Texas Holdem Poker Rules

Texas Hold'em poker really is 'the' definitive game when it comes to poker rooms in casinos around the world, and that includes online poker rooms as well. Popularized by recent big-money tournaments and an increasing exposure on mainstream television, it's played by millions of people around the world, and by far the most popular poker variant played today.

While there are countless playing strategies that add a lot of depth to the game, when it comes to the basics of play, it's actually one of the easier poker variations to get the hang of.

Making Your Best Hand:

In Texas Holdem, each player makes their final hand from the best 5 cards available to them, including their two hole cards and the five community cards on the board. Unlike Omaha, in which a player must play two of their hole cards - that means you can play all 5 cards on the board if necessary to make your best hand.

How a Game Is Played Out:

The two players left of the dealer place a 'Small Blind' and 'Big Blind' (a blind is a forced bet before seeing the hand) before players are dealt their hole cards.
Once the Blind bets are down, two cards are dealt face down to each player at the table.
The player to the left of the bettor who placed the "Big Blind" bet starts the wagering. They may simply Call the blind to continue in the hand, Raise or Fold. This continues for each player at the table, going clockwise until there are no more bets or calls to be made.
The Flop is dealt face up in the middle of the table; three community cards that can be used by all players at the table to make a hand.
There is another betting round following the same order as the earlier bets.
In the center of the table, a fourth community card is dealt face up (called the turn).
There is another round of betting.
The last community card, also referred to as the River, is placed face up on the table.
Final bets are placed.

Betting always goes clockwise, starting with the player seated next to the dealer (in an online game there is still a 'dealer' marked at the table despite the software actually 'dealing'). After each hand is completed, the dealer is moved clockwise one position to shift the corresponding betting order.

Texas Hold'em can be played with various betting limits:

Limit
Every game and every round has a set betting limit, such as $.50/$1.00 has a $.50 Blind, the first round of betting and raises is $.50 and the rounds after that are upped to $1.00 bets.
Pot Limit (PL)
A maximum, equivalent to the total pot at the time of the bet can be wagered by each player.
No Limit (NL)
Each person can wager up to the amount they have on the table at the time of the bet.

Texas Hold'em is by far the most popular poker type played today. From multi-million dollar tournaments to nickel and dime ring games, you'll never have a hard time finding players at the tables when Texas Holdem is your game, no matter what your preferred stakes or skill level.

If you're looking to practice your game, don't forget you can always play free online poker until you get the hang of it and wager real money. If you're ready to dive right into the tables, check our poker room directory for lots of great places to play, along with previews and reviews of dozens of Texas Hold'em venues.