Texas Hold’em Online

Texas Hold ‘Em has become poker’s superstar, also known as the “Cadillac of Poker.” Its popularity started to rise as it became the main event at tournaments such as the World Series of Poker, and took off like a rocket after the 1998 movie Rounders starring Matt Damon and Edward Norton. Its ancestry is clearly visible in both Five-Card Draw and Seven-Card Stud, but Texas Hold ‘Em has a few significant tricks of its own.

For starters, the game begins when two players to the dealer’s left put out blind bets. In home games, these players are easily determined. In tournament play, when a professional dealer distributes the cards, players pass a “dealer’s button” among them as a way to determine who bets the blinds. The first player on the dealer’s left bets out the small blind and the player two places to the dealer’s left wagers the big blind (see “Blinds” above).

Each player receives two cards face down in rotation. These cards are known as “pocket” or “hole” cards. The player left of the big blind bettor places the first bet. She can call or see the big blind, raise or fold. Betting then continues clockwise around the table. When the first round of betting is completed, the dealer places three cards face up in the table’s center. In Texas Hold ‘Em these three cards are known as “the flop.” They form the combination known as “community cards” that all players combine with their hole cards to make the best five-card hand. Once the flop is dealt, betting resumes with the player on the dealer’s left. Each player has the option to check or bet.

After the round of betting following the flop, the dealer turns up a fourth card, called “fourth street” or the “turn.” This is followed by another round of betting.

The final card, known as “fifth street” or “the river,” is dealt face up, and the final round of betting occurs. Remaining players then show their cards and the person with the best five-card combination of pocket and community cards wins. In some cases, the five cards on the board will be the best hand, in which case the remaining players divide the pot.