| Objective
To make your best five card hand using
any combination of the five cards on the board and the
two in your hand.
Forced Bets
Ante
Texas hold'em occasionally has an ante (usually only
in tournament play) where every player must place a
specified amount in the pot prior to the beginning of
each hand. The ante does not count toward any future
bets.
Blinds
Texas holdem rules dictate that there be two forced
bets every hand, called blinds. There is a small blind,
which is 1/2 of the low limit bet size, and a big blind,
which is equal to the low limit bet size. Before the
hand begins, the player to the immediate left of the
dealer button is forced to post the small blind, and
the player to the left of that person is forced to post
the big blind. These bets count towards that player's
first round bet, and are considered live, meaning the
player may choose to raise even if nobody else has.
Betting Rounds
There are four rounds of betting.
In fixed limit Texas hold'em game, in the first two
rounds of betting, all bets must be equal to the size
of the low limit bet. In the last two rounds of betting,
all bets must be equal to the high limit bet. If,
for example, you're playing 3-6 Texas holdem, all
bets in the first two rounds will be in increments
of 3 dollars, and all bets in the last two rounds
will be in increments of 6 dollars. A maximum of 3
raises are allowed per betting round.
1. Preflop - The player to the immediate left of the
dealer button is forced to post the small blind. The
player to the left of him, or two to the left of the
dealer button, is forced to post the big blind. Two
cards are dealt to every player face down, starting
with the small blind. The action begins with the player
to the immediate left of the big blind, who must decide
to fold, call (by putting in the low limit bet), or
raise (by putting in twice the low limit bet). Action
proceeds clockwise around the table. The small blind
may call (assuming nobody has raised) by adding the
other 1/2 of the low limit bet he was already forced
to put in. The big blind may simply check (assuming
nobody has raised), as he has already put in the full
size of the first round bet.
2. The Flop - Three cards are dealt face up in the
middle of the table. In this round, and in the following
two rounds, the player to the immediate left of the
dealer button is the first to act. Play proceeds in
a clockwise manner around the table. All bets and
raises must be equal to the low limit bet size.
3. The Turn - A fourth card is dealt face up in the
middle of the table. Play proceeds as in the previous
round, except now all bets and raises must be equal
to the high limit bet size.
4. The River - A fifth and final card is dealt face
up in the middle of the table. Play proceeds as in
the previous round. All bets and raises must be equal
to the high limit bet size.
Showdown - Anyone who has not folded after the last
round of betting will now have the option of showing
their hand and possibly winning the pot. The person
who bet last is the first to show their hand, and then
it proceeds clockwise from there, with each remaining
player either choosing to show their hand, or muck it.
Often times a player will muck their hand if they aren't
going to win the pot, and don't want their opponents
to see what they played.
Optional Rules
Chop
In a game where chopping is allowed, if there are no
callers, the two players who posted the blinds have
the option of having their bets returned to them, and
moving on to the next hand. Both players must agree
to chop.
Straddle
In a game where straddling is allowed, the player to
the immediate left of the big blind may choose to raise
before looking at their cards. Often times this is considered
a live bet, which means that player may choose to raise
again when it's their turn, regardless of whether anyone
else has reraised.
Kill Pot
In a game where kill pot is allowed, a player may
choose to post an overblind that is equal to twice
the size of the big blind, and effectively doubles
the betting limits. In some games, the player may
be allowed to kill for a larger amount, usually no
larger than half their stack. In most poker rooms,
the person who kills the pot will act last during
the first betting round only, and will then act in
normal turn order.
Variations
Kill and Half Kill
In a kill game of Texas hold'em, if a player meets a
specified condition, usually winning two pots in a row,
the stakes are doubled for the next hand. In a half
kill game, the stakes are increased 50%. The player
who met the kill condition must post a blind equal to
the new lower limit bet size. This is in addition to
the normal blinds posted for the game. If the player
who met the kill condition is supposed to place the
small or big blind, the new blind bet is placed instead
of, not in addition to. In some casinos, the killer
acts last after the blinds; in others he acts in normal
turn order.
Spread Limit
Spread limit Texas holdem rules are the same as fixed
limit Texas hold'em rules, with the exception that the
bettor may bet any amount between the stated minimum
and maximum bets. For example, in a 10-to-30 spread
limit Texas holdem game, a player may bet any amount
between 10 dollars and 30 dollars. In addition, all
bets and raises must be greater than or equal to the
previous bet or raise, with the exception of a player
that is raising all in. If a player does raise all in,
and that bet is not greater than or equal to the previous
raise, then the door is not opened for the original
raiser to reraise. For example, if Player A bets 30
dollars, Player B calls, and Player C raises all in
for a total less than 60 dollars, Player A would not
be able to reraise that bet.
Pot Limit
Pot limit Texas hold'em rules are the same as fixed
limit Texas holdem rules, with the exception that the
maximum bet is equal to the current pot size. A player
may bet or raise any amount they wish, up to the amount
that is currently in the pot. There are still minimum
bets. If you're playing 10-20 no limit Texas hold'em,
for example, then you have to bet at least 10 dollars
in the first two rounds, and at least 20 dollars in
the latter two rounds. In addition, all bets and raises
must be greater than or equal to the previous bet or
raise, with the exception of a player that is raising
all in. If a player does raise all in, and that bet
is not greater than or equal to the previous raise,
then the door is not opened for the original raiser
to reraise. For example, if Player A bets 30 dollars,
Player B calls, and Player C raises all in for a total
less than 60 dollars, Player A would not be able to
reraise that bet. In some casinos, when playing pot
limit, the number of raises per betting round are unlimited.
No Limit
No limit Texas holdem rules are the same as fixed limit
Texas hold'em rules, with the exception that there is
no maximum bet. A player may bet or raise any amount
they wish, up to the amount they have in front of them.
There are still minimum bets, however. If you're playing
10-20 no limit Texas holdem, for example, then you have
to bet at least 10 dollars in the first two rounds,
and at least 20 dollars in the latter two rounds. In
addition, all bets and raises must be greater than or
equal to the previous bet or raise, with the exception
of a player that is raising all in. If a player does
raise all in, and that bet is not greater than or equal
to the previous raise, then the door is not opened for
the original raiser to reraise. For example, if Player
A bets 30 dollars, Player B calls, and Player C raises
all in for a total less than 60 dollars, Player A would
not be able to reraise that bet. In some casinos, when
playing no limit, the number of raises per betting round
are unlimited.
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