In both online poker and bricks & mortar poker games, Texas Hold’em poker rules are easy to understand. It is vital that players know precisely what to do when playing online poker. The game of Texas Hold’em is played with a 52-card deck and each hand is made up of no more than 10 players.
The Preflop
The very first stage of poker play is known as the preflop. At this point in the game, players are dealt two hole cards (pocket cards) face down. During the hand, the two players seated immediately to the left of the dealer have to make compulsory bets known as blinds (the big blind and the small blind). Directly to the left of the dealer is the small blind (paying 50% of the ante) and the player on his/her left is the big blind (paying 100% of the ante).
These mandatory actions ensure that each and every poker game has a pot in it. After every hand, the dealer position moves to the left.
Owing to the fact that the blinds take place in the preflop round, actual betting takes place with the player to the left of the big blind. It must be remembered that all players have the choice to bet, fold or raise the stakes upon viewing their cards. In Texas Hold’em poker gaming, if everyone bets, both blinds are allowed to exercise their right of raising or folding – provided that a player has previously raised.
The Flop
At the end of the betting round, the flop takes place. The flop consists of 3 cards which are placed face-up on the poker table. They are otherwise known as community cards because all players in the hand can use them to form hand combinations. A betting round ensues; beginning with the first player to the dealer’s left who is still in the hand.
The Turn
The Turn is the 4th community card dealt. And when it’s dealt, another betting round commences. Like other betting rounds, this one begins with the 1st player to the dealer’s left who is still in the hand.
The River
The 5th and final community card is known as the River. It is dealt when another round of betting takes place. Like the previous two betting rounds, this round begins with the first player to the dealer’s left who is still in the hand.
The Showdown
Players remaining in the hand at this point will reveal their cards and the winner will be announced. The winning hand is one that makes use of any five card combination from the seven cards available. It is not required for players to use their hole cards to make up their hand, but clearly it is necessary in order to gain advantage.
The winner of the showdown collects the poker pot. This is made up of the total amount of chips which were bet on that hand. This essentially comprises the gaming rules of Texas Hold’em poker.
Should a tie take place, then the pot would be split. In online poker games there is never any doubt about who has the better poker hand. All poker chips in the pot are instantly added to the winner’s chip stack with no fuss whatsoever.
Learning the rules is easy; mastering the game takes time.
