Rules of Texas Hold'em

Texas Hold'em is a variation of seven card stud where players share common cards called "the board." Due to the fact that the starting two card hand is comprised entirely of face-down cards, the obligation to open the betting is rotated clockwise after each hand. This is accomplished with the use of a "dealer button" and "blinds." A dealer button is a round disk with the word dealer written on it. 

Blinds are mandatory bets made by the first two players clockwise from the dealer button.  The blinds posted in all limit games are in the amounts of 1/2 of the lower limit for the first player (small blind) and the lower limit for the second player (big blind). The blinds in a $10-$20 game would, therefore, be $5 and $10.

The player with the button is theoretically dealing the hand. A casino employee will deal the first card to the player on the immediate left of the dealer button. The obligation to open the pot is rotated around the table. As the button moves, all players receive the same benefits of position. This position element, the order in which players are required to act, has a strong influence on proper play in all games where buttons are used. Obviously, the player with the privilege of betting last has a significant advantage.

Each player receives two cards face-down. The player to the left of the big blind must now call the size of the big blind, raise an amount equal to the size of the bet (the big blind at this time) or fold his hand.

In blind games the money posted for the blinds counts toward the player's bet, and the players posting these blinds have the option to raise even if the big blind has not been raised. An example will clarify this.

The big blind, $10 in a $10-$20 limit game, is called by several players but no one raises. After the player with the button acts the small blind calls for $5 more, he already had $5 in for the small blind. The house dealer would now offer an option to the big blind who could then raise his own bet even though he had started the action and not been raised. Alternatively, the big blind can check and the hand will proceed.

The next three cards are called the "flop." They are delivered all at once, face-up in the middle of the table and are used by all players. The first player to the left of the button is first to act.

This will hold true for all remaining rounds of betting. The player being first may check or bet the limit, still the smaller limit at this point. Other players may check, fold, call, or raise as appropriate.

The next card is called the "turn." It is delivered face-up next to the first three in the middle of the table. With the turn the betting goes to the higher limit.

The final, or "river" card, also called "fifth street," is now dealt face-up. Together these cards make a five card board. Again, the betting is the higher limit for the game being played.

Once all the betting has been completed and multiple players remain in the round, the hands are shown and the winning hand is established. In Texas Hold'em, players may use any five of the seven cards to form their best poker hand. Players may use two, one, or no cards from their hand. When using no cards from the hand produces the best ranking hand from the seven cards available, that player is said to be "playing the board."