Texas Hold'em Poker is generally played with 2 to 10
players,
but can be played with more (theoretically 23, but beyond 12
players the size of the table is the limiting factor). It is
a very positional game, since betting rounds all begin at
the dealer's left.
The descriptions below assume that you are familiar with
general poker rules and poker hands. They also
make no assumptions about what betting structure is used. In
casino play, it is common to use a fixed limit and two
blinds, one for half of the first-round betting limit and
one for a full bet. The limit for the third and fourth
betting rounds is generally double that of the first two
rounds. It is also not uncommon for the fourth bet to be
larger still, and for the big blind to be less than the
normal first-round bet, in which case it is treated the same
way a sub-minimum bring-in is treated in stud poker.
Antes
may be used instead of or in addition to blinds. This poker game
also plays very well at no limit, and many tournaments
(including the
World Series of Poker championship
event) are played that way.
Poker play begins with each player being dealt two cards face
down. These are the only cards each player will receive
individually, and they will not be revealed until showdown,
making Texas hold'em poker a closed game.
A first pre-flop
betting round now happens, beginning with the player to the
left of the big blind (or the dealer, if no blinds are
used). Now the dealer deals a burn card, followed by three
face-up community cards called the flop, followed by a
second betting round. This and all subsequent betting rounds
begin with the poker player to the dealer's left. After this round, a
burn card and single community card called the turn are
dealt, followed by a third betting round. Finally, a burn
and a single community card called the river are dealt,
followed by a fourth betting round and showdown if necessary.
On showdown, each player plays the best five-card
poker hand he
can make from the seven cards comprising his two and the
board (the five community cards). A
player may use both of his own two down cards, only one, or none at all to form
his final five-card hand. If the best five-card hand he can make is to
play the five community cards, then he is said to be playing the board, and is
entitled to split the pot with others playing the board if no one can play a
better poker hand.
It is common for players to have closely-valued hands. In particular,
kickers often are needed to break ties, straights often split the pot, and
multiple flushes may occur (where the ranks of the cards in each flush must be
counted carefully to determine a winner).
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