In Hold'em, players get two down cards and five community
cards (which are face-up in the middle of the table). Your
hand is determined by using the best five of those seven
cards (in any combination) with the best hand winning the
pot.
There are four
betting rounds in Holdem. In Limit Holdem, one bet and three
raises are allowed for each betting round. To continue to
play, players must act on each betting round and call all
action to them (unless they are "all-in"). Betting always
proceeds in a clockwise rotation.
Here is
the basic procedure for Texas Holdem:
1) Prior to dealing the cards, two blinds
(the Small Blind and the Big Blind) are placed in the pot by
the two players to the immediate left of the dealer
(indicated by the red dealer "button"). The blinds are put in
to start the action.
2)
Everyone is dealt two down cards ("hole cards"). The action
begins with the player to the left of the Big Blind folding,
calling, or raising. Action continues with all players making
one of these decisions. This is the first betting round.
3)
Upon completion of the first round of betting, the dealer
then turns over three cards (community cards known as "The
Flop"). This is the second betting round. Beginning with this
round of betting (and throughout the remainder of the hand),
the player to the left of the button acts first. A player may
now check (not bet or fold) or bet if there is no betting in
front of them. If there is betting and/or raising in front of
them, they may Call, Raise, or Fold.
4)
Following the completion of action on the "flop", the dealer
turns over another card (known as "The Turn" or "Fourth
Street"). This is the third round of betting. (In Limit
Hold'em, the amount bet doubles on "The Turn".) The betting
again starts with the player closest to the left of the
button.
5)
Following the completion of action on "the turn", the dealer
turns over the last card (known as "The River" card or "Fifth
Street"). This is the final round of betting.
6)
Upon completion of the final round of betting, the best hand
wins the pot.
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