Texas Hold'em Poker Rules

Whether you are considering playing online or going to a casino, before you play it is important to have an understanding of Texas Hold'em poker rules. The following is an overview of the standard Texas Hold'em poker rules.

In Texas Hold'em poker rules, the order of play originates from the dealer. In a casino game where the dealer works for the house and the deal position does not rotate, a small marker -- often called the dealer button -- is used to indicate the "dealer" for the round. This person doesn't actually deal the cards; instead the marker is used to determine who places the first bets.

Texas Hold'em poker rules use bets called "blinds" instead of an ante. Before the game starts, the player to the left of the dealer makes a wager known as the small blind. It is often an amount equal to half of the minimum bet. The next player to the left then makes a bet called the big blind in the amount of the minimum bet.

Texas Hold'em poker rules allow each player to make a five card poker hand from any combination of two private cards and five community cards. Once the blind bets are placed -- or posted -- players each receive two down cards. After they get the down cards, they place their bets starting with the player to the left of the one who posted the big blind. They can each make the minimum bet, or players can raise.

Next, Texas Hold'em poker rules call for three cards --known as the flop -- to be dealt into the center of the table; these are community cards that are shared by all of the players. Another round of betting follows, starting with the player to the left of the dealer. This is the pivotal round since five sevenths of the cards are now available.

Two more community cards are dealt, each followed by a betting round. After the final bets are placed, remaining players show their cards and the highest five card poker hand wins the game.