Texas Hold Em Poker Rules

In this game, the dealer never plays a hand of the game. The game employs the use of a dealer button, which is basically just a round disc that is passed on from player to player with each successive round, and this determines the dealer for that particular round. The game begins with the dealer dealing a standard 52 card deck to all the players.

Every Hold em game begins with two players to the dealers left. Now, these two players place a big blind and a small blind based on the minimum betting amount so that the players have something to bet on for the next rounds. More often than not, the person sitting immediately to the left of the dealer posts a bet that is half the minimum bet, while the player sitting to his right puts up a bet that is the full amount of the minimum bet. The dealer gives each player 2 cards that are dealt face down. These cards are called 'whole cards' or 'Pocket Cards'.

The betting begins with the player to the left of the two who have already posted their bets in the beginning. Depending on the kind of cards that the players have, they can either raise, call or fold. On the completion of the first round, the dealer gets rid of the top card on the deck just as a preventive measure. This is done in an effort to curb cheating. The next step is called the 'Flop'. in this round, the dealer flips the next three cards face up on the table. Another round commences starting with the person sitting to the left of the dealer. Players call, raise or fold accordingly. One point to note is that there are a total of five communal cards that will be placed face up on the table. It is up to the players to use any combination of the community cards and their own pocket cards to form the best possible five-card hand.

Next up, the dealer takes off another card and places one more face up on the table. This will be the fourth communal card and is known as the 'turn'. Betting begins with the player to the left of the dealer again and the players can either call, check, raise or fold when it is their turn. Another round of the same takes place, and this is called the 'river'.

After this, the final stage of the game commences. The players have to make the best possible hand based on the cards that they have accumulated. On the completion of the final round, all the players who remain in the game have to reveal their hands. The player who made the initial bet or who made the last raise shows his hand first. Quite obviously, the player with the best hand wins.

These pointers will help you understand the rules of the game.

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