Playing Texas Hold'em Poker Games

A hand of Texas Hold'em begins with a forced bet. Usually, Texas Hold'em uses small and big blinds; with the person directly to the left of the player holding the dealer button or buck putting the small blind into the pot, followed by the player to the left of that one, placing a big blind into the pot. A small blind is usually equivalent to around half of the minimum bet. A big blind, on the other hand, is normally a bet that is equal in amount to the minimum bet. Afterwards, the players are dealt two cards each. These cards are their "hole" cards or "pocket" cards, which players are to keep concealed.

Almost all actions in any poker game go clockwise, which means that turns proceed to the left of a previous player. During the deal, the player who had posted the small blind receives the first card, and the player with the button or "in the button seat" gets the last card. The two cards that the players receive will be the only cards that they will get individually, and these cards are generally not revealed until after the last betting round, if there is more than one player left in contention for the pot. The five community cards meant to complete players' hands are dealt to the center of the table, and are likewise kept concealed, but they are turned face-up over the course of the game. Since these hole cards are not to be revealed until the showdown, Texas Hole'em is an example of a closed poker game.

The first betting round after the deal is called a "pre-flop" betting round, and begins with the player to the left of the player who has put in the big blind. Afterwards, as with any other poker game, the actions continue to the left, with the players possessing the option to call a bet, raise, or fold, if they believe that any bet they make for that round will not have a positive expected value. After the pre-flop betting, three of the community cards are revealed. This is called the flop. Another betting round happens, and then the fourth card is revealed in what is called a "turn." There is yet another round of betting, before the last card or "river" is turned face-up. If more than one player has not yet folded, a fourth and final betting round commences after the river, and then there is a showdown, where all of the remaining players bring out their cards and show them to their fellow players.