Texas Holdem Poker

Texas Holdem is 7-card poker game that is undoubtedly the most popular variation of Poker that is played today. It is this version of poker that is played at the highly popular World Poker Tour and the World Series of Poker (you've probably seen it on TV). Up to ten players may play at a time. Each player gets two down cards followed by five community cards which are dealt face-up in the center of the table (to be shared by all players). In Texas Holdem, betting always begins with the first active player to the left of the dealer.

How Texas Holdem Is Played

The dealer shuffles a standard 52-card deck.

(In casinos, the dealer never plays. A round disc -- known as a "dealer button" -- moves clockwise from player to player with each hand. The button marks which player would be the dealer if the deal were advanced from player to player as the game went along.)

Most Texas Holdem Poker games start with the two players to the left of the dealer (the button) putting a predetermined amount of money into the pot before any cards are dealt, ensuring that there's something to play for on every hand. This is called "posting the blinds." Most often, the "first blind" -- the player to the left of the dealer -- puts up half the minimum bet, and the "second blind" puts up the full minimum bet.

Each player is dealt two cards, face down. These are known as the "hole cards."

Next, a round of betting takes place, starting with the player to the left of the two who posted the blinds. Players can call, raise, or fold when it's their turn to bet.

After the first betting round, the dealer discards the top card of the deck. This is called burning the card and is done to ensure that no one accidentally saw the top card, and to help prevent cheating. The dealer then flips the next three cards face up on the table. These cards are called the "flop".

Important Note: Eventually, a total of five community cards will be placed face up on the table. Players can use any combination of the community cards and their own two hole cards to form the best possible five-card Poker hand.

After the flop, another round of betting takes place, beginning with the player to the left of the dealer (the button). During this and all future rounds of betting, players can check, call, raise, or fold when it's their turn to bet.

Next, the dealer burns another card and plays one more face up onto the table. This, the fourth community card, is called the "turn" or "Fourth Street". The player to the left of the dealer (the button) then begins the third round of betting.

Next, the dealer burns another card before placing the final face-up card on the table. This card is called the "river" or "Fifth Street."

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