How to Play Texas Holdem Poker

The Cadillac of Poker, Texas Holdem! Holdem has become the most popular poker game in the world all of a sudden, so knowing how to play it makes a lot of sense! Honestly, I know there are other games out there like 7-Card Stud and Omaha and all that jazz, and those are great games too, but they just aren't for me. I guess I'm a Texan at heart. Yee-ha!

Texas Holdem Rules

Texas Holdem is based on regular old fashioned poker, meaning you are trying to make the best poker hand possible. The difference here is that, instead of having five cards in your hand each player only has two cards, and then five cards are placed face up on the table ("the Community Board") that each player can use. Using the two cards in their hand plus the cards on the table players try to make up the best poker hand they can, and can use both, one or nne of the cards in their hand to do it.

Preflop

First, each player is dealt two cards face down called Hole Cards or Pocket Cards. There is a round of betting ("Preflop").

The Flop

Then the dealer "burns" a card (putting it face down on the table, never to be seen by the players) and then deals out three cards face up on the table ("The Flop"). The players then go through another round of betting.

Fourth Street

The dealer "burns" another card and then lays down another card face up on the table ("the Turn" or "Fourth Street") and there is another round of betting.

Fifth Street

Then the final card is burned" and the final community card is placed on the table ("the River" or "5th Street"). There is a final round of betting.

Showdown

The players that are still remaining in the hand show their cards and the winner takes the pot. Players can make their hands from 2 pocket cards and three community cards; one pocket card and 4 community cards, or 5 Community Cards, called "Playing the Board."

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