Texas Hold’em Poker
Game’s Primary Rules
In a nutshell, each player is dealt two secret cards (referred to as “Hole Cards” or “Pocket Cards”), following which a betting round takes place. The ‘Flop’ is followed by a second betting round with three community cards dealt face up. The ‘Turn’ is a fourth communal card dealt face up, followed by a third betting round.
The fourth and final betting round begins with a fifth communal card (the’River’) being dealt face up. At the Showdown, each player uses any five cards from the two pocket cards and the five community cards (or ‘Board Cards’) to build the best five-card hand they can.The player who has the best hand according to the hand ranking rules wins the round and the Pot (the Pot is the amount of money bet by players during each hand). All bets go into the Pot after each betting round until the Showdown).
At the start of each hand (round), the dealer hands two cards that are not meant to be seen by the other players. The action shifts to the left in poker. The ‘Pot’ will require two forced bets, known as ‘blinds’ (potential winning amount). Small blinds are always multiplied by two. The small blind is placed on the table by the player to the dealer’s left, and the big blind by the player to the dealer’s left.
Once the blinds are placed, the person on the left of the big blind will have to decide whether they want to play the hand. There are three options available to players. They can:
Fold – When a player decides not to participate in a hand and gives up his or her cards.
Call – This is as simple as matching the large blind as an indication of hand participation.
Raise – This is when you raise your bet to at least double the large blinds, and it indicates that you have a powerful hand.
After the initial bets have been placed, the dealer will deal with the first three cards, known as the flop. Following the flop, a new betting round begins, beginning with the player who placed the small blind and continuing to the left. Players do not have to bet because they can ‘check,’ which simply signifies they are not placing a bet and would like to view the following card for free. The following card is dealt if everyone checks. If one player bets, everyone else will have to wait their turn to decide whether to fold, call, or raise.
The ‘turn’ is the next card to be dealt. The fourth card is dealt, and a new betting round begins, allowing players another chance to decide whether or not they wish to stay in the hand. The ‘river’ is the last and final card in the deck. The action comes to a close after the final round of betting, when players must disclose their hole cards. To build a poker hand, players must either combine their hole cards with any three of the dealer’s five cards or use the dealer’s cards. The pot is won by the player who has the best hand.
Poker hands from highest to lowest:
1. Royal flush A, K, Q, J, 10, all the same suit
2. Straight flush Five cards in a sequence, all in the same suit.
3. Four of a kind All four cards of the same rank.
4. Full house: Three of a kind with a pair.
5. Flush: Any five cards of the same suit, but not in a sequence.
6. Straight: Five cards in a sequence, but not of the same suit.
7. Three of a kind: Three cards of the same rank.
8. Two pair: Two different pairs.
9. Pair: Two cards of the same rank.
10. High Card: When you haven’t made any of the hands above, the highest card plays.
In the example below, the jack plays as the highest card.