Hold 'em -- Rules and Basics

Texas Holdem is the most popular poker game in the world, and it's easier to learn the rules of Texas Holdem than you'd think. If you've gained an understanding of the basic poker hand rankings, you've already got a great head start on learning the poker rules for any variation of the game.

Texas Holdem Poker Rules: The Opening Bets

Many people find the first round of betting to be the biggest hurdle in learning how holdem poker.

1.To make sure there is money on the pot for each hand, players to the left of the Dealer position post "blind bets." Blind bets in Texas Holdem Poker mean that players have a reason to play.

2.The player immediately to the Dealer's left posts the "Small Blind" bet.

3.The player to the left of the Small Blind posts the "Big Blind" bet and the pot is funded for the first round.

4.After each hand, the Dealer's position moves clockwise by one player.

Holdem Poker Rules: After The Blinds

After the blinds are posted in a Texas Holdem Poker game, two pocket cards are dealt to each player and the first round of betting occurs. This betting is based on the two cards each player is holding. If you've got a good pair right off the bet, you might bet more, or you may end up with two completely unrelated cards and decide to fold.

In the first round of Texas Holdem Poker betting, the Player to the Big Blind's left plays first and can either fold, bet, or raise. In the first round, betting is capped at one bet and three raises per Player. Players cannot check in the first betting round because the Blinds are bets, not antes.

In the second round, three community cards are dealt. In holdem poker games, this is called the Flop. A round of betting follows, and Players can choose to check, fold, call, or raise. A check can only be performed when no previous players in the rotation have placed a call or raise of their own.

In the third round, a fourth community card is dealt. This is called the Turn. Another round of betting follows.

In the fourth round of a Texas Holdem Poker game, a fifth and final community card is dealt. This is called the River Card. The final round of betting follows. The remaining Players then use their two pocket cards and the five community cards to create the best five-card hand possible. The winner takes the pot.

Note: If two or more Players have the same hand, the pot is split equally between them.

Texas Holdem Poker: Popular For A Reason

The shared cards and the nature of betting in poker Texas Holdem style is one of the reasons the game so popular. Once you have a basic understanding of poker rules and poker hand ranks, the psychological aspect of any kind of poker - Texas Holdem or Omaha or otherwise - becomes as much a part of the game as the cards themselves.