Texas Hold'em Rules

Unlike other Hold'em games, Texas Hold'em involves a deal of only two cards. The object is to compose the best hand possible out of the hole cards and the board cards. The player can use either one of the hole cards in constructing the hand, or both of them, or neither one of them.

The ace plays high, but can be low for straights. Standard casino policies apply as in other poker games: Usually three raises is the limit per round of betting in limit games. Verbal instructions are not accepted or heeded. "Cards speak" for themselves. Players just need to know how to push out their chips and to leave them alone after that. Cards must not be moved from the table top during play. Peeking at them under the corners is the preferred method, and after that, it is best to leave them alone. Folding involves sliding the cards under the bet (if any) or otherwise just pushing them into the betting circle. In casinos, there is always a "dealer," that is, a house employee that distributes the cards, handles the chips and runs the game. The house does not play. For these services, the house charges a fee, or commission, of a certain percentage of each winning pot. It is usually 5%.

The "deal," however rotates. It is indicated by a button that passes clockwise at the end of each game. The importance of the button is that it determines where the blinds are for the initial round of betting. Dealing and betting go clockwise. Dealing starts at the dealer's left. That person is the "small blind." The person to the left of the small blind is the "big blind." These two positions make blind bets (forced bets) to start each game (like antes in other forms of poker). The small blind makes a ½ bet, and the big blind makes a full bet. After the deal, betting starts with the person to the left of the big blind, so that the small blind and big blind are the last two players to bet in the initial round. That player is sometimes said to be "under the gun" or "UTG."

Once the hole cards have been dealt, a round of betting ensues. After the bets are complete, three common cards are placed face up on the table -- the "flop". After a second round of betting, one more card, the "turn," is placed on the table face up. The bet amount is doubled for the next round of betting, after which the final card, the "river" card, is revealed. The fourth betting round occurs. Then the players show their hands, starting at the dealer's left.