Poker for Beginners: Texas Holdem Rules
Poker is one of the most popular card games in the world today. No other card game is as widespread as Poker except perhaps Blackjack.
While Poker is fairly simple to learn, it takes a long time to master. The goal is to make the best possible card combination or "hand" according to Poker hand rankings. An example hand is Straight: five cards in a sequence regardless of suit (e.g. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.)
Poker has many variations. Texas Holdem (or Hold'em) is the most widely played version today. It is the one most often played in casinos and also gets the most TV coverage thanks to ESPN nd others. Let's look at the rules of the game.
TEXAS HOLDEM RULES - THE OPENING
Texas Holdem uses the standard 52 cards.
First, two players to the dealer's left place some money into the pot. This is called "posting the blinds."
Then the dealer shuffles the cards and deals each player 2 cards face down called "hole cards."
TEXAS HOLDEM RULES - BETTING
The player to the left of the two who posted the blinds now bets. When it's a player's turn to bet, they can "call" or match the bet, "raise" it or "fold" (withdraw from the round).
TEXAS HOLDEM RULES - FLOP
When the first round of betting is done, the dealer removes the card on top of the deck. This is card "burning."
Then, the next three cards on the deck are turned face up. This is the "flop." These and other cards that will be revealed are to be used by a player in any combination with his two hole cards for the best Poker hand they can make.
This is followed by another betting round, starting with the player to the dealer's left. Again, players must either check, raise or fold.
TEXAS HOLDEM RULES - TURN OR 4TH STREET
After the last betting round, another card is turned up called "Turn" or "Fourth Street."
Another betting round follows.
TEXAS HOLDEM RULES - RIVER OR 5TH STREET
Now a fifth and final card is turned up, the "river" or "Fifth Street."
Each player now has two hole cards plus the five open or "community" cards to make a Poker hand from.
A final betting round is next. All players left in the game now show their hands, starting with either the player who had started the betting in the first round, or the one who had made the last raise. The player with the best hand according to the standard Poker Hand Rankings wins everything in the pot.