Texas Holdem Poker Game | Littlewoodsgaming.com

Aim of the Game:

The objective of Texas Hold’em, as it is in every other variation of poker, is to win the pot.

 

The Ground Rules:

Each player in Texas Hold’em is dealt two pocket cards (aka: ‘hole cards’). Up to five additional community cards are also dealt*. The aim is to utilise five of the seven cards to create the best possible poker hand and so win the pot.

 

In Texas Hold’em, each round requires the two players sitting to the immediate left of the dealer to post blinds in order that each hand has a pot which the players then contest. Players have a number of options to advance the play, either by calling, raising or folding their cards.

 

*On some occasions, the pot can be won before all of the community cards are dealt.

 

The Texas Hold’em Table:

There can be up to 10 players at each table. In online Texas Hold’em, cards are dealt by a virtual dealer, identified by the Dealer Button.

 

The Dealer Button:

The Dealer Button, marked ‘D’, automatically rotates in a clockwise direction after every hand and is eventually allocated to every player at the table. The function of ‘D’ button is to identify each hands’ dealer. It is also used to identify the two players seated directly to the left of the ‘D’ button, known as the “12px” and “Big Blinds”. Bets are made by these two players automatically before the cards are dealt. These are known as blinds.

 

Blinds:

The first blind posted on a Texas Hold’em table is the “Small Blind”. The “Small Blind” is equal to half of the minimum stake, i.e.$2.50 for a $5/$10 game and is made by the player sitting to the immediate left of the dealer. The player to the immediate left of the 12px blind then posts the “Big Blind”. The “Big Blind” is equal to the full sum of the minimum stake, i.e. $5 for a $5/$10 game.

Once this exercise is complete, the first round of cards is dealt.

 

Pocket Cards: Players are dealt two pocket (or hole) cards face-down.

 

Betting Rounds:

 

Round 1:

The betting round begins with the player sitting to the left of the “Big Blind”. The betting order continues clockwise. Every player has the option to either ‘raise’, ‘call’ or ‘fold’ their cards.

The highest possible raise during a first round of betting is equivalent to the lower of the table stake, i.e. $5 in a $5/$10 game.

 

The Flop Cards:

Once the first round of betting is completed, three community cards, known as the ‘Flop’ are dealt face-up in the middle of the table. Players can use any or all of the Flop cards to make up their ultimate hand.  

 

Round 2:

The same rules apply as in Round 1 (see above), except the “12px Blind” position opens the betting round and the dealer finishes it. The highest possible raise remains the same as the previous betting round, set to the lower of the table stake.

 

The Turn Card: The fourth community card, known as “The Turn”, is dealt face up in the middle of the table.

 

Round 3:

The same rules apply as in Round 1 and 2 (see above), but the limit to which players can raise changes. The highest possible raise is now equivalent to the higher of the table stakes, i.e. $10 in a $5/$10 game.

 

The River: The fifth community card, known as the "The River" is dealt face-up in the middle of the table.

 

Round 4:

The fourth round is the final betting round. The same rules apply as in Round 3 (see above).

 

The Showdown:

The best ranked hand at the table wins the pot. Should you decide to fold, you do not have to show your cards. If, however, you are the last player to bet or raise, then you must display your five-card hand on the table. Each of the revealed hands are ranked and the player with the highest five-card hand takes all.

 

Starting over: The next hand gets under way with the Dealer Button moving to the left.