Texas Holdem Poker
Texas Holdem Poker is the iconic community card poker game.
Each deal has 4 betting rounds. First, each player is dealt two cards face down called the "hole" or "pocket" cards. This is followed by a round of betting. Most Holdem games get the betting started with one or two "blind bets" to the left of the dealer. These are forced bets which must be made before seeing one's cards. Play proceeds clockwise from the blinds, with each player free to fold, call the blind bet, or raise. Usually the blinds are "live", meaning that they may raise themselves when the action gets back around to them.
Once all bets have been made three cards are placed face up on the table for all to see (called "the Flop") and use in order to improve their two "hole" cards.
Using the two cards in the player's hand and the face up on the table, the player creates his best five card hand and then compare them to his opponents.After another round of betting, a fourth card is placed face up on the table. This card is called "the Turn" or "Fourth Street". Another round of betting occurs and the fifth and final card is then placed face up on the table. This card is called "the River" or "Fifth Street".
Using the two cards in the player's hand and the five face up on the table, the player creates his best five card hand and then compare them to his opponents. The best five card hand wins the pot.
The game is usually played for high only, and each player makes the best five-card combination to compete for the pot. Players usually use both their hole cards to make their best hand, but this is not required. A player may even choose to "play the board" and use no hole cards at all. Identical five-card hands split the pot; the sixth and seventh cards are not used to break ties.
In Texas Holdem, and all other Poker variations, a 3 of a Kind hand ranks above a Two Pair hand and below a Straight hand. A higher ranking 3 of a Kind defeats lower ranking 3 of a Kinds.
