How to Play

Texas Holdem is played with a standard 52-cards deck by up to 10 players and a dealer, who normally does not participate in the game. After initial bets (antes) are placed, each player is dealt 2 cards face down. These cards are called hole cards. After each player receives his two hole cards, the first betting round occurs. After the first betting round is over, three community cards are dealt face up to the middle of the table. The second betting round takes place immediately after that and is followed by dealing the fourth community card (fourth street), the third betting round, the fifth community card (fifth street), the fourth betting round and the showdown.

How to Bet

Betting in Texas Holdem follows the standard poker betting structure except a usual rule for fixed limit tables that applies two limits to the game. Low limit is used for bets in the first betting round and high limit bets are placed in the second and subsequent rounds. Low bet limit is usually half of the high limit. For example, 10-20 limit means that the first round is played with 10 dollars bet and other rounds are played with 20 dollars. This, of course, does not apply to no limit Texas Holdem, where bets can be of any possible size.

Goal of Playing

The goal of Texas Holdem is to form the best five card poker hand from two hole cards received by each player and any of the 5 community cards. Sometimes, the community cards form the best hand on the table and can not be improved by any of the hole cards of the players. In such case, the pot is shared by all remaining players.