Texas Hold’em Poker – Rules for Beginners
Among the poker variations, Texas Hold’em (no limit) stands out. It features rather simple rules. Two to ten players can take part in the game simultaneously. Actions at the table take place in a clockwise direction.
To avoid controversy, there is a special marker used. This is known as the batter or dealer. A marker is a nominal position used when determining positions at the poker table. Each Hand is dealt further in the specified direction.
Actions and moves
The start of a Hand follows as the betting (blinds) is made. The two players to the left of the batten must make a small and a big bet. The difference between the two must be two-fold. The mandatory bets are called due to the necessity of having something on the table, which the players will fight for.
If the game is played for cash, the bets are determined according to the selected limit on the current table. The standard size is 100 big mandatory bets. Thanks to them, the pot contains the funds.
After the betting step the cards are dealt. Each participant at the table receives two cards face down. The next step is for the participant to decide his next move. He can choose:
- check – pass the turn to the other player on the left side, but only if there are no bets in the current round;
- Fold – to stop fighting to win the Pot in response to a Bet or Raise from an opponent. The player’s cards are dealt and he will no longer participate in the current Hand;
- Bet – to Bet, if not already in the current Betting Round, or to Bet at his/her own cost for his/her subsequent participation in the game. The remaining players either fold (fold), call (call) or raise (raise);
- Call – Back up your Bet by adding the same amount of Chips as the previous player has placed on the Table;
- Raise – to raise the current stake.
The decision is made on the basis of the cards in hand. A player needs to analyze his/her hand and try to figure out what to do next in the current deal.
About betting rounds (streets)
Texas Holdem has four betting rounds, or “streets”. Each has a different name, as follows:
- Preflop;
- The Flop;
- Turn;
- River.
The process lasts until it reaches the player seated from the one who made the last bet or raise.
On preflop when cards are received, those involved in the game may refuse to fight further, pass, continue, support the highest bet or make a Raise of the two big mandatory bets. At the end of the round all bets are folded into the pot.
The flop starts when the preflop ends. Three Community Cards are placed on the table. These are used to put together a hand, but may not be taken or exchanged for any cards in hand. In fact, they remain available to everyone in the game. During the bidding process, the batter has the final say.
When the bidding at the flop stage is over, a fourth common card is dealt. It may also be used in the process of forming combinations. After this there is essentially another round of the flop.
This is when a fifth card is added to the table. This starts the river phase. The bidding rules are similar to those for the first rounds. All of the money that was provided as bets for the entire period is added to the total pot, which is what the winner will receive. The last stage is the showdown and the determination of the player who gets the winnings.
