Overview

Texas Hold 'em is probably the best known and most popular form of poker today.  Hold'em is a version of 7-card poker. This means that by the end of the round, players have 7 cards to choose from to make the best 5-card hand.  Texas Hold'em is played over 4 rounds. Each round allows players to bet or fold. If none of the players bet, the next round begins.

Shuffle, Deal and Blinds

The dealer shuffles a standard 52-card deck. The game starts with the two players to the left of the dealer putting a pre-determined amount of money into the pot before any cards are dealt, ensuring that there's something toplay for on every hand.  The player to the left of the dealer puts up half the minimum bet (small blind) and the next player puts up the full minimum bet (big blind).  The big blind is double the small blind. The blinds are set by the table rules and appear as two numbers separated by a slash, for example: 1/2 or 5000/10000. Each new hand begins with a small blind, a big blind, and a round of betting.

Hole Cards (round 1)

Each player is dealt two cards, face down. These are known as the "hole cards."  Hole cards are private and no other players can see your hole cards.  After the hole cards are dealt, a round of betting takes place, beginning with the player to the left of the two who posted the blinds. Players can call (match the current bet amount), raise, or fold when it's their turn to bet.  If someone raises, all players must match the new amount to stay in. If a player folds, they are no longer participating in the hand and may not bet or win. Once all players have had the opportunity to raise or match the current bet amount, the round of betting ends. All bets are moved to the center of the table. The total chips on the table is called the 'pot'.

The Flop (round 2)

Once the first round of betting is complete, three cards (called 'community cards') are dealt face up on the table.  Community cards are shared by all players, meaning all players may build their hands from these cards. After the flop, another round of betting takes place, beginning with the player to the left of the dealer. During this and all future rounds of betting, players can check, call, raise, or fold when it's their turn to bet.

The Turn (round 3)

One more community card ( the 'turn' card) is dealt face up on the table. After the turn there is another round of betting.

The River (round 4)

One final card is dealt face up on the table.  This is called the 'river' card.   There are now 5 cards on the table and 2 hole cards in your hand. From these 7 cards, the software will pick your best 5-card hand.  After the river, there is a final round of betting.

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The Showdown

At the end of the final round of betting, it is time to determine a winner. If there is more than one player remaining in the hand, the last player to bet (not call) shows his cards first. Then all other players still in the hand show their cards. The player with the best five-card hand wins the pot. In the event of identical hands, the pot is equally split between the players with the best hands.

Running out of money

If you do not have enough money to call a bet, you may go 'all-in'. This means that you are betting all the chips you have left on the table. If you go all-in, you are not allowed to win more money than you bet. If the pot increases after you go all-in and you win, using side pots, the pot will be split between you and the player with the next best hand who was able to cover the raises.

Ranking of the hands

Standard five-card Poker hands are ranked in order of strength, from the strongest Poker hand to the weakest.

Royal Flush: This is the best possible hand in standard five-card Poker. Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10, all of the same suit.

Straight Flush: Any five-card sequence in the same suit.

Four of a Kind: All four cards of the same value.

Full House: Three of a kind combined with a pair.

Flush: Any five cards of the same suit, but not in sequence.

Straight: Five cards in sequence, but not in the same suit.

Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same value.

Two Pair: Two separate pairs.

Pair: Two cards of the same value.

High Card: If a Poker hand contains none of the above combinations, it's valued by the highest card in it.