Texas Hold'em Games

Texas Hold'em games are experiencing a surge in players, since the recent spate of televised games and tournaments. While many people are only familiar with Texas Hold'em games from watching their favorite celebrities go all-in, others are playing Texas Hold'em games in casinos, online and at their weekly neighborhood poker nights.

The basics of all Texas Hold'em games are the same. The dealer gives each player two of their own cards and deals them face-down. The dealer also puts five community cards on the table. Each player is vying to have the best five-card poker hand made with some combination of the seven cards at his disposal.

In Texas Hold'em games, there is usually no ante although some people play a variation that uses an ante. However, in the most common rule set for Texas Hold'em games, before the cards are dealt the two players to the left of the dealer (or the dealer button if there is a designated dealer) post bets known as the big and small blinds. Once these bets are posted, all of the players receive their down cards and the remaining players have the opportunity to bet.

Once this first round of betting is completed, Texas Hold'em games proceed to the flop. The dealer reveals the first three community cards -- called the flop-- on the board and players engage in another round of betting; the player to the left of the dealer always bets first. Since the flop reveals so many cards, many players fold (and rightfully so) at this point in the game.

The next community card to be dealt is known as the turn. After the turn, the remaining players place their bets and the dealer reveals the final community card, called the river. A final betting round occurs and players compare their cards to determine who has the highest poker hand.