Author -> Master-Texasholdem -> 26/10/07

Basic Texas Hold Em Rules

Want to learn texas hold em poker? Well this is the place to start, here is a consise set of the basic rules of texas hold em poker including community cards, pots and hand rankings

Basics

The rules of texas hold em couldnt be easier to learn. To start the two people to the left of the dealer post the small and big blinds (these are compulsary bets to stop people from folding there cards until they have great hands). Now the game starts, everyone gets dealt 2 cards face down (these are known as the hole cards). Now the betting starts, starting from the left of the big blind people must either call, raise or fold. To stay in the game you must either call t he big blind (bet the sa me amount as the big blind) raise the big blind (bet higher than the big blind) or fold (leave the game). Betting continues in a clockwise direction until everyone has bet the same amount. When this has happened the community cards are dealt.

Community Cards

The community cards are the cards dealt face up that everyone can make use of to make up their best five cards. The community cards start with the flop (the first three cards dealt) where the dealer will first burn a card and then deal three cards face up. This is followed by another round of betting in the same fashion as before but this time starting from the left of the dealer and not the big blind. Once betting finishes the dealer will deal one more card (known as the turn card) followed by another round of betting. Now the final card is dealt (known as the river) at which point the final round of betting takes place. If more than one person is left in the game they show their cards and whoever has the highest hand takes the pot

Split Pot

Often two players may end up having the same hand, so another deciding factor comes into play called the kicker (the next highest card) if the two cards are lower than the cards on the board then the pot is split otherwise the person with the highest kicker will take the pot.

Hand Rankings

From the highest hand in poker, the coverted Royal Flush all the way down to the High card

Royal Flush 'The' Hand - Highest possible hand in poker

Straight Flush A straight with all cards of the same suit

Four of a Kind Four cards of the same rank

Full House A pair and a three of a kind

Flush Five cards of the same suit. No order needed

Straight Five cards in sequence, doesnt need to be suited

Three of a Kind Three cards of the same rank

Two Pairs Two sets of two same ranking cards

One Pair Two cards of the same rank

High Card Highest card rank available