How to Play Poker. The Basics
Basics Tips
1. The two players to the left of the dealer put out blind bets. The player directly to the dealer's left is the small blind while the player to the left of the small bind puts out the big blind.
Don't know what blinds are? Read more about Betting Basics
2. Every player is dealt two cards, face down. These are called pocket or hole cards.
3. The action, or the first move, falls on the player to the left of the big blind. They can either call the bet, raise it, or fold. Betting continues around the table, clockwise. The player first to act is know to be "under the gun".
4. After the betting is completed, three cards are dealt face up in the center of the table, this is known as the flop. These cards are "community cards" meaning everyone can (and will) use them in combination with their own hole cards to make the best five card poker hand.
5. From the flop on, betting begins with the player to the dealer’s left, who can check or bet.
6. A fourth card is dealt face up onto the board. This is called fourth street or the turn card.
7. Another round of betting.
8. The final card is dealt face up. This card is also the river or fifth street.
9. A final round of betting occurs. The remaining players show their cards and the person who can make the best five card hand by combining their pocket cards with the cards on the board wins.
Note: In some rare cases in Texas Hold'em, the five cards making up the board will actually be the best hand, in which case everyone left in the hand divides up the pot.
And now you know how to play and all the basic Texas Hold'em rules!
