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Texas Hold'em is a "community card" game, meaning that some cards are dealt
face-up in the middle of the table and shared by all the players. Each player
has two down cards that are theirs alone, and combines them with the five
community cards to make the best possible five-card hand.
Most Hold'Em games get the betting started with one or two "blind bets" to
the left of the dealer. These are forced bets that must be made before seeing
one's cards.
- Play begins by dealing two cards face down to each player; these are known
as "hole cards" or "pocket cards".
- A round of betting follows.
- Play proceeds clockwise from the blinds, with each player free to:
a.
Fold
b. Call the blind bet,
c. Or raise.
- The blinds are usually "live", meaning that they may raise themselves when
the action gets back around to them.
- 5. Three cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table; this is called
the "flop".
- 6. A round of betting ensues, with action starting on the first blind,
immediately to the dealers left.
- Another card is dealt face up (the "turn"), followed by another round of
betting, again beginning to the dealer's left.
- Then the final card (the "river") is dealt followed by the final round of
betting.
In a structured-limit game, the bets on the turn and river are usually double
the size of those before and on the flop.
The game is usually played for high only, and each player makes the best
five-card combination to compete for the pot.
Players usually use both their hole cards to make their best hand, but this
is not required. A player may even choose to "play the board" and use no hole
cards at all.
Identical five-card hands split the pot; the sixth and seventh cards are not
used to break ties.
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