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Texas Hold'em

Introduction

Texas hold 'em (play now) is the most popular poker game in the casinos and poker card rooms across North America and Europe.Hold 'em is a community card game where each player may use any combination of the five community cards and the player's own two hole cards to make a poker hand, in contrast to poker variants like stud or draw where each player holds a separate individual hand.

 The Hollywood connection of Texas Hold'em and Baccarat

Game Play

  1. One player acts as dealer. This position is called the button and it rotates clockwise after every hand.
  2. The two players to the left of the dealer are the small blind and the big blind, respectively. They are the only players who have money in the pot before the cards are dealt.
  3. Every player receives two cards face down. These are hole cards.
  4. The first betting round begins with the player sitting immediately to the left of the big blind, and continues clockwise.
  5. When the first betting round is completed, three community cards are flipped face up on the table. This is called the flop.
  6. The second round of betting begins with the first remaining player seated to the left of the button. The betting resumes, clockwise.
  7. When the second round of betting is finished, a fourth community card is flipped face up on the table. This is called the turn.
  8. The third round of betting commences with the first remaining player sitting to the left of the button. The betting moves clockwise, with the bets doubling on the turn.
  9. When the third round of betting is over, a fifth community card is flipped face up on the table. This is called the river.
  10. The fourth round of betting starts with the first remaining player seated to the left of the button. The betting continues to move clockwise.

How to make a hand

The players must combine their hole cards with the community cards to make the best possible 5-card poker hand. It is possible to use both hole cards, one hole card or no hole card (play the board), in an effort to make a hand.

  • Straight flush: Five consecutive and suited cards. For example 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
  • Four of a kind: Four cards of the same rank, plus any fifth card. For example Q, Q, Q, Q, 4.
  • Full house: Three of a kind and a pair. For example 6, 6, 6, J, J.
  • Flush: Any five cards of the same suit, except for a higher ranking straight flush. For example A, Q, 8, 4, 3.
  • Straight: Five consecutive cards, except for a higher ranking straight flush. For example 8, 9, 10, J, Q.
  • Three of a kind: Three cards of the same rank, plus any other two cards. For example 5, 5, 5, Q, 2.
  • Two pair: Two pairs, plus any fifth card. For example 8, 8, 2, 2, Q.
  • Pair: A pair and any other three cards. For example 7, 7, 2, 5, A.
  • High: Any five cards that do not form any higher poker hand. A king high hand for example might be K, Q, 7, 5, 4.