your hand is formed by taking the best poker hand you can by using any five out of the seven cards (5 community + 2 hole cards). But remember, all the players have access to the community cards.

Texas Holdem is played with several possible betting structures, sometimes played with fixed limits, No Limit is the most popular. Cap games are gaining popularity at the higher stakes. Pot Limit has been and continues to be extremely popular outside of America. You will occasionally see Half Pot Limit, Kill, Antes, and Mini Blind games offered from time to time. NL Texas Holdem is currently the most popular form of tournament poker.