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Experienced players will appreciate the difference in tactics between
a full table and a short handed game; there are no rule differences
unless playing heads up, when the dealer is also the small blind.
Player options
When it is their turn to act players make one of five actions.
Fold:- Players that fold pass their cards back to the dealer unseen by
others and have no further part in the hand.
Check:- When a player checks they do not bet any amount at this stage, but may be asked
to do so if players acting later bet or raise. Players cannot check if
there has been a previous bet.
Bet:- A Player choosing to bet must bet by the minimum amount of the big
blind unless in doing so they are all-in.
Call:- A player calling bets the same amount of chips as the previous bet
unless in doing so they are all-in.
Raise:- In Pot Limit and No Limit poker, a player raising must raise by
the minimum amount of the previous bet unless in doing so they are all-in.
In fixed limit poker the bet and raise is pre-set.
The Betting round
The betting action goes clockwise around the table. When it is their turn
to act, each player must make their decision clearly known to the others
at the table.
The pre-flop betting round begins with the player to the left of the big
blind, in subsequent betting rounds the action begins with the first active
player to the left of the dealer.
The pre-flop betting round ends when all players have either finally bet an
equal amount (unless a player is all-in) or every player bar one has folded.
Subsequent betting rounds end when all players have either checked, bet an
equal amount (unless a player is all-in) or every player bar one has folded.
If all players bar one fold their hand during any betting round, the
remaining player wins the pot. This player may chose to show or muck
their cards.
Sequence of play
Pay the blinds
The two players to the left of the dealer pay the ‘small blind’ and the
‘big blind’ respectively. The amounts are prearranged and in tournament
play are structured to increase at regular intervals.
Occasionally due to local rules, the number of required blind bets is
varied to a single blind or to three blind bets. During the later stages
of many tournaments other compulsory bets (antes) are also made by each
player at the table.
The deal
Two cards are dealt face down to each player.
A round of betting ensues.
The flop
Three cards are dealt face down in the middle of the table and turned face
up in the same moment (cards should not be dealt face up, one at a time).
These are the first three of the five community cards that the active players
can use along with their two pocket cards, to make their best possible poker
hand.
A round of betting ensues.
The turn
One card is dealt face up in the middle of the table. This is the forth of the
five community cards.
A round of betting ensues.
The river
One card is dealt face up in the middle of the table. This is the final
community card.
A round of betting ensues.
The showdown
The showdown is only between the players who have stayed in the hand to this
point. Those players show their cards beginning with the last person to bet
(or raise) continuing left around the table.
At any point after that player shows their cards, the other players involved
in the showdown may muck their hand, effectively conceding the pot to a better
hand without having to show their cards. A player claiming the winning hand
must show their cards.
It is considered poor etiquette at a showdown to delay showing what is most
likely to be the winning hand, causing others to have to show their hands;
especially if the 'slow rolling' player eventually shows a winning hand out
of sequence.
A winning hand
The best combination of five cards at the showdown wins the pot. In Texas
Hold’em, players may use three, four or all five of the community cards
combined with their pocket cards to make their hand. If two or more players
share the same winning hand the pot is divided equally among those players.
The continue link will take you to a page showing the hand rankings.
Other points to understand
All-in
At any time during a No Limit game when it is their turn to act, a player may
bet all their chips. This can only be done in Fixed Limit and Pot Limit poker
if the stack size compared to the limit amount allows.
If a player cannot reach the required bet but wants to continue in the hand,
they declare that they are all-in. Any excess chips already in the pot or
yet to be put in, will go into a side pot to be played for by the active
players still with chips.
Table or seat position
Your position at the poker table is an important dynamic in how you play.
The button (dealer position) is well thought of as the best seat in Texas
Hold’em, Omaha and similar variations where the dealer is last to act in a
betting round.
Early position
From an early position you will often be one of the first to act in a
betting round. The lack of information you will have about other players’
cards or their reaction to the community cards limit your options of play.
Ordinarily you would only play very strong starting hands from an early seat.
Middle table position
Middle positions gives you more chances to see how others act before you make
your decisions. You may decide to play less strong starting hands from here.
Late position
Late table positions; the button (dealer) and the cut off (the seat to the
right of the dealer) are considered the strongest positions to make plays
from, as you have the most information which is fundamental to your decision
making.
Betting limits
Texas Hold'em is played in three common betting formats; Fixed Limit, Pot
Limit, and No Limit. A fourth type called Capped has become popular.
In Fixed Limit poker, you can only bet a predetermined amount usually equal
to the big blind and the raise will be the same amount. The number of raises
are commonly limited to three in any betting round.
In Pot Limit poker, the maximum you may bet is the pot. This maximum bet is
calculated as all the money in the pot, plus (if you have been raised) the
amount you would bet if you re-raised.
In No Limit poker when it is your turn to act, you may bet any amount you
wish (minimum bets aside).
Capped games are played as Pot Limit and No Limit; where there is a
maximum total amount that a player may bet during the hand.
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