Texas Hold’em….. the loved one !!
The Basics
Texas Hold’em is a community card game, meaning that some cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table and shared by all players. It is played with one deck of cards (52 cards). Each player is dealt two pocket or hole cards which they consider with the five community cards to make the best possible five-card hand.
The person who is dealt last is regarded as the dealer and as such is marked with a dealer button. At the end of the hand the button is passed clockwise to the next player
The Button
The button moves clockwise around the table after each hand, and the player “on the button” gets his cards last and bet last in each round
The Blinds
The first 2 players to the left of the button are forced to put in the blind bets. Typically, the first player puts in the small blind, equal to half of the minimum bet, while the second player puts in the big blind, equal to a full minimum bet. For example, if the small blind would be €5 the big blind would be €10.
The big blind is not necessarily double the small blind.
The Deal and Betting Rounds
Starting with the first player to the left of the button, each player is dealt 2 cards, face down, which is called the pocket cards. The first two players to the left of the button post the blinds, and the first round of betting ensues. The first action after the deal is taken by the player to the left of the big blind. He and subsequent players can choose to call the big blinds bet, fold or raise. In most Texas Hold’em games, the blinds are live, which means that in the first round of betting, they get a chance to call, check or raise when the action moves around to them. In this sense, the big blind would be the last player to act after the dealing of the pocket cards
The Flop
The flop is 3 cards laid face up in the center of the table. These cards serve as common cards. Before opening the flop the dealer burns one card. Another round of betting ensues, with the first remaining player to the left of the button starting the action.All players must put the same amount into the pot, or fold before the round has ended. The same rules apply for both the bidding and the raising in each round from now on
The Turn
The dealer now burns one more card and then displays the fourth community card on the table, so all players have six cards to play with. A single card is laid face up, next to the flop, for a total of 4 cards face up. Another betting round occurs, starting with the first player remaining to the left of the button.
The River
A final card is turned face up, again after having burnt one card, bringing the total number of common cards faces up on the board to 5. A final round of betting occurs, starting with the first player remaining to the left of the button.
Showdown
After betting is complete and if at least two players remain, a showdown* occurs in which the winner is determined by the best five card hand possible using the 5 common cards and each player’s pocket cards. It is entirely possible for the best hand to be completely “on the board,” in which case the remaining players split the pot. It is also possible to have a “tie” in which the players with the same hand strengths split the pot.
*Following recommendation by dealer
