The Blinds and the Deal

Most Texas Hold’em Poker games start with the two players to the left of the dealer (the button) putting a predetermined amount of money into the pot before any cards are dealt, ensuring that there’s something to play for on every hand.

This is called ‘posting the blinds’. Most often, the ‘small blind’ – the player to the left of the dealer – puts in half the minimum bet, and the ‘big blind’ puts in the minimum bet. In tournament poker, the blinds are raised at predetermined points throughout the game (usually according to time or number of hands dealt).

Each player is now dealt two cards face down (clockwise from the left of the dealer button). These are known as the ‘hole cards’.

A round of betting follows, beginning with the player to the left of the big blind. Players can call, raise or fold when it’s their turn to bet.

NOTE: The dealer button moves one place to the left after each hand.

The Flop

After the first round of betting, the dealer discards the top card of the deck (known as ‘burning’ a card) and then deals three cards face up on the table. This is called the ‘flop’.

NOTE: Eventually, a total of 5 community cards will be placed face up on the table. Players can use any combination of the community cards and their own two hole cards to form the best possible five-card poker hand.

After the flop another round of betting takes place, beginning with the player to the left of the dealer. During this and all futire rounds of betting players can check, bet, call, raise or fold when it’s their turn to act.

The Turn

The dealer burns another card and plays one more face up onto the table. This, the fourth community card, is called the ‘turn’ or ‘Fourth Street’.

The player to the left of the dealer begins the third round of betting.

The River

The dealer burns another card before placing the fifth and final face-up card on the table. This card is called the ‘river’ or ‘Fifth Street’.

There is a final round of betting before all remaining players in the game reveal their hands (the player who was last to act aggressively, i.e. by betting or raising, shows first). The player with the best five-card poker hand wins the pot.