The
Rules of Texas Hold’em
The position of the “Dealer” chip, or the “button”
determines where the deal will begin and who will post the small blind (SB) and
the big blind (BB). The big blind is a bet that the player in the 2nd
seat clockwise from the button must place before the cards are dealt. This is
the minimum bet amount that any player must make to enter the pot or bet before
the flop and on each subsequent round of betting. The player directly to the
BB’s right, the small blind, must post place a bet equal to half-the amount of
the big blind before the hand is dealt.Once the blinds have been posted, each player is
dealt two cards, face down. These are often referred to as the “hole cards,” or
“pocket cards.” The player directly to the left of the BB is the first to act
after the cards have been dealt. The action moves clockwise around the table,
each player taking their turn to call, raise, or fold.After all players have had an opportunity to act, the
“flop” is dealt. The “flop” consists of 3 community cards which each player at
the table will use with their own “hole cards” to make the best poker hand. Another round of betting follows the deal of the flop. The
small blind (if still in the hand) acts first, and the action moves clockwise
around the table until each player has had an opportunity to act.Once all players have acted after the flop, the
“turn card” is dealt. The “turn card” is the 4th community card
dealt. Another round of betting follows the turn in the same fashion as
post-flop betting.Finally, the “river” is dealt, followed by a final
round of betting.Any player still left in the hand will turn over their
cards in what is called the showdown. Players must show both hole cards in
order to have a chance at winning the pot. The hands are shown in the same
order that the betting went, starting with the SB and moving clockwise around
the table. The exception to the rules of “showdown order,” is that the
aggressor, that is to say the player who lead out with last bet will be the one
who will showdown 1st, and all other players still remaining in the
hand will act clockwise from the aggressor. At that point, they can choose to
show their hand or muck (surrender the cards face down).The player who shows the best hand wins the full pot.
A player may also win the full amount of the pot if all other players fold out
of the hand on any round of betting.