Texas Holdem Press

The Shuffle, The Deal, The Blinds, The Flop, The Turn, The River, Final Bet, The Winner

Holdem uses a standard 52-card deck which is shuffled and then dealt, clockwise, one card at a time, until all players have received two, face-down cards.

If you are playing in a casino or in a tournament of some kind, generally the cards are dealt by a dealer who does not play. Instead a round disc called the ‘button’ is placed in front of one player, and that disc moves clockwise as well, from player to player with each hand. This is important, even when the players are not dealing the cards, as the position of the disc also determines which players are required to put a pre-determined cash amount into the pot (Posting the Blinds) before the cards are dealt. The two players to the left of the dealer (or disc) are called, respectively, the First Blind and the Second Blind. Usually the First Blind must put up half of the minimum bet, and the Second Blind the full minimum bet.

The two cards dealt face down are known as the “hole cards.”

Betting Begins

After each players has received their hole cards the first round of betting takes place, beginning with the player to the left second blind. In order, moving to the left players can either call, raise, or ‘foldem’ when it’s their turn.

The Flop

After the first round of betting is concluded , the top card of the deck is discarded. (burned) to assure everyone that the top card was not inadvertently (or advertently), seen. From the beginning the rules acknowledge that cheating is – potentially at least, a traditional part of the game.

After that top card has been burned, the next three cards are dealt face in front of the dealer. Those cards are what is known as the “flop”. Note that before this hand is over a total of five community cards will be dealt face up , and players who do not fold can use any combination – along with their own two hole cards, to make the best possible five-card hand.

After the three-card flop, more betting takes place, beginning again with the player to the left of the dealer (or disc). During this and the remaining rounds, you can check (stay in, but don’t bet), call (match the bet total), raise, or fold.

The Turn

After the betting that follows the Flop, another card is burned and a fourth card is dealt face up onto the table.

Again, the player to the left of the dealer (the button) begins the betting.

The River

The dealer burns another card before placing the final (fifth community) card face up on the table.

Final Bet

Players now use all seven cards — the five cards that are face-up and their two hidden hole cards to make the best five-card possible hand.

A final round of betting begins, again, with the player to the left of the dealer.

If you remain in the game during the last round – unless all the other players fold, you are going to have to reveal your hand.

If you have the best hand or, if you have bluffed sufficiently so that the other players aren’t willing to pay to ‘see’ your hand – you’re the winner.