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Texas Hold'Em Poker Rules
Learn the basics of Texas Hold'Em poker
Game Overview
Texas Hold'Em is the most popular form of poker. Each player receives two private cards (hole cards) and shares five community cards with all players. The goal is to make the best five-card hand using any combination of your two hole cards and the five community cards, or by betting in a way that makes all opponents fold.
Setup
Players
Texas Hold'Em can be played with 2 to 10 players at a single table.
Blinds
Before each hand, two forced bets are posted:
- Small Blind: Posted by the player to the left of the dealer, typically half the minimum bet.
- Big Blind: Posted by the player to the left of the small blind, equal to the minimum bet.
Dealer Button
A marker (dealer button) rotates clockwise after each hand, indicating the dealer position. The blinds are posted relative to this button position.
Betting Rounds
1. Pre-Flop
After receiving two hole cards (dealt face down), the first betting round begins. Action starts with the player to the left of the big blind and proceeds clockwise.
Players can fold (discard their hand), call (match the big blind), or raise (increase the bet).
2. The Flop
After the pre-flop betting round, the dealer burns one card (removes it from play) and deals three community cards face up in the center of the table. This is called "the flop." Another betting round follows, starting with the player to the left of the dealer button.
3. The Turn
After the flop betting round, the dealer burns another card and deals a fourth community card (the "turn" or "fourth street"). A third betting round follows.
4. The River
After the turn betting round, the dealer burns one more card and deals the fifth and final community card (the "river" or "fifth street"). The final betting round follows.
Showdown
If more than one player remains after the final betting round, a showdown occurs. All remaining players reveal their hole cards, and the player with the best five-card hand wins the pot.
Players can use both, one, or neither of their hole cards in combination with the five community cards to make their best hand.
Hand Rankings
Hands are ranked from highest to lowest. If two players have the same type of hand, the hand with the higher-ranked cards wins. The ranking order is: Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair, and High Card.
Additional Rules
Betting Limits
Texas Hold'Em can be played with no limit (players can bet all their chips), pot limit (maximum bet equals the pot size), or fixed limit (betting amounts are predetermined).
All-In
If a player bets all their remaining chips, they are "all-in." Other players can still bet, but side pots may be created if not all players have enough chips to match the bet.
Tournament Play
In tournaments, blinds increase at regular intervals. Players are eliminated when they lose all their chips. The tournament continues until one player has all the chips.