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How to Play Texas Hold ‘Em

Texas Hold 'em is a very easy-to-learn game. Each player is dealt two personal cards, and then five community cards are turned up on the board. The object of the game is to make the best five card hand using any combination of the seven cards. There are four betting rounds and the first two have a limit of $2 and the last two rounds have a limit of $4 (or set any dollar amount you like). You must bet or raise only the amount of the limit for that round.

The dealer shuffles a standard 52-card deck. (In casinos, the dealer never plays. A round disc—known as a "dealer button"—moves clockwise from player to player with each hand. The button marks which player would be the dealer if the deal were advanced from player to player as the game went along.)

Most Texas Hold 'Em Poker games start with the two players to the left of the dealer (the button) putting a predetermined amount of money into the pot before any cards are dealt, ensuring that there's something to play for on every hand. This is called "posting the blinds." Usually, the "first blind"—the player to the left of the dealer—puts up half the minimum bet, and the "second blind" puts up the full minimum bet. 

Each player is dealt two cards, face down. These are known as the "hole cards." 

Let the Texas Hold em Poker Games Begin

To start a new hand two "Blind" bets are put up or "Posted." The player immediately to the left of the dealer puts up or "posts" the small blind which half the minimum bet one dollar. The player to the left of the small blind posts the big blind, which is equal to the minimum bet which is two dollars for this game. The rest of the players do not put up any money to start the hand. Because the deal rotates around the table, each player will have an opportunity to be the big blind, small blind and dealer.

Starting the Game

Each player is dealt two cards face down (called the hole) with the player on the small blind receiving the first card and the player with the dealer button getting the last card.

Place Your Bets A round of betting takes place, beginning with the player to the left of the two who posted the blinds. Players can call, raise, or fold when it's their turn to bet.

The Flop

After the first betting round, the dealer discards the top card of the deck (burning the card, to make sure no one accidentally saw the top card, and to help prevent cheating). The dealer then turns the next three cards face up on the table. These cards are called the "flop." These are community cards* used by all the players. Another betting round begins with the first active player to the left of the dealer button. The minimum bet for this round is again two dollars.

* Eventually, a total of five community cards will be placed face up on the table. Players can use any combination of the community cards and their own two hole cards to form the best possible five-card Poker hand.

During this and all ensuing rounds of betting, players can check (do nothing), call (place a bet equal to the last bet placed), raise (increase the bet), or fold (choose sit out the round) when it's their turn to bet.

The Turn

When the betting round after the flop is completed, the dealer turns a fourth card face up in the middle of the table, called the "Turn." The minimum bet after the turn is now doubled (four dollars) and begins again with the first active player to the left of the dealer.

The River

Following the betting round for the turn, the dealer will turn the fifth (and final) card face up. This is called the "river," and the final betting round begins with four dollars being the minimum bet.

The Showdown

To determine the winner, the players may use any combination of their two hole cards and the five cards on the "Board" (Table) to form the highest five-card hand.

Need help on ranking? Check out our cheat sheet.

See our full Texas Hold 'Em Casino and Saloon Party.

For more Casino party ideas, visit Casino Planning Guide

For Casino party products, check out Casino Decorating411!

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