Texas Holdem Rule

Texas Hold’em is today’s most popular poker game. If you’re to play a good poker hand of Texas Hold’em, you’ve got to know the rules. Here are the basic Texas Hold’em rules for the beginner.

A standard 52 card deck is used. In casino play, the dealer never plays. However, in informal poker games, the dealer is also a player. A round disc, known as the “dealer button” moves clockwise from player to player with each hand, denoting the current dealer.

The two players to the left of the dealer must put a predetermined amount of money into the pot before any cards are dealt, ensuring that there's something to play for on every hand. This is called “posting the blinds”. Most often, the "first blind" -- the player to the left of the dealer -- puts up half the minimum bet, and the "second blind" puts up the full minimum bet.

Each player is dealt two cards, face down. These are known as the "hole cards." Betting continues with the player to the left of the two who posted the blinds. These players can call, raise or fold.

After the first betting round, the dealer must discard the top card of the deck. This is called burning the card and is done for two reasons; to ensure that no one accidentally saw the top card and to prevent cheating. Next, the dealer deals the next three cards face up on the table, These are called the flop.

The dealer then flips the next three cards face up on the table. These cards are called the "flop." More betting follows and two more community cards are dealt. These are called the turn and the river. Many dealers will “burn another card” before dealing the river. Betting follows the dealing of each of these cards.

When it’s time for the showdown, the winner is determined based on the player who could make the best hand using his cards in the hole and the community cards, in any combination. After the final betting round, all players who remain in the game reveal their hands. The player who made the initial bet or the player who made the last raise shows their hand first.

These are the most basic Texas Hold’em rules. Different games that you play may have minor rule variations. However, if you understand these rules, you should be prepared for most Texas Hold’em games you encounter.