These Texas Hold 'em Poker Rules cover the game basics.
Texas Holdem is a community card game in which each player is dealt two cards.
The aim is to make the best five card poker hand using the two cards in the hand ( hole cards) combined with a total of five community cards on the board.
In a live game or Online games a round disc called the dealer button (or "the button") moves clockwise from player to player after every hand. The button shows which player is in the dealer position and is always the last to act in all the rounds of betting except the first one.
The Blinds
Texas holdem is not usually played with an ante. Usually two players post one forced bet ("blind") each. Before any cards are dealt the two players directly to the left of the dealer button put a predetermined amount of money into the pot, the "small blind" and the "big blind".
The small blind (to the dealers left) posts half the minimum bet, and the big blind (to the small blind's left) posts the full minimum bet.
The blind positions move one position to the left after each game. e.g. the person to the left of big blind becomes the big blind and the person who was big blind becomes the small blind.
The Deal
Each player is dealt two cards face down (hole cards). The aim of Texas Holdem is to combine these two cards with the five cards that will be put on the board to make the best five card poker hand.
First Round of Betting
The first round of betting starts straight after the deal. The first player to act is the player to the left of the big blind. The player that acts first has three options: "Fold", "Call" or "Raise".
If the player wants to fold they simply throw the card in the muck (face down, no-one must see the value of these cards) and the hand is considered dead.
To call the player bets an amount equal to the big blind.
To raise the player increases the bet. The size of this bet depends on what type of game is played, but has to be at least the same size as the big blind. In limit games the amount is fixed and is usually "capped" after a pre-determined number of rounds (usually four). In pot limit games the raise can't be bigger than the total size of the pot (including the amount required to call). In no limit games you can bet any amount you want, the only thing that restricts the size of the raise is how many chips you have in front of you.
In the following rounds all the players have the same three options (fold, call, raise), and can also re-raise. The size of the re-raise has to be at least as big as the original raise.
The Flop
When the first round of betting is finished, the flop in dealt. Three cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table. These community cards are shared among all the players in the hand.
Second Round of Betting
In this round and all the following rounds the player closest to the left of the dealer, who is still in the game still in the game, is first to act. The first player has the option to fold (not a good idea though), bet, or check. If you check you stay in the hand without betting until it is your turn to act again and then decide what you want to do. (If everybody checks the next card is dealt.)
You cannot check if someone else has bet.
If a player has made a bet, the other players can choose to fold, call, or raise. When all the remaining players have put an equal amount of money in the pot it is time for the next card.
The Turn (Fourth Street)
A fourth card is dealt face up on the table.
Third Round of Betting
This betting round is the same as the previous one, with one exception: in limit games, the fixed bet is doubled and stays the same in the final betting round.
The River (Fifth Street)
The fifth and final card is dealt face up on the table.
Fourth Round of Betting
A fourth and final round of betting. This is followed by the showdown.
Showdown
When the betting is finished and there are still at least two players in the hand, the players cards are revealed. The player who made the last bet is first to reveal their cards and the player with the best five card poker hand wins the pot. The players can use one or both of their hole cards to make a five card hand, or they can choose to only use the five cards that are dealt face up (playing the board). If two or more players have the best hand, the pot is split between them.