Texas Hold ’em Poker
In this game, the dealer deals two cards at the beginning of each round (not shown) and there are five cards face up on the table. Each player then uses two of their cards (or one or none of these) in conjunction with the five face-up cards to make the best possible hand. The player with the best hand wins the round.
The Basic Rules of the Game
In a nutshell, each player is dealt two private cards (“hole cards” or “pocket cards”), followed by a betting round. Three community cards are then dealt face up (‘flop’), followed by a second round of betting. The fourth community card is dealt face up (‘Turn’), followed by a third round of betting. The fifth community card is dealt face up (‘River’) and is the fourth and final round of betting. In a showdown, each player plays the best possible five-card hand using any five cards from two pocket cards and five community cards (or “board cards”). The player with the best hand according to the hand placement rules wins the round (the pot is the amount of money players bet during each hand).
To start the game, the dealer deals two cards at the beginning of each hand (round) that are not intended to be shown to opponents. In poker, the action moves to the left. Two mandatory bets, known as “blinds”, must be placed on “P ot” (potential winning amount). Large blinds are always double the number of small blinds. The player to the left of the dealer places a small blind on the table, and the player to his left places a big blind.
Once the blinds have been set, the person on the slot side of the big blind must decide if they want to play a hand. Players have 3 options. They can:
- Folding: In this case, the player does not want to participate in the hand and hand over the cards, i.e., hand over.
- Call: This simply involves fitting the big blinds as a sign of hand participation.
- A Raise: This involves raising at least twice the big blind and is a clear sign of a strong hand.
Once the first bets have been made, it is time for the dealer to deal the first 3 cards, called the flop. After the flop, a new round of betting takes place, starting from the small blind all the way to the left. Players are not required to place a bet because they also have the option to check, which simply means that they are not betting and want to see the next card for free. If everyone checks, the next card is dealt. If one player bets, everyone is once again waiting for their turn to decide if they will fold, call, or raise.
The next card dealt is called the “turn.” This is the 4th card, and the second round of betting takes place, giving players a second chance to decide if they want to stay in the hand. The last and last card is called a river. After the final round of betting, the action ends where the players must reveal their hole cards. To make a poker hand, players must combine their hole cards into any of the three to five cards dealt by the dealer, or use the dealer’s community cards to make the hand. The player with the best hand wins the pot.
Poker hands, from highest to lowest
- Royal Flush:
A, K, Q, J, 10, all in the same suit.
- Flush
Five cards in a row, all in the same suit.
- Four of a Kind
All four cards are of equal value.
- Full house
Three of a kind with a couple.
- Rinse out
all five cards of the same suit, but not in a row.
- Straight
five cards in a row, but not the same suit.
- Three of a Kind
Three cards of the same value
- Two pairs
Two different pairs.
- Connect
two cards of the same rank.
- High Card
When you have not made any of the above hands, the highest card is played.
In the example below, the jack plays as the highest card.
