Texas Hold'em

 

Texas Hold'em is the most popular poker game on the planet. Players can use any combination of their cards with the community cards to make the best five card hand.

Before the cards are dealt the two players to the left of the dealer must put out blind bets. Then every player is dealt two cards face down starting with the player in the small blind (on the dealers immediate left) these are known as hole cards.

Then action begins with the pre-flop betting round beginning with the player to the left of the big blind. Here players have the option to fold, call, or raise and betting continues clockwise around the table. Once the round of betting is complete three cards are dealt face up known as the flop, these are the first three community cards every player can use to make their hand. Betting starts with the player to the left of the dealer who has the option to check or bet. When this betting round is complete a fourth community card is dealt, known as the turn. Another round of betting follows.

The final community card called the river is dealt and the final round of betting occurs. If two or more players remain in the hand after this betting round a showdown occurs. Now each player turns their hand face up and the pot is awarded to the player with the best five card hand, used from the combination of their two hole cards and the community cards.

For help with poker hand rankings there is a list on our Hand Rankings page.