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Texas Hold'em Poker Rules

A player who intends to win in Texas Hold’em must go through the four betting rounds. Obviously, if he folds in the first, second, or third round, he gives up his chances of winning the pot. And if he reaches the fourth round, all he needed to have is the highest ranking hand. But what should a player exactly expect during these four betting rounds in Texas Hold’em? Here is a guide for the poker player, especially for those who are still not familiar with Texas Hold’em.

Before any of the betting rounds and before any card is dealt, there are two players in the game who are assigned to place bets. These bets are called “blind bets” because they have no cards on which to base their bets. They are just required to bet in order to have money in the pot. Thus, the blind bets “seed the pot”.

One of the two players is supposed to make a small blind, which is equivalent to at least half of the smaller limit. The other player, who is to the left of the small blind, must make a big blind. That is, this second player must bet the full amount of the smaller limit. This means that if the smaller limit is $2, then the small blind is $1 and the big blind is $2.

Once the pot has been seeded and each of the players has been dealt with two cards (called pocket cards), the first round of betting occurs. The player who is to the immediate left of the big blind must begin the betting. He may bet any amount within the betting limits but he must also cull. To “cull” is to bet an amount which is at least equal to the big blind. If this player does not cull, he is out of the game. During this betting round, players may raise. And when raising, the amounts should be increments of the big blind. That is, if the big blind is $2, then the raises should be increments of $2.

The second betting round is after the flop. The flop happens when the dealer opens the first three community cards. The small blind starts the betting round. He may check. To check is to pass on making a bet. Such a rule sometimes result to all players checking. And this implies that the money in the pot did not increase. But if someone makes a bet, the players who checked must at least call the bet in order to stay in the game. A player may also raise even when he has checked before. Such is called a “check-raise”.

The third betting round happens after the fourth community card is revealed. This fourth card is called the “turn”. As before, the betting begins with the small blind. Checks, bets, and raises are made, similar to the rules in the second betting round. But this time, the increments for the bets and raises are twice the previous ones. This heightens the challenge and excitement of Texas Hold’em.

The fourth and last betting round occurs when the fifth community card is exposed. This fifth card is the river. The rules applied in the third betting round apply are applied in this last round. The single remaining player in the game is declared the winner. But if there are more than one players remaining, the one with the highest ranked hand takes the pot.