Texas Hold 'Em Rules

Texas Hold 'em is a community card game, which means that all players share five cards face up in the middle of the table in addition to two private cards. Players must make their best five-card poker hand out of the seven available cards. It's actually a fairly simple game to learn. Take a quick read through these Texas Hold 'em Rules and you'll be well on your way.

1. Each player their own two private cards ("pocket cards") face-down
2. A betting round takes place (stakes vary by table limits)
3. The dealer spreads three cards face-up on the table. This is known in poker lingo as "the flop"
4. A second betting round occurs
5. The dealer deals out a fourth card face-up (known in the lingo as "the turn card")
6. A third betting round takes place
7. A final community card is dealt (known as "the river card")
8. A final betting round occurs
9. The all-important "showdown": remaining players (those who haven't folded) show their hands.

In order to make their best five-card hands at the showdown players may use:

• Both pocket cards and three of the five community cards
• One pocket card and four of the five community cards
• All five community cards-which is typically called "playing the board" and most often involves a bluff

Betting

There are a total of four betting rounds for each game in Texas Hold 'em. In the first two rounds of betting, the limit is set at the lower limit of the table's stakes. (Tables range from 5 cents up to no limit). In a $5/$10 game, all bets and raises are $5 for the first two rounds. The final two rounds of betting are set at the upper stakes limit. In a $5/$10 game, all bets and raises are $10 for the final two rounds.

Click on any of the links to online poker rooms on this page to get started. Remember, you can always play for free until you get totally comfortable with the game. Best of luck!