The Rules Of Texas Hold'em

There are many variants of poker, but the most widely played game is texas hold'em. Many people would agree that it's also the most exciting game because it's a very fast game, particularly online where hands are played out quicker. In this article I will explain the rules of texas hold'em.

The rules are relatively simple, but let's start at the beginning. The game, which can be played between two and ten players, begins with a player being chosen as the dealer, denoted by a dealer chip next to them. Players to the left of the original dealer then take turns to be the dealer in subsequent hands.

Before a card is dealt an ante is created with the player to the immediate left of the dealer placing a small blind into the pot, and the player to the left of him placing a big blind. This ensures that for every hand you play, there is always at least a small ante to play for.

Then dealing begins with each player receiving two cards face down. Betting action then begins with the player to the left of the big blind. He can either call, ie match the big blind, fold, or raise.

After this round of betting finishes, the community cards are dealt. These are cards dealt face up onto the table that each player still left in can use to make the best five-card hand possible with the two cards they already hold. Three cards are dealt initially, called the flop, before another round of betting takes place, starting with the player to the left of the dealer this time.

If there are still two or more players left in at the end of this round of betting, another card is dealt, called the turn, and added to the three community cards. Another round of betting then takes place.

Again if there are still two or more players left in at this stage, then one final card is dealt, commonly referred to as the river, to make five community cards at the table. A final betting round then begins. If the remaining players all check or call each other, then a showdown takes place and each players reveals their cards to the rest of the table to determine who takes the pot.

It may seem fairly complicated at first, but once you play several hands you can pick it up surprisingly quickly, and will soon discover for yourself what an exciting game it is to play.

About The Author-- James Woolley is a regular poker player and the author of a poker blog which is a complete guide to internet poker, and contains the very latest tips and advice to help you become a better poker player.

Article Source: Articles island - Free article submission and free reprint articles