The game itself is logical and simple, requiring just a few minutes to learn. But to truly become a master, as the familiar saying goes, takes a lifetime.
This article will give you all the basic information you need to know to start playing the game.
Each topic will contain links in the text to more in-depth articles on that specific subject (the same links will be available at the bottom of the page).
Before we get into describing the rules and game play, here's a quick glossary of terms you'll encounter.
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Blinds: Short for "Blind Bets", these are the forced bets made before the cards are dealt. In Hold'em, blinds take the place of the classic "ante."
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Burn Card: The card dealt face down before dealing any community card.
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Button: Nickname for the player acting as the dealer in current hand.
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Check: Similar to a call, but no money is needed to be bet. If there is no raise preflop, the big blind may check.
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Fifth Street: See River.
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Flop: The first three community cards dealt.
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Fourth Street: See Turn.
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Preflop: Anything that occurs before the flop is dealt is preflop.
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River: The final (5th) community card dealt; also known as Fifth Street.
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Showdown: When players reveal their hands to discover the pot's winner.
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Turn: The fourth community card dealt; also known as Fourth Street.
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Introduction
Texas Hold'em Poker is a community card game with four betting rounds.
Game Play
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One player acts as dealer. This position is called the button and it rotates clockwise after every hand.
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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.
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Every player receives two cards face down. These are hole cards.
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The first betting round begins with the player sitting immediately to the left of the big blind, and continues clockwise.
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When the first betting round is completed, three community cards are flipped face up on the table. This is called the flop.
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The second round of betting begins with the first remaining player seated to the left of the button. The betting resumes, clockwise.
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When the second round of betting is finished, a fourth community card is flipped face up on the table. This is called the turn.
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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.
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When the third round of betting is over, a fifth community card is flipped face up on the table. This is called the river.
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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.
