Texas Hold'em is a variation of poker which uses "community cards" in the play of each hand. Community cards are cards dealt face-up in the middle of the table and shared by all the players at the table. Each player has two unique face-down cards (their "
pocket cards" or "
hole cards") that are theirs alone. Each player uses their pocket cards in combination with the five community cards to make the best possible five-card hand.
Texas hold'em is not usually played with an ante. Instead, the pot is seeded with one or two "
blind" bets made by the players to the left of the dealer. The blinds are forced bets which must be made before the cards are dealt (hence the name, "blind"). Usually the blinds are "live," which means that the players posting the blinds may raise when the
action gets back around to them.
Once the blinds are posted, each player is dealt two hole cards. This is followed by a round of betting. Betting begins with the first player after the blinds (usually referred to as the player "under the gun," and proceeds clockwise around the table. At this point (pre-flop) each player may either fold, call the bet, or raise.
Once the initial betting round is complete, three cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table -- this is called the "
flop." Another round of betting ensues, with action starting with the player immediately to the dealer's left (the player that was the small blind, unless that player folded).
Another card is dealt face up -- called the "
turn," followed by another round of betting, again beginning to the dealer's left.
Finally the last card is dealt face up -- called the "
river." This is followed by the final round of betting.
In a
structured-limit game, the bets on the turn and river are usually double the size of those before and on the flop. In a
No-Limit game, the bets at any point (including before the flop) can be any amount, including all of a player's chips, but cannot be less than the big blind.
Following the final round of betting is the
showdown, and each remaining player makes the best five-card combination from his/her hole cards and the five community cards to try and win the pot. Players usually use both their hole cards to make their best hand, but this is not required. In rare situations (as when an Ace-high straight is dealt on the board), a player may "play the board" and not use any hole cards. Identical five-card hands split the pot. The remaining sixth and seventh cards are never used (not even to break ties).
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