Texas Hold'em Rules & Betting Process

 Texas Hold'em Poker Rules and Order of Betting Action

These rules and procedures are generally the same for most sites

Betting Structure

At the beginning of each new game of texas holdem poker, each player is dealt two cards face down, these are known as “HOLE CARDS”

In the first two rounds of betting the lower limit of the stakes structure applies. For example in a $1/$2 game, all bets and raises are $1 for the first two rounds. The first round occurs once each players hole cards have been dealt. The second round of lower level betting then takes place once the dealer has turned over the first three community cards, also known as “THE FLOP”.

The last two rounds of betting are set at the higher limit of the stakes structure. For example in a $1/$2 game, all bets and raises are $2 for the last two rounds. The first of these two rounds of betting starts once the dealer has dealt the fourth community card, also known as “THE TURN”.
The final round of betting then occurs once the dealer has dealt the fifth and final community card, also known as “THE RIVER”.

One bet plus three raises are the maximum amount of bets allowed per betting round. This would consist of a bet, a raise, a re-raise, and a re-raise, this final raise is also known as a “CAP”. The term cap is used to describe the 3rd raise in a round as betting is then capped and cannot be raised anymore. Once any player has made the third raise then players will have only the option of calling or folding.

Dealer Button

In order to designate which player is the dealer in Texas Holdem poker games, a round disk is used. This disk is called the dealer button or also known as "the button".

After each hand is completed, the button moves clockwise to the next active player and this player will be considered to be the dealer, and will act on his/her hand last on each betting round.

Blinds

The player to the left of the button is first to receive his/her hole cards and is required to post a small blind. The small blind is designated in the lobby before you sit at each table example $1/$2 limits, small blind would be $1. The player to the left of the small blind is required to post the big blind. The big blind is designated in the lobby before you sit at each table example $1/$2 limits, big blind would be $2. These bets are referred to as blinds because players must post them before the dealer deals any cards to the players.

Both the small and the big blinds are considered live bets. They have the option of calling, raising or folding when the betting action comes back around to their position. After the flop and after each subsequent betting round, the first active player left of the button is first to act.

When players first sit down to play, they will be required to post the big blind only once regardless of where they are sat or they have the option to "sit out" until it is their natural turn to post the big blind. This rule is in place to ensure fairness to all players. The rule prevents the possibility of players entering games in late position and then leaving before they are required a post the big blind.

HOW TO PLAY

The main objective of the game is to make the best possible poker hand of five cards between your own two cards and five "community" cards. The community cards are dealt to the middle of the table and are shared with all other players.

The game starts by each player being dealt two cards. These two cards are called “hole cards” and are only seen by you, the player. Afterwards, there are four betting rounds that occur. (See below) The betting moves clockwise around the table. Betting starts from the position next to the dealer button, which moves one place to the left after each hand.

Blinds

Before the game begins, the first player to the left of the dealer posts a "small blind". (It is called "the blind" because you are betting without knowing what the community cards are).

The second player to the left of the dealer will post a “big blind”.

*The purpose of the blinds is to create “action” to the game to ensure that there is money in the pot at the start of the game.

Betting Round 1 - “Pre flop”

The “flop” refers to the first three of five community cards dealt open to the middle of the table. After the player has been dealt his/her two cards, and before the flop has been dealt, the first betting round will ensue.

Betting Round 2 – “The Flop”

Now the first three community cards are dealt to the middle of the table and the next round of betting can occur.

Betting Round 3– “The Turn”

The “turn” card is the fourth community card dealt. Once dealt, the 3rd round of betting can start.

Betting Round 4 – “The River” or “Fifth Street”

The last card is now dealt which now completes the community cards. The last round of betting can now occur which concludes the betting.

Show Down

After all betting rounds are complete, the winner or winners are determined at this stage.

If at this stage more than one player is left in the game, the players will reveal their cards in which the highest hand wins (see poker hand rankings). If two or more player has equal hands then the pot will be split evenly amongst all winning players.

Extra:

Betting Amounts

All betting amounts will depend on what type of game that you are playing The amount of money being bet depends on what type of hold‘em you are playing. There are two types of games of Hold'em: Limit and No Limit.

Limit

In limit poker, the player is restricted to bet specific amounts at specific times. For instance, in a 2-4 limit game the player can only bet and raise $2 on the first two betting rounds (pre-flop and flop) and then a minimum bet and raise of $4 on the turn and river.

There is a maximum limit of 3 raises per betting round.

No Limit

In no limit poker, the player can bet any amount at any given time. If a player wishes to call another player's bet but does not have sufficient chips to cover the same bet amount, then the player will go "all in" but a side pot will be created from the difference in player's pot sizes. The side pot cannot be won by the player who could do cover the other players original all in bet.