Texas Holdem

How to Play the Game

Players to the left of the Dealer begin the game by posting the blind bets. The Player on the Dealer's left posts a Small Blind bet, and the Player on the Small Blind's left posts a Big Blind bet. The Dealer's position at the table changes after every game. The dealer button (D) shows the Dealer's position at the table.

Two pocket cards are dealt to each Player.

In the first round, the Player to the Big Blind's left plays first and can either:

• Fold
• Bet
• Raise

Note: In the first round, betting is capped at one bet and three raises per Player. Players cannot Check in the first betting round because the Blinds are bets, not antes.

In the second round, three community cards are dealt. This is called the Flop. A round of betting follows, and Players can either:

• Check
• Fold
• Call
• Raise

In the third round, a fourth community card is dealt. This is called the Turn. Another round of betting follows.

In the fourth round, a fifth and final community card is dealt. This is called the River Card. The final round of betting follows. The remaining Players then use their two pocket cards and the five community cards to create the best five-card hand possible. The winner takes the pot.

Note: If two or more Players have the same hand, the pot is split equally between them.

Tips

Improve your chances of winning with these strategies:

• By the second round of betting, you will be able to see five of your seven cards. This will give you a good idea of how strong your final hand will be.
• Don’t forget to consider how the five community cards work with your hidden hand. Is it as strong as you think?

Don’t be afraid to fold. Better to bail out early if you have a worthless hand.

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