Texas hold em rules

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Hold em poker, better known as Texas Hold em poker, is the most popular online poker game in the world. There are 3 types of Texas hold em poker:

• In "Limit Texas Hold em" there is a Bet Limit in each poker game and in each round where bets are made.
  
• In "Pot Limit Texas Hold em", a poker player can bet the amount in the Pot.
  
• In "No Limit Texas Hold em" there is no limit and a player can play all his chips whenever he wants.
  

1. How to win

The aim of Texas hold em is to win the pot. This can be done in 2 ways, either by having the best 5 card poker hand or by making the other players give up.

2. Basic rules

You have 7 cards to make your poker hand with.

• 5 shared cards called Community cards
• 2 closed cards (no one else other than the individual player see these cards)
  

Jokers are not included in the game. There are 52 cards in total, and up to 10 players can play at an online poker table.

In Hold’em, there must always be a pot in place when the game starts, so the first 2 players must pay forced bets, so-called “Small Blinds” and “Big Blinds”.

• The small blind: ½ times the smallest bet must be paid by the first player sitting next to the dealer in a clockwise direction.
• The big blind: 1 times the smallest bet must be paid by the second player sitting next to the dealer in a clockwise direction.

An example: At a $10/$20 online poker table, the "Small Blind" would be $5 and the "Big Blind" would be $10. (This amount can be used for a later Call, Bet or Raise)

The dealer button: Texas Hold’em online poker uses a so-called DEALER button to indicate which of the players is the theoretical dealer. After each online poker hand is finished and a winner has been found, as is also the case in standard online poker rules, the dealer button moves clockwise to the next active player on the online poker table. This player is now the dealer for the next hand.

3. First deal

All players at the online poker table receive 2 closed cards and the game begins. (Closed cards = cards that are hidden from everyone else apart from the players who have received them.)

4. First betting round/calling round

Player number 3 clockwise after the dealer calls. In the first round it is not permitted to check. You can Call, Bet, Raise or Fold. You are allowed to raise 3 times in one round. The round finishes when all players have put the same amount into the pot.
An example: At a $10/$20 online poker table you bet $10 by making a Call or Bet, and a further $10 if you select Raise.

5. The Flop – Community card received (3 in total)

3 cards are placed facing upwards in the middle of the table. These 3 cards are called Community cards or shared cards. All Community cards form part of the player’s online poker hands.

6. Second betting round

The players still in the game start a new betting round. The player sitting next to the dealer clockwise, begins. He can now do one of the following: Check, Call, Bet, Raise or Fold. You can raise 3 times during a round. The round finishes when all players have put the same amount into the pot. If you are playing Hold’em Limit, the minimum bet equals every bet in the second round.
An example: If you are playing at a $10/$20 table, you put in $10 for calls/bets and a further $10 for a Raise.

7. The turn – the fourth card

The fourth Community card is placed on the table.

8. Third betting round

A new betting round starts with the players who are still in the game. The player next to the dealer clockwise starts and the usual poker terms apply. Player 1 can Check, Bet. Call, Raise or Fold. As with previous betting rounds, bets may be raised 3 times. In Hold’em Limit each bet in 3 rounds equals the maximum bet.
An example: At a $10/$20 dollar online poker table you have to bet $20 for a Bet or Call. A further $20 should be added for a Raise.

9. The River – the fifth and final Community card

The final Community card is placed in the middle of the table with 4 other cards. There is now a total of 5 Community cards on the poker table and all these cards count towards the individual players’ online poker hands together with their 2 closed cards.

10. Fourth betting round – final betting round

Those players still in the game start the final betting round and the player clockwise nearest the dealer starts. He can apply the usual online poker terms, i.e. Check, Bet, Call, Raise or Fold. The general rule is that the bet can be raised 3 times. When all players have put the same amount in the pot, the betting round stops. In Hold’em Limit all bets in the fourth betting round equals the maximum bet.
An example: At a $10/$20 dollar online poker table you have to bet $20 at a Bet or Call. A further $20 must be added for a Raise.

11. Showdown: - The winner is selected

The online poker players at the table take turns to reveal their 2 closed cards. The player who can put together the best and thereby highest 5 card poker hand when the Community cards are combined with the 2 closed cards, wins the whole pot. THE WHOLE POT. In case of a draw between players, the pot is shared equally between them. (A small percentage must be paid – a so-called rake – to the relevant online poker room.)

A new game can begin, and the theoretical dealer moves one player in a clockwise direction.

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