Texas Hold'em

Dealer Button

In front of a selected player is a disc called the Dealer button. This disc displays which order the cards are to be dealt (moving clockwise) and rotates around the table moving one player to the left after each hand. Before the first cards are dealt, the player immediately to the left of the dealer button must post a 'small blind'. The player to his/her left must post a 'big blind'.

Blinds

The 'small blind' player must post an amount equal to half the minimum bet, e.g. $0.50 for a $1/$2 game. Likewise, the 'big blind' player must equal the minimum bet, e.g. $1 for a $1 game. Blinds are placed in the pot to trigger the betting and give all players an incentive to enter the hand. It also means that the winner of the hand will always collect a pot rather than nothing at all!

Pocket Cards

Now it's time to deal some cards! To begin with, you'll receive two pocket cards - also called "hole cards" - which are dealt face down on the table (which only you will be able to see).

1st round of betting

Once everyone playing has received their pocket cards, the first round of betting can begin! This begins with the player to the left of the big blind and moves round the table in a clockwise direction. Naturally, you bet according to how well you think your hand will fare against your opponents. You have three choices in the 1st round:

• Fold - decide that your cards aren't good enough to win the hand.
• Call - match the big blind stake and stay in the betting.
• Raise - up the stakes, meaning your opponents will have to match your amount or fold.

If you have staked the big blind you can "check", i.e. you remain in the hand for free. But if another player bets, you will have to match his stake to stay in. Please note, the stakes can only be raised three times during each round of betting. This (and the next) round of betting is set at the lower level of table stakes. For example, in a $1/$2 game, all raises are increments of $1.

Here comes the flop!

It's time for the flop and the game is about to get interesting! Three cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table. These are communal cards, i.e. every player can use them to try and make the best hand possible.

2nd round of betting

Now it's time to get back to some betting! With 5 of your 7 cards now in view, you will now have a much better idea of what your best hand is likely to be. In this and the following rounds of betting, the first player to act is directly to the left of the dealer button. Again the options are to Call, Fold or Raise. Alternatively, if no-one has yet contributed to the pot, you can "check". You remain in the hand for free, but if another player bets, you will have to match his stake to stay in. Again initial bets are in increments of the lower table stakes.

Here comes the Turn Card

We've had the excitement of the flop - so what now? A fourth communal card is dealt face up in the middle of the table which is called the 'Turn' card. Again, this can be used by every player to make their hand as good as possible.

3rd round of betting

The only difference between this round of betting and the previous two is that this (and the next) round of betting is set at the higher level of table stakes. For example, in a $1/$2 game, all raises are increments of $2 instead of the previous $1.

Here comes the River Card

Now it's time for the last card of the round, the all-important River card! This is the fifth communal card and, like the Flop cards & Turn card, is dealt face up in the middle of the table.

You now have seven cards from which to choose:

• 2 Pocket Cards (closed)
• 3 Flop Cards (open)
• 1 Turn Card (open)
• 1 River Card (open)

You must now select the best possible five-card hand from the above.

Showdown! - 4th round betting

This is your last chance to bet. Now that you can see all 5 community cards, you will be able to work out what the best possible hand could be. How will your hand hold up? The betting follows the same pattern and stakes as the 3rd round. After the betting has ended, we now have a final pot.

Ladies and Gentlemen - we have a winner!

The player with the best five cards is the winner of the round and subsequently takes the pot. If there are multiple winners with the same hand, the pot is split between these players.

Deal 'em up again!

Ready for some more cards? After the pot has been handed to the winner(s), the dealer button moves left one player and a new hand begins. Are you up to the challenge?