Texas Hold'em No-limit and pot-limit games, without exception. In limit games, when there are three or more players involved and all players have not gone all-in, games with two betting rounds (draw or lowball) will allow a bet, plus four raises. In a game which involves three or more betting rounds, the maximum raises allowed are three. Texas Hold’em is a version of poker which requires a standard 52-card deck of playing cards, a set of poker chips and a dealer button to play live, or a computer and internet connection to play online. Texas Hold'em Poker Guide If you have played poker in a serious setting, such as a tournament or high stakes game, then you have most likely heard the phrase 'poker rules according to Hoyle.' However, few poker players really know the truth about Hoyle-who was he and what does he have to do with the rules of poker? A Texas Hold’em tournament is the same as any other game of Hold’em with a few added rules and twists. Learn more about the unique rules of Texas Holdem poker tournaments. Meanwhile, a Texas Holdem cash game is played on a single table with 2 to 10 players. The goal is simple: win as many chips as you can, one pot at a time.

1. Hoyle Texas Hold Em Rules
2. Hoyle Texas Hold'em Rules

Table Of Contents

If you want to learn how to play Texas hold'em games, then you need to start from the basic rules and hands. That's exactly what you'll find on this beginner's guide to the game.

Texas hold'em is a simple poker game, but it can be daunting to get to grips with.

But don't let that put you off. By the time you are down with this beginner's guide to Texas hold'em, you will know:

1. What Is Texas Hold'em Poker?

Texas Hold'em is the most popular of all poker variations.

All of the marquee tournaments around the world (including those played at the World Series of Poker, the World Poker Tour, the and the European Poker Tour) feature the no-limit variation of this game.

Texas hold'em is so popular that is the only poker game many players will ever learn.

It takes a moment to learn, but a lifetime to master.

Discovering how to play Texas hold'em poker is not difficult and the simplicity of its rules, gameplay, and hand-ranking all contribute to the popularity of the game.

However, don't let the simplicity of the game mislead you.

The number of possible situations and combinations is so vast that Texas hold'em can be an extremely complex game when you play at the highest levels.

If you are approaching the game of Texas hold'em for the first time, starting from the basic rules of the game is key. Not only these are the easiest ones to learn, but they are also essential to understand the gameplay and, later on, the game's basic strategy.

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2. Texas Hold'em Rules

So how do you play Texas hold'em?

The goal of a Texas hold'em game is to use your hole card and in combination with the community cards to make the best possible five-card poker hand.

Hold'em is not unlike other poker games like five-card draw.

However, the way players construct their hands in Texas hold'em is a little different than in draw poker.

It's always possible a player can 'bluff' and get others to fold better hands.

• In a game of Texas hold'em, each player is dealt two cards face down (the 'hole cards')
• Throughout several betting rounds, five more cards are (eventually) dealt face up in the middle of the table
• These face-up cards are called the 'community cards.' Each player is free to use the community cards in combination with their hole cards to build a five-card poker hand.

While we will see each betting round and different phase that forms a full hand of a Texas hold'em game, you should know that the five community cards are dealt in three stages:

• The Flop: the first three community cards.
• The Turn: the fourth community card.
• The River:The fifth and final community card.

Your mission is to construct your five-card poker hands using the best available five cards out of the seven total cards (the two hole cards and the five community cards).

You can do that by using both your hole cards in combination with three community cards, one hole card in combination with four community cards, or no hole cards.

If the cards on the table lead to a better combination, you can also play all five community cards and forget about yours.

In a game of Texas hold'em you can do whatever works to make the best five-card hand.

If the betting causes all but one player to fold, the lone remaining player wins the pot without having to show any cards.

For that reason, players don't always have to hold the best hand to win the pot. It's always possible a player can 'bluff' and get others to fold better hands.

READ ALSO: Common Poker Tells: How to Read People in Poker

If two or more players make it all of the way to the showdown after the last community card is dealt and all betting is complete, the only way to win the pot is to have the highest-ranking five-card poker hand.

Now that you know the basics of Texas hold'em and you start to begin gaining an understanding of how the game works, it's time to get into some specifics.

These include how to deal Texas hold'em and how the betting works.

Basic Rules Key Takeaways:

• A game of Texas hold'em feature several betting rounds
• Players get two private and up to five community cards
• Unless all players abandon the game before the showdown, you need the highest poker hand to win

How to Play

Let's have a look at all the different key aspects of a Texas hold'em game, including the different positions at the table and the betting rounds featured in the game.

The Button

The play moves clockwise around the table, starting with action to the left of the dealer button.

The 'button' is a round disc that sits in front of a player and is rotated one seat to the left every hand.

When playing in casinos and poker rooms, the player with the dealer button doesn't deal the cards (the poker room hires someone to do that).

In when you play poker home games with friends the player with the button usually deals the hands.

The button determines which player at the table is the acting dealer.

The first two players sitting to the immediate left of the button are required to post a 'small blind' and a 'big blind' to initiate the betting.

From there, the action occurs on multiple streets:

• Preflop
• Flop
• Turn
• River

Each one of these moments (or 'streets' in the game's lingo) is explained further below.

The button determines which player at the table is the acting dealer.

In Texas hold'em, the player on button, or last active player closest to the button receives the last action on all post-flop streets of play.

While the dealer button dictates which players have to post the small and big blinds, it also determines where the dealing of the cards begin.

The player to the immediate left of the dealer button in the small blind receives the first card and then the dealer pitches cards around the table in a clockwise motion from player to player until each has received two starting cards.

READ ALSO: Poker Positions Explained: the Importance of Position in Poker

The Blinds

Before every new hand begins, two players at the table are obligated to post small and big blinds.

The blinds are forced bets that begin the wagering.

Without these blinds, the game would be very boring because no one would be required to put any money into the pot and players could just wait around until they are dealt pocket aces (AA) and only play then.

The blinds ensure there will be some level of 'action' on every hand.

In tournaments, the blinds are raised at regular intervals. In cash games, the blinds always stay the same.

In tournaments, the blinds are raised at regular intervals.

• As the number of players keeps decreasing and the stacks of the remaining players keep getting bigger, it is a necessity that the blinds keep increasing throughout a tournament. [*]In cash games, the blinds always stay the same.

The player directly to the left of the button posts the small blind, and the player to his or her direct left posts the big blind.

The small blind is generally half the amount of the big blind, although this stipulation varies from room to room and can also be dependent on the game being played.

In a '$1/$2' Texas holdem game, the small blind is $1 and the big blind is $2.

First Betting Round: Preflop

The first round of betting takes place right after each player has been dealt two hole cards.

The first player to act is the player to the left of the big blind.

This position referred to as 'under the gun' because the player has to act first. The first player has three options:

• Call: match the amount of the big blind
• Raise: increase the bet within the specific limits of the game
• Fold: throw the hand away

If the player chooses to fold, he or she is out of the game and no longer eligible to win the current hand.

Players can bet anywhere from the amount of the big blind (the minimum bet allowed) up to the total amount in the current pot.

The amount a player can raise to depends on the game that is being played.

In a game of no-limit Texas hold'em, the minimum opening raise must be at least twice the big blind, and the maximum raise can be all of the chips a player has in his or her stack (an 'all-in' bet).

There are other betting variations in hold'em poker.

In fixed-limit hold'em (or just 'limit hold'em), a raise is always exactly twice the big blind.

In pot-limit hold'em (played much less often than the other variations), players can bet anywhere from the amount of the big blind (the minimum bet allowed) up to the total amount in the current pot.

After the first player ('under the gun') acts, the play proceeds in a clockwise fashion around the table with each player also having the same three options — to call, to raise, or fold.

Once the last bet is called and the action is 'closed,' the preflop round is over and play moves on to the 'flop.'

Second Betting Round: The Flop

After the first preflop betting round has been completed, the first three community cards are dealt and a second betting round follows involving only the players who have not folded already.

A check simply means to pass the action to the next player in the hand.

In this betting round (and subsequent ones), the action starts with the first active player to the left of the button.

Along with the options to bet, call, fold, or raise, a player now has the option to 'check' if no betting action has occurred beforehand.

A check simply means to pass the action to the next player in the hand.

Again betting continues until the last bet or raise has been called (which closes the action).

It also can happen that every player simply chooses not to be and checks around the table, which also ends the betting round.

Third Betting Round: The Turn

Call – match the amount of the big blind

The fourth community card, called the turn, is dealt face-up following all betting action on the flop.

Once this has been completed, another round of betting occurs, similar to that on the previous street of play.

Again players have the option to options to check, bet, call, fold, or raise.

Final Betting Round: The River

Fold – throw the hand away

The fifth community card, called the river, is dealt face-up following all betting action on the turn.

Once this has been completed, another round of betting occurs, similar to what took play on the previous street of play.

Once more the remaining players have the option to options to check, bet, call, fold, or raise.

After all betting action has been completed, the remaining players in the hand with hole cards now expose their holdings to determine a winner. This is called the showdown.

The Showdown

Players construct their hands by choosing the five best cards from the seven available

The remaining players show their hole cards, and with the assistance of the dealer, a winning hand is determined.

The player with the best combination of five cards wins the pot according to the official poker hand rankings.

3. The Hands in Texas Hold'em

Hoyle Texas Hold Em Rules

These hand rankings aren't specifically part of Texas hold'em rules, but apply to many different poker games.

• Royal Flush — five cards of the same suit, ranked ace through ten; e.g., A♥K♥Q♥J♥10♥
• Straight Flush — five cards of the same suit and consecutively ranked; e.g., 9♣8♣7♣6♣5♣
• Four of a Kind — four cards of the same rank; e.g., Q♣Q♥Q♦Q♠4♦
• Full House — three cards of the same rank and two more cards of the same rank; e.g., J♣J♥J♠8♦8♥
• Flush — any five cards of the same suit; e.g., A♠J♠8♠5♠2♠
• Straight — any five cards consecutively ranked; e.g., Q♣J♦10♥9♠8♦
• Three of a Kind — three cards of the same rank; e.g., 8♣8♠8♦K♣4♥
• Two Pair — two cards of the same rank and two more cards of the same rank; e.g., A♠A♣J♦J♣7♠
• One Pair — two cards of the same rank; e.g., 10♥10♣9♥4♦2♦
• High Card — five unmatched cards; e.g., A♣J♦10♠5♣2♥ would be called 'ace-high'

Players construct their hands by choosing the five best cards from the seven available (their two hole cards and the five community cards).

If the board is showing 9♣5♠K♦3♠A♥, a player with the two hole cards 9♠ would have two pair (aces and nines) and would lose to a player who has 9♦9♥ for three of a kind (three nines).

Learning hold'em poker begins with understanding how hands are dealt and the order of play as described above.

Of course, learning Texas hold'em rules is just the beginning, as the next step is to learn strategy which involves understanding what constitutes good starting hand selection, the odds and probabilities associated with the game, the significance of position and getting to act last during those post-flop betting rounds, and many other aspects of the game.

4. How to Play Texas Hold'em Games Online

Now that you know how Texas Hold'em works, it's time to put the theory into practice and play your first games.

The best way to start playing Texas Hold'em is to start from these free poker games available online and then move up to the real money action only when you feel comfortable enough to do so.

All the 'must-have poker rooms' below offer free games to practice online.

If you are completely new to the game, you should go for play money options, first. These risk-free games with fake money are an excellent way to familiarise with the different moments of play and the betting rounds.

The play money games are a great way to learn more about the hand rankings and begin to read the board fast enough to take all the right decisions at the right time.

After that, you should more to the poker freerolls. These are free poker tournaments with actual prizes on tap that range from free money to free entries into more expensive real money games.

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Texas Hold’em is a version of poker which requires a standard 52-card deck of playing cards, a set of poker chips and a dealer button to play live, or a computer and internet connection to play online. After purchasing chips and taking your seat, each player will receive two hole cards face down before betting and attempting to form the best “according to Hoyle” poker hand. The following rules are universal to Texas Hold’em poker and dictate the game’s play whether you are in a casino or an online poker room.

1.) The dealer button revolves around the table in a clockwise motion, so that every player holds the button once during each revolution.

2.) The player to the immediate left of the dealer button is the small blind, and must put a forced bet into the pot.

3.) The next player to the left is the big blind, with their forced bet being double that of the small blind. The size of the big blind determines the minimum bet in all betting rounds.

4.) Every seated player will be dealt two hole cards face down. These hole cards, also known as pocket cards, are yours and yours alone, and they should be protected at all times.

5.) The first decision, or action, is always on the player seated left of the big blind and moves clockwise around the table as each player elects to either call, raise or fold their hand.

6.) After the first round of betting the dealer will burn the top card of the deck and spread three cards face up on the table. The first three community cards are called the “flop” and can be used by all players form the best possible poker hand in conjunction with one’s hole cards.

Hoyle Texas Hold'em Rules

7.) Another round of betting and raising occurs after the flop is dealt.

8.) Once betting is completed another card is burned and the fourth community card is dealt face up. This card is called the “turn” or “fourth street” and can also be incorporated with your hole cards to improve your hand.

9.) Another round of betting takes place after the turn.

10.) The fifth and final community card, known as the “river” or “fifth street” is dealt face up and players finalize their hands in preparation for the showdown.

11.) After a final round of betting the remaining players reveal their hole cards to find out who holds the best hand. The winner claims the entire pot and the cards are shuffled before the next hand is dealt.

Texas Hold’em Stakes

No Limit Texas Hold’em

Known worldwide as the “Cadillac of Poker,” this version of Texas Hold’em rewards bold plays and big bets. As the name implies, No-Limit Texas Hold’em allows a player to bet or raise their entire stack of chips at any point during a hand, lending the game an air of unpredictability which can’t be matched. The ability to put your opponent to the ultimate test for all of their money, and the constant risk that your own chips may be pushed all-in at any time, makes No-Limit the most exhilarating and excruciating version of Texas Hold’em.

Pot Limit Texas Hold’em

Diverging from its all-or-nothing predecessor, Pot-Limit Texas Hold’em is a mathematically stimulating game in which the maximum bet or raise permitted is always the current size of the pot. In a typical $2/$4 Pot-Limit Texas Hold’em game, five players and the blinds calling to see a flop would create a pot of $28, which would then become the maximum bet. If you are faced with this bet and would like to raise the pot, your maximum bet would then be $84 ($28+$28+$28), or the sum of the pot, one bet and your call. This escalating betting structure creates highly volatile multiway pots, with many players opting to see the flop cheaply before upping the ante on subsequent streets.

Fixed Limit Texas Hold’em

In this traditional version of Texas Hold’em, the size of the small and big blinds at your table dictates the maximum bet or raise allowed at any time. Fixed Limit hands are divided into dual betting structure, with the small blind serving as the maximum bet before and after the flop, and the big blind indicating the maximum bet on the turn and river. The standard Fixed Limit game found in online poker rooms and casinos throughout the country is $3/$6 Texas Hold’em, meaning you will have to call $3 to stick around with a drawing hand, or raise it up to $6 with your Ace-King to push out the limpers. In most brick and mortar Fixed Limit Texas Hold’em games the house will offer “Kill Pots” in which the table stakes are doubled during any hand after a player wins two consecutive pots.

Texas Hold’em Tournaments vs. Cash Games

The first distinction to consider when studying the rules of Texas Hold’em is the difference between tournaments and cash games. The majority of online poker rooms provide plenty of tables for both versions of the game, so it’s important to know how tournaments vary from cash games before venturing into genuine competition.

A poker tournament is a one-time event where players pay an entry fee for a chance at the lion’s share of the prize pool. There are many spins on the classic Texas Hold’em tournament, such as re-buy, double stack and multi entry events, but the basic structure of a tournament is relatively simple. In a standard freezeout tournament each player is allotted a starting stack of chips which must be defended and augmented to assure survival. The small and big blinds will increase on a set schedule, forcing players to make moves and build their stacks to continue doing battle. When you claim another player’s chips after an all-in confrontation, they are eliminated and the tournament field shrinks by one, and this process continues until a champion is eventually crowned.The most well known poker tournament in popular culture, the World Series of Poker Main Event in Las Vegas, is the premiere platform for this type of game. Thousands of players pony up the $10,000 entry fee in exchange for a seat and a starting stack of 20,000 chips, with each hoping to navigate the minefield and emerge as the multimillion dollar winner.

Cash game poker eschews the formal nature of tournaments and boils things down to business. Each player enters the game with the amount of chips they feel comfortable wagering, within a set range of minimum and maximum buy-ins. When you play a cash game the size of your personal poker bankroll in relation to that of your opponents is a crucial factor, because many players can simply flood the table with money and win the war of attrition. In certain poker rooms and casinos, the house rules stipulate that “cash plays,” meaning you are sure to spot sharks sitting with skyhigh stacks of chips fronted by a barrier of $100 bills. The typical Texas Hold’em cash games spread by online poker sites are $1/$2 No-Limit Hold’em and $3/$6 Fixed Limit Hold’em, but high-stakes cash games can reach the $400/$800 blind levels on the most popular sites.