Texas Hold'em is a style of poker played between 2 or more players. It is a fairly easy game to learn, but can take a lifetime to master.
Each round or hand consists of each player receiving two ‘hole’ or ‘pocket’ cards face down. Only the player receiving them may use the pocket cards. Along with the pocket cards, 5 community cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table. Three or more of these cards will be used by each player along with any, all, or none of their pocket cards to make the best possible five-card poker hand.
The button is usually a small, round plastic disc that is used to represent/identify the present dealer position in the game. The game begins with selecting the starting position of the button. The method for selecting a starting position varies. One common method is ‘High Carding’. The player receiving highest ranked card receives the button. After each hand the button is moved to the left in a clockwise fashion to the next active player at the table.
The first player to the left of the 'dealer' is known as the 'small blind'. This player is required to place a 'wager' or 'bet' on the table prior to receiving any cards. The amount of this wager is set by the 'table stakes' and is half of that table's lower limit stake. In the case of tournament play, the amount is set at one half of the current 'level' and increases steadily as the tournament progresses. The player to the left of the small blind is known as the 'big blind'. This player is required to place a 'wager' or 'bet' on the table prior to receiving any cards. The amount of this wager is set by the 'table stakes' and is that table's lower limit stake. Again, in tournament play the amount is set by the current 'level' and increases steadily as the tournament progresses.
Once the blinds are placed, the two hole cards are dealt to each player. Beginning with the player to the left of the big blind, also know as the 'third position', each player is given an opportunity to 'raise', 'call' the big blind amount, or 'fold'. Each subsequent player may then either call the current amount (either the big blind or any raise made by any player to their right), raise the amount bet or 'fold'. Play continues clockwise until each player has either folded or called the current amount bet. If no raises were made prior to play reaching the big blind, that player may raise, 'check' or fold. If at any point in the hand only one player remains active, the hand is over and that player receives the all the chips wagered or the 'pot'.
Next, the 'flop' or first three community cards are dealt face up. Beginning with the first remaining player to the left of the dealer button and continuing on clockwise, each remaining player is again given an opportunity to wager on their hand. Again each subsequent player may call the current amount, 'check' if no player to his or her right placed a bet, bet, raise the amount bet, or 'fold'. Play continues clockwise until each player has either folded or called the current amount bet or all but one player has folded.
Once the previous round of betting is complete, the next community card or 'turn' is dealt face up. Once again, beginning with the first remaining player to the left of the dealer button and continuing on clockwise, each remaining player is again given an opportunity to wager on their hand. Again each subsequent player may call the current amount, 'check' if no player to his or her right placed a bet, bet, raise the amount bet, or 'fold'. Play continues clockwise until each player has either folded or called the current amount bet or all but one player has folded.
Once this round of betting is complete, the last community card or 'river' is dealt face up. Once again, beginning with the first remaining player to the left of the dealer button and continuing on clockwise, each remaining player is again given an opportunity to wager on their hand. Again each subsequent player may call the current amount, 'check' if no player to his or her right placed a bet, bet, raise the amount bet, or 'fold'. Play continues clockwise until each player has either folded or called the current amount bet or all but one player has folded.
If two or more players remain in the hand, a 'showdown' occurs and the pot goes to the player with the highest ranked hand. If two or more players have the highest identically ranked hands, the pot is divided between the tying players. In the event of extra odd chip or chips, the first winning player to the left of the dealer, in a clockwise fashion, will receive the odd chip or chips.
Online poker rooms offer a variety of tables, designed for different numbers of players, and offering various table betting limits. In the game of Texas Hold'em, each table has both a lower and higher limit stake (betting amount). A table's lower limit stake is always half the higher limit stake (i.e. a $1/$2 table, or a $5/$10 table). In the first two betting rounds, players bet in multiples of that table's lower limit stake. In the final two betting rounds, players bet in multiples of that table's higher limit stake.