Texas Hold'em (or Texas Holdem) is quickly becoming one of the most played poker games around. The rules are easy to pick up, and with its shared card structure Texas Hold'em has the ability to handle more players than normal five card poker. Texas Hold'em has four stages of new cards and betting. We'll play an example hand as follows:
Stage 1: Hole Cards
Each hand begins with the two players ahead of the dealer having to ante a small blind and a big blind. The purpose of the blinds is to ensure there are always chips to be won in the pot. The big blind is the minimum bet for everyone, and the small blind is one half the big blind.
You start the game with 2 cards you get to see, but no ones else. These are normally refered to your "Hole Cards."
After the Hole Cards have been dealt, a round of betting starts. It will cost you a minimum of the big blind to see the flop, unless someone raises the pot in which case it will cost you more. The betting ends with the person in the big blind position.
Stage 2: The Flop
In the second stage, the dealer deals three "Community Cards" to the center of the table. These cards are shared by everyone playing. After the cards have been dealt, there is another round of betting. This time the betting begins with the player directly to the left of the dealer, or the small blind position. If that player has folded, then betting begins witht he first person to the left who has not folded.
From here on, checking is allowed (Or, you can choose not to bet if no one has bet allready.) On the flop, the minimum bet
is the small blind.
Stage 3: The Turn (Fourth Street)
The fourth community card is dealt to the table. This card is usually called The Turn, or Fourth Street. Betting again begins with the small blind, or the first person to the left of the dealer who has not folded. From this point on, bets and raises are at a minimum of the big blind amount.
Stage 4: The River
The fourth community card is dealt to the table.
Betting again begins with the small blind, or the first person to the left of the dealer who has not folded. Bets and raises are at a minimum of the big blind amount. After everyone calls, or in a limit game the limit has been reached, then the remaining players turn over their cards and see who has won.
After the hand is over, the dealer position moves one player to the left, or in a clockwise rotation and we start from the beginning.
