HOW TO PLAY TEXAS HOLD'EM (A QUICK GUIDE)

OBJECT: To get the best possible five card poker hand, using any combination of two hole cards and five community cards.

PLAY: Each player is dealt two cards face down (called “hole” cards). Five cards are then dealt face up in the center of the table as “community cards,” or “board cards.” The community cards may be used by all players. After betting, players may use any combination of their two hole cards and the five community cards on the table to make the best five card poker hand. Players can even use all of the board cards and no hole cards.

Hold’em Betting Basics
Before any cards are dealt, the first player to the left of the dealer button must post the small “blind” (usually 1/2 the full minimum bet). The second player from the left posts the big ”blind” (The full minimum bet.) These are forced bets which guarantee action for the hand. After the first two hole cards are dealt, the player may call the blind bet, raise or fold. Players required to bet “in the blind” have the option to raise the blind on the first round of betting. After the first three community cards are turned up (called the “flop”), each player, starting with the first player to the left of the dealer button, may check, bet, call, raise or fold. Each round of betting may have one bet and three raises. Betting limits normally double after the 4th card (referred to as the “turn” or 4th street) and 5th card (referred to as the “river” or 5th street).

Betting action is done in turn, in sequential order, going in a clockwise direction around the table.

Professional Poker Table Etiquette
1. When betting, please act in turn.
2. Poker games and tournaments are normally "table stakes," meaning you can't take money out of your pocket in the middle of a hand so you can continue betting. Only once the hand is completed, may you take money out and buy-in for more chips. Conversly, you cannot lose more than you have on the table.
4. When raising, make your bet in a single motion. You cannot place a bet and then go back to your stack to get more chips (referred to as a "string" bet) to complete the raise, unless you call out "raise" before you make the bet. Tip: ALWAYS call out "raise" when raising the bet!


SAMPLE HAND: