How to Play Texas Poker Step by Step

Setting Up the Game

To play Texas Hold'em, gather two to ten players around a table. Use a standard 52-card deck. First, select one player to be the dealer; this position rotates clockwise after each hand. The two players to the left of the dealer post mandatory bets called blinds. The player immediately left of the dealer posts the small blind, typically half the minimum bet. The next player posts the big blind, equal to the minimum bet. The dealer then shuffles the deck and deals two hole cards face down to each player.

Starting the Betting Round

• Each player looks at their hole cards and decides their play.
• Action starts with the player to the left of the big blind and continues clockwise.
• Each player can fold, call, or raise. Calling means matching the big blind. Raising means increasing the previous bet amount.

The initial betting round continues until all players have either folded or matched the highest bet.

Dealing the Flop

• The dealer burns the top card of the deck.
• The dealer then deals three community cards face-up in the center of the table; this is called the flop.
• Another round of betting begins with the player to the left of the dealer.

Players now have five cards to consider when strategizing their next move: their two hole cards and the three community cards from the flop.

The Turn Card

• The dealer burns another card and deals one more face-up, known as the turn or fourth street.
• Betting once again starts with the player to the dealer's left.

With the addition of the turn card, players now have six cards in total to use in forming their best five-card hand.

Dealing the River

• The dealer burns one final card and places a fifth community card face-up; this card is called the river or fifth street.
• The final betting round starts with the player to the dealer's left.

At this stage, players have access to seven cards: two-hole cards and five community cards.

The Showdown

If multiple players remain after the final betting round, a showdown occurs. Players reveal their hole cards, and the player with the best five-card hand wins the pot.

• Hand rankings from highest to lowest:
  1. Royal Flush
  2. Straight Flush
  3. Four of a Kind
  4. Full House
  5. Flush
  6. Straight
  7. Three of a Kind
  8. Two Pairs
  9. One Pair
  10. High Card

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