Texas Hold 'em

Often known simply as Hold'em, Texas Hold 'em is currently the most popular poker game in the world, and is played in the World Series of Poker and World Poker Tour. It is usually played with up to 10 players and a dealer who generally does not participate in the game, although in informal games, dealing will pass from player to player.

Method of Play

Pre-Flop Betting Round

Before the hands are dealt, the first player to the dealer's left antes one half of the minimum bet (known as the 'first' or 'small' blind), with the player to his left anteing the minimum bet (the 'second' or 'large' blind). 'Posting the blinds' proceeds clockwise around the table with each subsequent game, ensuring there is always some money in the pot.

Second Betting Round

Each player is then dealt two down (hole) cards known only to them, which forms the basis for their hands. Betting begins with the player to the left of the players who posted the blinds. The betting takes place as in a standard game of poker, with players having the option of seeing, raising or folding. (See The Basics of Poker Betting for more information).

Third Betting Round

After this round of betting is completed, the dealer discards the top card from the remainder of the deck (called 'burning the card') and deals three cards face up on the table. These cards are known as the flop, and are community cards that may be used by all the players to help them form the best possible five-card poker hand. Another round of betting then begins, again with players seeing, raising or folding.

Fourth Betting Round

The dealer then burns another card and deals one more card face up next to the other community cards. This card is called 'Fourth Street' or the 'turn'. Once again, there is another round of betting.

Final Betting Round

The dealer then burns one last card, and deals the final face-up community card, known as 'Fifth Street' or the 'river'.

After all the community cards have been dealt, players can use any combination of their two face-down cards and the five community cards to form the best possible five-card poker hand.

The final round of betting begins, and then all players who have remained in the game reveal their hands. As in standard poker, the player with the highest-ranking hand wins the pot (See Poker Hands for hand rankings). If a player chooses the five community cards as their best hand, this is known as 'playing the board', and will usually result in a split pot.