Texas Hold'em
Introduction
Texas Hold'em Poker is a community card
game with four betting rounds.
Game Play
1. One player acts as dealer. This
position is called the button and it rotates clockwise after
every hand.
2. The two players to the left of the
dealer are the small blind and the big blind, respectively. They
are the only players who have money in the pot before the cards
are dealt.
3. Every player receives two cards face
down. These are hole cards.
4. The first betting round begins with
the player sitting immediately to the left of the big blind, and
continues clockwise.
5. When the first betting round is
completed, three community cards are flipped face up on the
table. This is called the flop.
6. The second round of betting begins
with the first remaining player seated to the left of the
button. The betting resumes, clockwise.
7. When the second round of betting is
finished, a fourth community card is flipped face up on the
table. This is called the turn.
8. The third round of betting commences
with the first remaining player sitting to the left of the
button. The betting moves clockwise, with the bets doubling on
the turn.
9. When the third round of betting is
over, a fifth community card is flipped face up on the table.
This is called the river.
10. The fourth round of betting starts
with the first remaining player seated to the left of the
button. The betting continues to move clockwise.
How to make a hand
The players must combine their hole cards
with the community cards to make the best possible 5-card poker
hand. It is possible to use both hole cards, one hole card or no
hole card (play the board), in an effort to make a hand.
Example
Hold'em
|
Hole Cards A |
Hole Cards B |
|
|
|
The Flop |
The Turn |
The River |
|
|
|
|
Final hand A |
Final hand B |

Two pair (Q's and 3's with a K) |

Two pair (K's and 3's with an A) |
Ranking of hands
-
Straight flush
(best straight flush: A-K-Q-J-T, all same suit)
-
Four-of-a-kind
(the best four-of-a-kind hand: A-A-A-A-K)
-
Full house (the
best full house hand: A-A-A-K-K)
-
Flush (the best
flush hand: any Ace-high flush)
-
Straight (the best
straight hand: A-K-Q-J-T)
-
Three-of-a-kind
(the best three-of-a-kind hand: A-A-A-K-Q)
-
Two-pair (the best
two-pair hand: A-A-K-K-Q)
-
One-pair (the best
one-pair hand: A-A-K-Q-J)
-
No-pair (the best
high hand: A-K-Q-J-9)