The first poker game you might want to consider learning the rules for is Texas Hold'Em. Being the most popular form of poker played today, you will come across this game more than any other. Texas Hold’Em is a seven card poker game with relatively simple rules. Despite this, the game is fast, complex and takes a great deal of practice to become good at. Before moving on, if you do not know the basic rules of poker, you should first check out our Rules of Poker section, as the following description assumes you know the basics of the game.
Texas Hold’Em rules are slightly more complicated than basic draw poker rules. Most Texas Hold 'Em games will begin with two players to the left of the dealer “posting the blinds”, or putting a predetermined amount of money into the pot. This usually consists of the “first blind”, or the player to the immediate left of the dealer, putting in half of the minimum bet, after which the “second blind” puts in the full minimum bet.
After this, all players are dealt two cards face down. These are known as hole cards. This is followed by a round of betting, beginning with the player to the left of the second blind and proceeding clockwise. During this betting round as well as the following rounds, players have the option of checking, raising or folding. After the first betting round, three community cards are dealt face up in the center of the table. These are known as the “flop”. Another round of betting then takes place, beginning with the player left of the dealer. After this, a single card, the “turn” (a.k.a. “ fourth street”) is dealt face up, followed by another betting round. Then, the final community card is dealt, known as the “river” or “fifth street”. This, of course, is followed by the final betting round.
At this point, the showdown takes place. Anyone left in the game may use any combination of the seven cards available to them (their two hole cards plus three of the five community cards) to make a five card poker hand. The showdown begins with the player who made the first bet revealing their hand, or the player who made the last raise if that player is no longer in the game. Whoever has the highest ranking poker hand takes the entire pot.
