Texas Hold'em and
PokerWorld

How to Play Texas Holdem Poker

Texas Holdem Poker is the most popular card game in the world. It is played in your neighbor's basement, at your local Poker room, and in the finest Casinos of Las Vegas. With so many people playing poker, it is no surprise that there are many variations of the game. Texas Holdem Poker is by far the most popular of these, and in our opinion the most fun. It is also the most popular variation of casino poker, not just in brick and mortar establishments, but online as well. The following covers the basics for how to play texas holdem poker. If you're looking for more advanced insight, "Hold'Em Poker for Advanced Players" by Slansky and Malmuth, is a good read.

Betting

Betting in Texas Hold Em Poker is a bit different than most traditional gambling games. Poker, unlike other casino games, where you are required to place bets against the house, allows you to pit your skill and talent against other players. In Hold Em Poker there are a number of different rounds of betting where players compete for the pot. The betting may vary based on the round or the type of game you play.

In most games, to start the betting you must 'ante' something (amount varies by game limit or game type), just to receive your initial set of cards. In Holdem games instead of an "ante" selected players are required to place bets before they see their cards. These are called blinds, probably because they are made when a player can't see his cards. After the Blinds are placed, players match their contribution per round of play and collective bets are placed into the pot in the middle of the table. At the end of the hand, the highest hand (that hasn't folded) wins the pot.

Here is the typical betting sequence for Texas Holdem Poker:

1. Each player is dealt two cards face-down (pocket cards)
   Card 1 and 2
2. First betting round (lower limit)
3. Dealer turns over three community board cards (the flop) face-up
   Card 3, 4 and 5
4. Second betting round (lower limit)
5. Dealer turns over 1 more community board card (the turn)
   Card 6
6. Third betting round (higher limit)
7. Dealer turns over 1 final community board card (the river)
   Card 7
8. Final betting round (higher limit)
9. Showdown

At the showdown for Texas Hold Em Poker, rules require that players may use either:

• Both pocket cards & three board cards
• One pocket card & four board cards
• All five board cards (playing the board)

Texas Holdem betting structure rules

In Hold em there are four possible betting rounds. Each bet and raise during the first two rounds is set at the lower limit of the stakes structure. For example, in a $2/$4 Fixed Limit game, all bets and raises are $2 for the first two rounds (after pocket cards are dealt and after the flop).Betting and raising during the last two rounds is set at the higher limit of the stakes structure. In this example, all bets and raises will be $4.

The maximum allowable number of bets during any betting round in Texas Holdem Poker is four. This includes a (1) bet, (2) raise, (3) re-raise, and (4) cap. The term cap is used to describe the 3rd raise in a round since betting is then capped and can't be raised further. Once capped, players will have only the option of calling or folding.

There are other games that where cap on number of raises does not apply and they are One on One, No Limit and Pot Limit games.

Button & blinds for Texas Holdem

At the table, a graphic called the Dealer Button, a small round disk with the letter 'D' marked on it, is used to signify the theoretical dealer of the hand. The hand is dealt clockwise one card at a time.

Betting Order

The Texas Hold Em cards are dealt in a specific order starting clockwise from the button and betting also takes place in a specific order as outlined below.

Betting

The player seated to the left (clockwise) of the dealer is the first to receive a card and is required to post a small blind. The small blind is equal to half the lower limit bet rounded down to the nearest dollar. The player in the next clockwise position is required to post the big blind. The big blind is equal to the lower limit bet of the table. In Texas Holdem, the player with a small blind is the first to receive a card.

The blinds are considered live bets. A live bet means that the player has the option of checking, calling, raising or folding on his/her turn. During the remainder of the game, the player left of the dealer (the player with the button) is the first to act.

Missed Blinds

To prevent "blinds" abuse, players are required to post the small blind and the big blind once per round or their equivalent upon reentry to the game if the blinds are missed. Our software will prompt you to put in the correct amount if you have missed one or both blinds. You can also wait for the big blind to get to your position or to continue "sitting out" until you are ready to resume the game. If you choose to wait for a big blind, this is called coming in on the blind. In our Poker room, if you miss three big blinds in a row, you will automatically be removed from the table. These rules are to prevent players from constantly entering poker games in a late position and leaving before they're required to post.

Both blinds in Texas Holdem games are considered live bets and therefore, according to poker rules, have the option of checking, calling, raising or folding when the betting action returns to their position. After the flop and each subsequent betting round, the first active Hold'em player left of the button is first to act.

First Round

After the players in the blind positions put their blinds in front of them, the dealer deals two cards (pocket or hole cards) to each player (one at the time), at which time each player can see his own cards but not those of his opponents. On the first round only, the betting starts with the player to the left of the big blind, who has one of three choices, call, raise, or fold. On the first round only, a player cannot check (make no bet) and still retain his hand. On the first round only, the player in the small blind position acts after the button. The player in the big blind position acts after the small blind.

Bet/Raise/Call/Check/Fold

Once a betting round has started, you must select one of these options from the play buttons that appear when it is your turn. If you choose one of the advance options (advance buttons), your bet is made automatically on your turn. If you select "Sit Out" or you close the window after a round has started, your bet will be considered a fold. If you click the "Sit Out" button before the game is started, you cannot be "Dealt In" until the hand ends. If your connection is lost, your hand will be played as an all-in bet. Please read our all-in policy for a detailed explanation.

Big Blind Option

The player who has the big blind is given the option to fold, check or raise if no one has raised before him/her. If someone has raised he/she will be given the option to fold, call or raise.

Succeeding Rounds

In all rounds except the first, the betting starts with the first active player to the left of the button, who has one of three choices, check, bet, or fold. Until there is a bet, each succeeding active player has the same choices. Once a bet is made, each succeeding player then has one of three choices, call, raise, or fold.

Showdown

When all the betting is done, and if more than one player is still in for the pot, then the showdown determines who wins. The last player to open or raise is required to show his/her cards first, and anyone else can fold (muck his cards) if he/she determines he/she has lost. Players who elect to fold do not have to show their cards.

Rake

Like all casino games, casino poker has an organized betting structure. For example, if you're playing at a $2/$4 fixed limit table, you can only bet at increments of $2 until fourth board card is dealt. There are also tables that don't use fixed limits. PokerWorld.com offers both No Limit and Pot Limit games.

Unlike other casino games, poker is a game among players, and not a game against the house. Therefore the poker room makes money by collecting a rake. The rake is a predetermined amount that is removed from the pot. The rake amount varies depending on the number of people seated, the limits of the table, and the amount of the pot.