Game Summary:
A "dealer button" is used to indicate who the dealer is. The two players to the left of the dealer button must place bets prior to each round of betting called the "small blind" and "big blind."
Two cards are then dealt facedown to each player. Betting starts with the player to the left of the dealer, and continues clockwise around the table. Players may bet, check, raise or fold.
The dealer then deals three community cards (known as "The Flop") to the center of the table, face up and another betting round takes place again beginning with the player to the left of the dealer. Then another card is dealt face up (known as "The Turn") followed by the third round of betting. Finally, the fifth and final card (known as "The River") is dealt face up and the last round of betting takes place. Players who have not folded will then show their cards and the winning hand will be awarded the pot. Any combination of pocket cards (the two cards held by the player) and community cards should be used to make the best five-card poker hand.
During each round of betting, if a player raises, every other player on the table must at least match that bet. When all players have matched the highest bet during the round, the round of betting comes to a close.
Texas Holdem Glossary of Terms
The Sit Down:
Most veteran players like to have between 6-10 players on the table.
Buy-in:
Players must "buy in" with at least a pre-determined amount of cash for chips when sitting down at a table. At most online poker rooms, the minimum buy-in is equal to 10x the lower bet limit of the game (e.g., on $1/$2 table the minimum buy-in is $10, on a $10/$20 table the minimum buy-in is $100).
Blinds:
Before any cards are dealt, the two players directly to the left of the dealer button must put the "big blind" and "small blind" into the pot. Posting a bling, means placing a requisite bet before you see your cards.
The player to the immediate left of the dealer button must post the "small blind." In most online poker rooms, this is equivalent to half of the minimum bet (e.g. $1 for a $2/$4 table). The player to the left of the small blind posts the "big blind," which is the amount of the minimum bet (e.g. $10 for a $10/$20 table).
Pocket Cards:
After the blinds have been put into the pot, two cards are dealt face down to each player. These cards are called the "pocket cards." These are the only cards that players may see prior to "the flop."
Betting Amounts:
Betting amounts are generally either unrestricted ("no limit") or set according to the "table stakes" (for instance, on a $2/$4 table, bets are $3 in the first two rounds and $6 in the last two. There can be one bet and three raises in each round, e.g. the bet amount can climb a maximum of 3 times in each round of betting).
The Flop:
After the first round of betting, three cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table. This is known as “The Flop”. These cards are "community" cards, since they can be used by every player. After the flop is dealt a second round of betting occurs.
The Turn:
Following the flop, a fourth "community" card is dealt face up in the middle of the table, followed by a third round of betting.
The River:
Following the turn, a fourth "community" card is dealt face up in the middle of the table, followed by the last round of betting.
The Showdown:
Once all betting is complete and if the highest bet has been matched by at least two players, the players who have not folded lay down their cards in what’s known as "The Showdown," displaying their hand to the rest of the table. The player with the hand wins the pot.
At that point, the process begins again with the "dealer button" moving one seat in a clockwise direction. Best of luck!
Best Poker Room for Texas Holdem:
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