Texas Hold-Em is truly the greatest poker game on Earth. The so-called "Cadillac of Poker" has been rising up in popularity each year. The basics are simple to learn, but the game is difficult to master. Strategy is not required, but the rules are essential. Let's strap in and learn how to play Texas Hold-Em.

To begin the game, blinds must be placed according to position and stakes. There is a small blind and a big blind, or single and double blind respectively; the two people in the blind are forced to bet before getting cards. This is to keep the game moving, you will realize why they are there later if you do not already. The blind values are determined by the minimum bet; the small blind is half the minimum bet and the big blind is equal to the minimum bet. The small blind is on the person to the left of the dealer button, the big blind is on the person to the left of the small blind (two places left to the dealer button).

Once the blinds are out on the table, the cards are ready to be dealt. The first card is dealt to the person in the small blind, cards are dealt to the left accordingly until everyone at the table has two cards in their pocket. Your pocket consists of the two cards that you have in your hand. Once every person at the table has two cards, the action will move to the person to the left of the big blind. This person has the option to call the big blind, raise the big blind, or fold. The option will be presented to each player rotating clockwise around the table. Once every player has the chance to act, and all the bets are squared away, we are ready for a flop.

The Flop is dealt by burning one card (placing it face down to prevent cheating), and flipping up three community cards. Once again, betting ensues. The first person to act is the small blind and the betting will continue just as it did before. Next comes The Turn or Fourth Street

The Turn is dealt by burning one card (placing it face down to prevent cheating), and flipping up one community card. Once again, betting ensues. The first person to act is the small blind and the betting will continue just as it did before. Next comes The River Fifth Street

The River is dealt by burning one card (placing it face down to prevent cheating), and flipping up one community card. Once again, betting ensues. The first person to act is the small blind and the betting will continue just as it did before. This is the last card in the community.

• Community Cards can be used by all the players at the table to make their best five card hand.
• Betting occurs before the flop, after the flop, after the turn, and after the river.
• Raising should only be in multiples of the initial bet.

If you are playing No-Limit Texas Hold-Em, players can, at anytime, push all their chips into the pot. Side pots will form from this, just so everyone has the equal amount of chips at risk. This is what makes No-Limit Texas Hold-Em the most exciting game on the planet.

To learn more aut how Texas Hold-Em tables and tournaments work, move onto lesson three by clicking the link below or on the sidebar.

Lesson 4

Copyright EverythingPoker.com
Emil Erhart & Walt Impellicceiri
2006