Considered as the most popular poker games, Texas Hold’em is the version of poker that you see played in TV tournaments and casinos. To start playing this game, there are a few basic Texas Hold’em poker rules to follow. Below are a compilation of these Texas Hold’em poker rules that will help you learn the game.
Texas Hold’em Poker Rule 1 – Shuffle, Deal, Blinds
As a Texas Hold’em poker rule, the dealer is determined using a plastic disc marked with a “d” or “dealer”. This is called the “dealer button” and is moved in a clockwise manner, starting to the left of the first dealer. In this way, each player takes his turn as the dealer.
Texas Hold’em poker rule no. 1 dictates that the dealer will shuffle a standard 52-card deck and start dealing two cards to each player. In standard Texas Hold’em poker rules, the starting pot is determined by the initial bets placed in by two players sitting to the left of the dealer. These bets are called “blinds.”
Texas Hold’em Poker Rule 2 – Betting
After the blinds are posted, Texas Hold’em poker rule no. 2 allows the players to start the first round of betting. According to standard Texas Hold’em poker rules, the player sitting next to the one who posted the second blind will place the first bet. The other players can then call, raise, or fold when their turn comes.
Texas Hold’em Poker Rule 3 – Flop and Check
Texas Hold’em poker rule no. 3 allows the dealer to “burn” (discard) the top card in the deck when the first betting round is over. In standard Texas Hold’em poker rules, this is the stage where the dealer will turn over three community cards at the center of the table. These cards are called the “flop” and are used by the players to make up their hands. At this stage, Texas Hold’em poker rules allow a player to take a “check” or pass and place no bet.
Texas Hold’em Poker Rule 4 – Turn and River
After the second betting round, the dealer will burn the top card and reveal the fourth community card. Texas Hold’em poker rules call this card the “turn.” Another round of betting follows and after which, the dealer will once again burn the top card and turn over the fifth and last community card, called the “river.” Standard Texas Hold’em poker rules also calls this card the “fifth street.”
Texas Hold’em Poker Rule 5 – Showdown
After the river, the players will now use any 5-card combination from the seven cards revealed to them – the five community cards and their 2 pocket cards. According to the Texas Hold’em poker rules, the player who made the last bet or the player who made the last raise will show his hand first. The player with the best hand wins the game.