Texas Hold’em begins with each player placing an ante into the pot or appropriate players placing their blinds into the pot. Players are then dealt two cards face down. The players conceal these two cards from other players for the remainder of the hand as a round of betting takes place. During betting, players can check (pass) their turn to bet, call another player’s bet, raise the bet, or fold their hand. Three community cards are laid face up on the table after the first round of betting. These community cards can be used by all players in an attempt to secure the best five card hand. After another round of betting a four card is dealt face up into the community card pile. This fourth community card is referred to as the turn card. After another round of betting, the fifth community card is dealt. This card is commonly called the river card. Players engage in a final round of betting and any players that have not folded turn their concealed cards face up in what is known as the showdown. The player with the best five card hand wins all money that is invested in the pot.

Blinds and Ante

There are two types of pre-deal betting that are most commonly used in poker games. The ante is when all players simply place a pre-determined amount of chips into the pot. Blinds work differently and require the use of a dealer chip. A dealer chip works its way clockwise around the poker table and allows players to determine which players are required to post the small and big blinds. The big blind is usually two times the amount of the small blind. For example, if the small blind is five chips then the big blind is 10 chips and the other players are allowed to see their hold cards for free. The player immediately to the left of the dealer chip is required to post the small blind and the player to the left of the small blind is required to post the big blind. The cards are then dealt and betting commences.