Texas holdem

1. A small dealer button identifies one player as the dealer. The dealer button moves clockwise to the next player after every completed hand.

2. Before any cards are dealt to the players, any enforced bets must be put into the pot. These enforced bets are usually in the forms of blind bets and antes.
   1. The first player to the dealers left must post the first blind bet, called the small blind.
   2. The second player to the dealers left must post the second blind bet, called the big blind.
   3. The small blind is usually smaller then the big blind- hence the terms ‘small’ and ‘big’ as identifiers. In most games, the small blind will be half of the big blind.

3. Each player is dealt two cards face down, called hole cards. A players hole cards may be used only by him, and are visible to nobody.

4. After the deal, the player to the left of the big blind must open the betting action by either calling the big blind, raising, or folding. All players participate in the first round of betting, and continue to the next.

5. In the next round, known as the flop, or Third Street, three community cards are dealt face up. Betting begins with the player to the left of the dealer. A betting round ensues.

6. After betting ceases on the flop, a fourth community card is dealt face up for all players to use. A new round of betting begins. This round is known as the turn, or Fourth Street. On Fourth Street, the bet amount doubles to the game’s highest limit.

7. Once betting is complete on the turn, a fifth and final community card is dealt face up. A betting round follows, known as the river, or Fifth Street. This is the final round of betting in a hand of Holdem.

8. After the final round of betting, any players remaining in the round must show down their hands. The player with the highest ranked five-card poker hand wins the pot. If two players show down identical hands for a tie, they must split the pot.

9. The round of Holdem is over after the pot has been returned to the winner, and dealer button moves clockwise to prepare for a new hand.

10. Now that you know the rules of Holdem, test your skill by playing a complete hand using our interactive tutorial! You don’t have to spend a penny! Launch the tutorial »

    
    

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