Rules of Texas Holdem

Published on Sep 6, 2024

Texas Hold'em Poker is a popular variant of poker where the goal is to make the best five-card hand using any combination of the two private cards dealt to each player and the five community cards dealt face-up on the table. Here’s a brief rundown of the rules and hand rankings:

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 - Know the rules of the game

Rules of Texas Hold'em

  1. Blinds and Dealer Button:

    • The game begins with two players posting the small blind and big blind to start the pot.
    • A dealer button rotates around the table each hand, moving to the left, determining the order of betting and blinds.

  2. Hole Cards:

    • Each player is dealt two private cards (known as 'hole cards') that belong to them alone.

  3. Betting Rounds:

    • Pre-Flop: After the hole cards are dealt, betting starts with the player to the left of the big blind.
    • Flop: Three community cards are dealt face up. Another round of betting follows, starting with the player to the dealer's left.
    • Turn: A fourth community card is dealt, followed by another betting round.
    • River: The final community card is dealt. The last round of betting ensues.

  4. Showdown:

    • If two or more players remain after the final betting round, a showdown occurs. Players reveal their cards, and the best hand wins the pot.

Hand Rankings (Highest to Lowest)

  1. Royal Flush: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten, all in the same suit.
  2. Straight Flush: Five consecutive cards of the same suit.
  3. Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank.
  4. Full House: Three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank.
  5. Flush: Any five cards of the same suit, not consecutive.
  6. Straight: Five consecutive cards of different suits.
  7. Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank.
  8. Two Pair: Two cards of one rank and two cards of another rank.
  9. One Pair: Two cards of the same rank.
  10. High Card: If no one has any of the above hands, the highest card wins.

Understanding these rules and hand rankings is crucial for strategizing in Texas Hold'em, as decision-making at each stage of the game depends heavily on the unfolding of community cards and the actions of other players.