Texas Hold’em is definitely one of the most exciting card games ever created, and the rules of the game help to make it so intriguing.
The dealer will shuffle and distribute a regular deck of 52 cards. In a casino, the dealer does not play so a chip is moved around to determine who would be the dealer. The first player to the left of the dealer should put of the blind, which is usually half of the minimum table amount. The second player to the left of the dealer typically puts in the table minimum. This ensures that there is some money to play for.
The dealer then deals the two hole cards face down. One card is distributed to each person first, and then the second cards are dealt. The first player to the left of the dealer gets the first card.
All players bet on the hold cards. The third player to the left of the dealer bets first. The betting continues moving to the left until each player has called, raised or folded.
The dealer then deals the three flop cards. Some casinos require the dealer to discard the top card to prevent any possibility of cheating. Once these community cards are laid on the table, another round of betting ensues. This round begins betting with the first person to the left of the dealer.
Then another card is played. Again, the top card may be discarded to prevent cheating. This card is commonly referred to as Fourth Street or the turn.
The dealer then plays the Fifth Street card. This is the final card and also known as the river. All players then have the chance to place their final bets.
Once all betting is finished, players reveal the cards to see who won the pot.
You must also understand the following terms of the game:
- Call
- When you call, you match the previous bet when it is your turn to bet.
- Raise
- When you raise, you increase the amount of the bet that the last person entered.
- Fold
- When you fold, you quit the hand and have no chance of winning the pot.
These are the rules and basic terminology that you need to successfully play one hand of Texas Hold’em.