All Texas hold'em poker games use a standard 52 card deck and the cards are ranked as follows: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, Ace. (Aces count as both high and low). There is no strength in the suits of the cards, they are all equal. Exact same hands in different suits such as a straight flush will result in a split pot.
1) Each hand starts with a round of forced betting. They are known as the blinds as the two players to the left of the dealer have to pay them before seeing their cards. Forced bets are determined by the betting structure. The two players to the left of the dealer post the small and big blind.
2) The dealer will deal two holes cards to each player face down. As in most games, the deal is done clockwise and every player gets dealt one card, before the second card is dealt round.
3) Now the players to the left of the blinds have the option to fold, call or raise (pre flop betting). Generally two poor hole cards will be folded, but if you have a good starting hand and you want to call, then you must put in the same amount as the big blind. Or if you choose to raise then you must put in double the big blind as a minimum. If the big blind hasn't been raised then the player in the big blind has the option to check.
4) Once the pre-flop betting ends, the flop is dealt. The dealer burns the top card from the deck to prevent cheating and deals the flop. All players still in the hand can use these communal cards to make the best hand in conjunction with their own
5) There is another round of betting, starting with the player to the left of the dealer still holding cards. As before each round of betting consists of checking, betting, calling, raising or folding.
6) The dealer then burns another card and puts one more card face up (the turn). Also known as fourth street.
7) There is another round of betting, starting with the player to the left of the dealer still holding cards. As before each round of betting consists of checking, betting, calling, raising or folding. The size of the bet may increase due to the size of the pot.
8) The dealer then burns one last card and puts one final card face up (the river) Also known as fifth street. Players can now use all five community Cards and/or their two pocket cards to make the best possible 5 card hand.
9) Any players still left in the pot, make one last round of betting, again starting with the player to the left of the dealer still holding cards. As before each round of betting consists of checking, betting, calling, raising or folding.
10) The showdown! All players that haven't folded, now show their hands starting with the person to the left of the last player to call. The player with the best hand wins. However on occasions when two or more players have the same hand, it's a split pot.
The basic rules of Texas holdem are easy to learn, mastering the game takes practice.
