Texas Hold’em poker rules
If you are looking for general poker rules here's a good article.
Texas Hold’em is a game that’s easy to learn, but difficult to master. The object of the game is simple: by combining two personal cards with five community cards (cards that are shared by all the players at the poker table.), you should form the best possible five card poker hand. There are four betting rounds in Texas Hold’em. These are the Texas Hold’em poker rules:
The Blinds – mandatory bets
Before the game starts the blinds have to be placed. These are mandatory bets made by the two players seated to the left of the dealer. If the dealer isn’t playing in the game a dealer button is used to indicate who’s “dealing” (the button is moved one step to the left after each hand is played). The player closest to the dealer (on the left) places the small blind and the player next to him places the big blind. The size of the blinds differs from game to game, but the small blind is normally half the size of the big blind.
Pre-flop – all players get two cards
When the blinds are placed every player in the game is dealt two cards face down. The cards are dealt clockwise, one at a time, and the dealer gets the last one. Since the blinds have opened the betting already, the player to the left of the big blind will act first in this round. He can fold, call (the amount of the big blind), or make a raise. All the players make their moves, the big blind acts last in this round. If no one makes a raise the betting round is over. If there has been a raise the remaining players have to respond to this (by folding, calling or re-raising). If a player makes a bet or raise that no one calls he or she wins the pot.
The Flop – three community cards are dealt
When the first betting round is over, three cards are placed face up on the table. This is called the Flop and the cards are common to all the players in the game. In this betting round the small blind acts first, if he or she is still in the game. As in the first round the betting goes clockwise around the table, but this time the dealer gets to act last.
The Turn – the fourth community card
When the second betting round is over, a fourth community card is placed on the table. This is called the Turn. The betting in this round follows the same procedure as on the Flop.
The River – the fifth community card
When the third betting round is over, a fifth community card is placed on the table. This is called the River. The betting in this round follows the same procedure as on the Flop and Turn. When all bets are made the player who was last to bet or make a raise reveals his or hers cards. If another player has a better hand he or she shows the hand. Players with worse hands can either show their cards or muck them. The best five card poker hand takes home the pot.
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