Texas Hold'em Poker Rules

1. The game of Texas hold’em poker starts when player sit down at Poker table. The number of player can range from minimum 2 to maximum 11 players. There is a “dealer button” or “d” button which indicates who will be the first player to receive cards from dealer. This dealer button shifts in clockwise direction with each game.
    
2. The dealer starts dealing with the player sitting right to the dealer button and continues in clockwise direction until all the players received their two cards face down. These are called ‘pocket/hole’ cards.
    
3. The game now moves to pre-flop phase. In this phase, betting occurs. In pre-flop phase there are two compulsory bets. They are “small blind” and “big blind”. The player sitting left to the dealer button places the “small blind” which is half the minimum amount. And the player sitting next to the first player, place the “big blind”.
    
4. Like in most Poker games, after the cards are dealt player has three basic choices of making a bet, i.e. call, raise or fold.
    
5. After posting the two forced bets, the first round of betting starts from the player sitting next to the player who posted the “big blind”.
    
6. The betting round continues, until all the players who wish to continue have place the same amount in the pot.
    
7. After the first round of betting is over the dealer places three cards face up on the table known as ‘flop’. These three cards are the communal cards that can be used by any player. Player can use these community cards plus two pocket cards to make the best poker hand.
    
8. The game now moves to second round of betting. The player sitting left to the dealer button start this round by calling, raising or folding. All the players have the three choices of making bet.
    
9. All the players who wish to continue should place the same amount in the pot.
    
10. After the betting is over the dealer flips another card called ‘turn’. That makes four community cards on the table. Players have total of six cards to make the best poker hand.
     
11. Game now moves to third round of betting. It is similar to second round.
     
12. After the betting is over and all the players have placed the equal amount in the pot, the dealer flips the fifth card called ‘the river’. This makes five community cards on the table. Now the players (who are still in the game) have seven cards to make the best poker hand.
     
13. The game now enters the final round of betting. In this round player place their final bets and all the players have to place equal amount in pot.
     
14. After that players left in the game begin to show their cards. This is known as ‘showdown’. This starts from the player who bet first. Players can make best hand by using two pockets cards and five community cards.
     
15. Player with the best hand wins the game. There are cases, when two or more players have equally good hands, then the pot split between the two.

Remember, it is the game that you can learn in one go, but to master it is a difficult task. To master it, the only thing you can do is play. Thanks to Online casinos that offer free online games.

More About Texas Hold'em Poker