Rules of Texas Hold em
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Rules of Texas Hold em
To simplify the rules of hold em for you we have split it into two sections. First of all the rules of online hold em and the rules of live texas hold em. There really isn't any difference but if you are playing online then you don't have to worry about things like dealer, big blind and small blind and get just get on with playing the game. This page deals with just the basic rules of hold em, but you'll also need to know about the different game types and hold em betting rules. I have kept it as simple as I can but some of the holdem terminology might be new to you.
Rules of Hold em online
As we've said when you're online you don't have to worry about betting rules or blinds, who is dealer, when to burn cards etc as all that is taken care of. So here's the bare bones on the playing rules.
- Two cards are dealt face down to each player.
- Each player takes turns betting. You don't have to bet, if you don't want to play this hand then just fold.
- Three community cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table. This is called the flop.
- Each player takes turns betting, checking, raising or folding.
- When the betting is finished then another card is placed face up in the middle of the table. This is called the turn.
- Again the rules allow for everyone to have a turn betting, checking, folding or raising.
- The last card called the river is now dealt face up with the others.
- The last round of betting starts.
- When everyone has finished betting then each player shows his original two cards and the holdem card rank rules decides the winner.
- The aim of the game is to make the best 5 card hand using any 5 cards of those on the table and those in your hand. If the best hand consists of the community cards only and no players pocket cards then the pot is split between each of the players remaining in the hand.
Rules of Hold em in a live game
In a live game, the rules of hold em as far as they players are concerned as slightly more extensive. Here's an abbreviated set of rules:
- Decide who deals first. Each player takes turns at deal or if there is a dedicated dealer, they take turns on the dealer button. The dealer can be chosen by dealing a card each and the highest 'wins'.
- The player to the left of the dealer posts the small blind (half the minimum bet)
- The player to the left of the small blind posts the big blind (the minimum bet)
- The dealer deals two cards to each player face down
- The first betting round starts with the player to the left of the big blind and finishes when all players have bet an equal amount or folded. Each player can bet, raise or fold if a previous bet has been made. Holdem rules do not permit checking after a previous bet has been made.
- The dealer discards the top card from the pack and deals three community cards dealt face up in the middle of the table - this is called the flop
- The first person to bet is the small blind or the next person to the dealers left that is still in the game. Betting continues until all bets are equal.
- The dealer discards (or burns) another card and deals one more face up to the table (the turn)
- Again the first person to the left of the dealer who hasn't folded makes the first bet, check or fold
- After betting, the dealer burns another card and turns over the fifth community card (the river)
- Another round of betting takes place as before.
- The best five card hand wins the pot
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