Rules
Players are each dealt two hole cards, face down. Five community cards are then dealt face-up (also known as the ‘board’). These cards can be used by all players, together with their own two hole cards. The aim is to make the best five-card hand, out of the seven available. To see a list of poker hands, view this poker hand ranks page.
Texas Hold’em can be played in the following different ways. The game is always the same, but the betting limits and structures are different
- No Limit Texas Hold Em: Players can bet or raise any amount, during any betting round (providing it’s above the minimum).
- Fixed Limit Texas Hold Em: Players can only bet according to a fixed amount, regardless of which betting round is taking place.
- Pot limit Texas Hold Em: A player can bet up to the total amount in the current pot.
Betting Actions
Action follows a clockwise pattern around the table. The following is a list of terms frequently used:
- Bet: A player first to act can opt to bet or fold.
- Call: If a bet or raise has been made, a player can call. This means that they match the size of the previous bet.
- Fold: A player can choose to fold if they no longer want to be part of the hand. By folding, they are not eligible to win any money and will lose any amount they have invested in the pot.
- Raise: A player can increase the amount of a previous bet by making a raise. To so this, the player must match the previous bet and increase it to a larger amount.
- Check: If no previous bet has been made, a player can choose to check. This means they are still involved in the hand, but do not want to invest any more money at this point.
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Game Play: A dealer button is used, which moves clockwise around the table after each hand. The player to the left of the button posts a 'small blind' (typically half a small bet e.g. in a fixed limit $2/$4 Texas Hold’em game this would be $1. In a no limit $2 - $4 Texas Hold’em game, the small blind is $2). The player to the left of the small blind posts the big blind, which is always a full small bet, i.e. $2 in a fixed limit $2-$4 game and $4 in a no limit $2-$4 game. After the blinds have been posted, cards are dealt to the players and the hand starts.
The game is divided into four betting rounds, in the following order:
- Pre-flop – In this first betting round, players make a decision on how to act based on the strength of their hole cards. The pre-flop action differs from other rounds, because there are already two forced bets, i.e. the blinds. Betting begins with the player immediately clockwise of the big blind. If the player wants to continue with their hand, they can either fold, call or raise the big blind. At the end of the round, players who have not folded are considered active players.
- Flop – Three community cards are then dealt face-up; visible and available to all players still in the pot. The second round of betting then commences, with the first active player immediately clockwise from the button acting first.
- Turn – After all betting on the flop is complete; another community card is dealt, known as the ‘turn’. The next round of betting starts, again with the first active player clockwise from the button.
- River – After betting on the turn is complete, the final community card is dealt, known as the ‘river’. The last round of betting starts, at the end of which there is a showdown, if more than one player is still in the hand. The player with the winning hand is awarded the pot.
Learn to play Texas Hold’em on Poker Stars.
