How to play Texas Hold'em with two people. ♠ Texas Hold'em poker - game rules for beginners. Blinds - mandatory blind bets

Texas hold'em is the most popular form of poker today. Each player is dealt two cards, and his goal is to collect, using two of his cards and five community cards, the strongest possible hand. During the game, you need to decide whether to play the starting hand, whether to call the bet depending on the odds, whether to bluff based on the weakness of the opponent’s hand, and so on. Most poker tournaments are held in Hold'em, this game can often be seen on television, and the winners of major tournaments such as the WSOP become stars and millionaires. The game on the Internet is no less popular, but the first steps in the game can be done simply in the campaign of friends.

Steps

Hand draw

Create a bank. One of the players (or someone from outside) must collect and count all the money in the game and exchange it for chips for each of the players. If the game is not for money, then everyone should just get an equal number of chips. There are several ways to further organize the game.

• No limit hold'em, winner takes all. All are purchased for a certain amount - depending on the specific company. Bets are not limited, the game goes on until one player remains. You can allow rebuys, i.e. the eliminated player can buy chips again and continue playing, in which case the time period during which a rebuy can be made should be limited.
• Limit hold'em, no buy-ins. In this version, the stakes are limited, but you can buy chips during the game. The game does not go on until someone is knocked out, but as long as the players continue to play. You can calculate chips and exit the game at any time.

1. Select the first dealer (dealer). This player is given a "button" and a standard deck of 52 cards (without jokers). The dealer shuffles the cards and starts dealing in a clockwise direction. After each hand, the button moves to the left by one position, the duties of the dealer are also transferred.

   Place an ante. Let each player wager an "ante" -- the minimum fee for playing a hand. Using an ante is optional, but it speeds up the game and increases the pots.

   Deal each player two cards face down. Cards are dealt one at a time, starting with the player to the left of the dealer and proceeding clockwise. Players look at their cards so that no one else sees them. These are "their" cards, the players hope that they will make a good combination with the "common" cards.

   Post the big and small blinds. The player to the left of the dealer on each hand is the small blind, he makes a certain minimum bet before each hand. The next player is the big blind, before the hand he also bets, but his bet is twice the small blind. After the cards are dealt, the player to the left of the big blind speaks first.

   Call (call), raise (raise), or fold (fold) depending on your hidden cards. The action begins with the player to the left of the big blind, then everyone in turn must either call, raise or fold. If a player has raised, then in order to play the hand, the next player must also call or raise, and so on. The raise is made in proportion to the minimum bet (big blind). If a player doesn't like his cards, he can fold, i.e. discard the cards and not participate in the further draw of the hand. The stakes go clockwise, everyone has to say their word. If one of the players bets and no one calls, he wins the hand and takes the pot.

   • When it comes to the big and small blinds, they must add the difference to their blinds in order to play further. If no one has raised, then the big blind has the option of either simply checking and seeing the flop, or raising.

2. Deal the flop, three cards face up. These are community cards, all players use them to make the strongest hand.

   • Before revealing the flop or one of the following cards, the dealer must "burn", i.e. just set aside the top card, this is done to prevent cheating.

3. Bet, check or fold. Another round of betting passes, this time the blinds start. Now each player has his two hidden and three community cards.

   • If no one has bet yet, you can "check" and continue without a bet. If any of the following players bet, then after the checkers turn again, they will have to fold, call or raise.

4. Open the "turn", conduct another round of betting. The turn is the fourth community card dealt face up by the dealer. Now the players have two of their own and four community cards, they also take into account that another community card will be opened, which theoretically can strengthen their hand. It's best not to continue at this point without a strong hand, unless you're going to pull a risky bluff and win all the money at stake.

   Show the last community card "river", make the last round of betting. Now the hand won't get any stronger, so if you don't have strong cards, fold. Again, if no one calls the player's bet, he wins the hand.

   Show cards. If at least two players make it to the end and don't fold, then they turn up their cards, starting with the aggressor and going counterclockwise, and see whose hand is stronger. Everyone calls their hand, the player with the strongest hand wins the pot (all chips wagered during the hand).

   Move the button one space to the left, shuffle the cards and play on. Hold'em play usually continues until the majority of the players are eliminated or out of the game.

   Hands in poker

   1. In poker, every hand has a certain value. Below you can see the table of hands from weakest to strongest.

      Senior card. When there is no combination, the value of the hand is determined by the highest card. Ace is the highest, deuce is the lowest.

      Pair. Two cards of the same rank. For example: 3(♠) - J(♣) - J( ) - 2( ) - 5(♦) - a pair of jacks.

      Two pairs. For example: 4( ) - 4(♦) - 9(♠) - 9(♣) - A(♠) - fours and nines.

      Troika. Three cards of the same rank. For example: 6(♣) - 6(♦) - 6(♠) - 3(♠) - J(♣) - three of sixes.

      Straight. Five cards of any suit in order. For example: 5(♣) - 6(♠) - 7(♣) - 8(♦) - 9( ).

      Flash. Five cards of the same suit. For example: 5( ) - 7( ) - 9( ) - J( ) - Q( ).

      Full house. Three and a couple. For example: 7( ) - 7(♣) - 7(♠) - Q( ) - Q(♦).

      Kare. Four cards of the same rank. For example: J( ) - J(♠) - J(♣) - J(♦) - 5(♣).

      Straight flash. Straight of the same suit. For example: 3( ) - 4( ) - 5( ) - 6( ) - 7( ).

      Royal flash. Straight flush with ace, king, queen, jack and ten. For example: 10(♣) - J(♣) - Q(♣) - K(♣) - A(♣)

   2. Hand comparison. If two players have the same combination, the winner is determined as follows:

      • A pair of nines beats a pair of fours.
      • Two pairs of jacks and twos beats two pairs of sevens and fives.
      • A straight with a queen high beats a straight with a tens.
      • An ace flush beats a king flush.
      • If the combinations are equivalent, then the winner is determined by an additional card. A pair of eights with an ace beats a pair of eights with a ten.

Learning the rules of Texas poker will help you navigate online games, and more specifically, in poker rooms. In such games, nuances are very important, but it is not at all difficult to delve into them, as it might seem at first glance. For a clear assimilation of the rules, after the material studied in this article, it is worth trying to play with free chips.

This is a great way to practice the game without spending any money. This article does not explain how to win at poker, but only explains in detail to beginners the existing rules of Texas poker. In Texas Hold'em, the rules are similar to other card games, but also slightly different. So having experience in other games will make it easier to understand, but it's still worth learning the rules below.

Winning the pot is the main goal of the game. The player can do this in two ways. Either knock out all opponents from the auction, or open a more winning combination

Poker table rules Texas Holdem

The rules can be slightly modified directly within the game. Significant differences are visible on the tables and tournaments in this type of poker. Knowing about such features can be useful when you need to choose tables and strategies. Types of tables for Hold'em may differ:

• by the number of players. The minimum number of players is 2, and the maximum is 10. A limit on the number of free seats is set for each table. For example, a 6-max table can be played by two to six people. As long as there are empty seats, other players can sit at this table and join the game. The maximum allowed number of players at a 2-max table is two, at a 9-max table it is nine, and so on.
• by betting limit. There are three types of bets that differ from each other by the amount of the maximum allowed bet: no-limit, pot-limit and limit Hold'em. In no limit, you can bet on any amount. In pot limit, it cannot exceed the size of the entire pot. And in Limit Hold'em, it is not allowed to bet above the blind in the first two auctions and above two blinds in the next.
• By the size of the required rates. The size of the mandatory bet usually does not change throughout the game. And when there is a tournament, the stakes increase. An exception may be some exotic formats.

The above rules are subject to change. Two different tables will have different rules, which is important to consider when choosing a strategy for a successful game. In an online poker room, the number of players, the format and the size of the bet affect the formation of a particular table.

Dealer and mandatory bid

Before starting a new game or hand, players must make a mandatory bet - the blind. The size of this bet is discussed between the players in advance (offline game). In the poker room, the size of the required bet is set by the rules of the table. The blind cannot change after each hand. In addition, it is placed in turn, which equates all players to the same position (tournaments are an exception). The two players to the left of the dealer are the first to make a mandatory bet.

The dealer is a direct participant in the game who deals cards. If there is a croupier or automatic distribution in the game, the dealer is present and has a special chip - the button, moving clockwise around the table.

The participant of the game, sitting next to the dealer, must put the small blind (the mandatory bet is the minimum in size). And the player who is on the left hand of the dealer puts the big blind (double the small bet). This player will post the small blind next time. And the participant sitting on the left bets big, because he has not bet before.

There is also the concept of Ante bet. It's also a mandatory bet. It enlivens the game, adds dynamism and increases the bank. All players bet it with each new distribution. Ante is used most often in a tournament, but it is rare at a cash table.

Rules for Dealing Cards in Texas Hold'em

For every street where cards are dealt in Texas Hold'em poker, there must be an auction. The distribution of cards occurs in stages, and each stage has a specific definition:

• Preflop - each participant in the game has a pair of cards that no one else sees. These are the so-called pocket cards;
• The flop is three cards laid out on the table that all players can see. They are also called community cards or a board;
• Turn - another card laid out to the previous three;
• River - The fifth card added to the rest on the table;

All five cards will be open on the table when the game reaches the last street. And two cards are still in hand. The bank can be played in each of the auctions, so the game may not reach the showdown.

Hold'em combinations

Having understood the main goal of poker, it is important not to forget that the main way to win the pot is to make a winning hand. In Texas Hold'em poker, it is allowed to make high combinations that are classic. These combinations are based on seven cards (preflop and the main five cards).

Of all seven cards, the player must choose only five to make the strongest combination in his opinion. If such a combination requires five cards (Flush, Straight, etc.) this is a five-card combination. When only two or three cards are needed, to complete the combination, the highest cards from the player's possession should be taken. For example:

The player has three Aces and four other cards that are not included in the Three of Aces. Let's say he has the highest cards Queen and eight. These cards are part of the hand. The queen is not included in the combination and is the highest card (kicker). If another player also has Aces, the winner will be determined by the seniority of the kicker.

You can compare the combinations of participants after the showdown. When the hand ends early, each player's combination is irrelevant and does not determine the winner. At the showdown, the winner is determined by the presence of the highest combination in hand. He takes over the bank.

Betting in Texas Hold'em Poker

In poker, betting is called the same as distributions (preflop, flop, turn, river). They are carried out on every street and the main goal of the participants in the game is to open the cards at an acceptable price, or to find out which one is next. Each bet increases the pot. While the auctions are going on, the players make decisions. They may announce:

• Check- when the bet is completely absent. This can happen when a participant in the game makes the first move or there were no bets before this move. It is also acceptable to check during the big blind, provided that other players have a lower bet than the blind. If a poker player has decided to Check, he will be able to bet only if one of the other players raises theirs.
• Beth is the minimum bet. The big blind in the first two rounds is equal to this bet. And in each subsequent round, Bet is equal to two blinds.
• Raise- a raise bet that is larger than the bets made by other players. In response to a raise, the opponent can make a response, the so-called re-raise.
• All-in– type of bet, equal to the stack of the participant in the game. The player can bet absolutely all his chips. At the same time, if another participant in the game equalizes the bet, they wait for the showdown to determine who won by the highest cards.
• fold- the participant of the game must stop participating in the distribution of cards. The player folds his cards and gives back his chips invested in the pot. He no longer claims to win.

Each participant in the game, having compared his abilities and the moves of his opponents, has the right to withdraw from the distribution so as not to incur losses. Also, the player can raise the stakes, thereby increasing the bank or reach the showdown, investing minimally. Very often, players make decisions by bluffing, demonstrating a winning or losing combination, in fact, they do not have one.

As soon as all participants in the game are equal in terms of rates, the auction stops. Each participant has the right to make a second decision on the same street. For example, one of the players bet Bet, and the other player raises. Then the first player must again make a decision.

He has the right to fold, equalize the bet with the opponent's bet or raise it. In Texas Hold'em, the rules allow a maximum of three raises per round per player. When all participants have equalized, additional community cards can be opened and a new street will begin. After that, all bets are compared, and all cards are shown.

Additional chips

Buying the required number of chips is an important part of the rules of poker. What people are used to seeing in films about mortgaging real estate, money, and other property is an absolute lie. There is no other way to increase the pot except for chips. This is a strict rule of any poker.

During the auction, players can invest the chips already in the game - the stack. The player does not have the right to increase the stack by dealing pocket cards. In addition, the rules limit the number of chips for players. But their stacks may differ in size. This situation can be easily resolved.

The player with fewer chips is not allowed to buy more to compare with the other player's bet. He has the right to bet completely with his stack and, if he wins, take a pot that is identical in size to his. In this case, his opponent will take back the remaining chips.

Buying additional chips is only allowed between hands. The same rule applies to tournaments, where during the rebuy, the player must pay an additional tournament fee.

How to determine the winner

According to the rules of Texas Hold'em, the pot can be won with or without a showdown. If all players fold, the only one who doesn't fold is the winner. Having equalized all bets, and when the bidding reaches the river, the players open their pocket cards and compare combinations to determine the winner. The one with the strongest combination wins. The remaining participants lost and can start a new game.

Controversial moments in Texas Hold'em

If you want to not only play poker, but also win, a beginner needs to study the existing rules and various nuances of the game as carefully as possible. The emergence of controversial situations - a common thing in any game. This is the difference between an online game and a regular one. Breaking the rules is simply technically impossible.

In addition, the program of the poker room itself follows them strictly. Although this does not relieve players from studying the existing rules. Indeed, in this case, it is possible to make an erroneous decision that will cost money. Ignorance of combinations will also entail a loss.

There is absolutely nothing complicated in poker, as it seems to beginners. Confusing and difficult to remember combinations are learned over time, and the game turns into a pleasure. In addition to self-reading the rules, there are special poker simulators, thanks to which you can hone your skills.

Texas Hold'em is the most popular form of poker in the world. This article is devoted to familiarization with the rules of this wonderful card game.

Story

The conventional wisdom is that Texas Hold'em poker originated in the state of Texas in the early 1900s. In 1967, it was first introduced in Las Vegas, where its rules were changed so that aces were considered not the highest, but the lowest cards in value. In 1972, the game became the main event in the newly created World Series of Poker. 8 people took part in the tournament at that time. By 1982, the number of players exceeded one hundred, and by 1991 - 200 people. The popularity of hold'em continued to grow after the games began to be played online in 1998. And after a while, an event occurred that caused a real boom in Texas hold'em. In 2003, the World Series of Poker was won by an unknown player named Chris Moneymaker. By 2004, interest in the tournament had tripled. People have realized that you can win big money with just a few dollars in your online account.

Today, No-Limit Texas Hold'em is still the most popular form of poker, although the word "Texas" is admittedly often omitted today. In general, if someone says that he plays poker, then, most likely, this kind of it is meant. Most movies with game scenes also feature Texas Hold'em, while older movies usually show stud or draws. In 1998, the iconic Rounders also played a big role in the rise of the poker game everyone plays today.

Account management

Like all other variants of the game, each participant starts with a certain number of chips (tokens). These are small round pieces of plastic or clay that are used for betting and scoring. As a rule, they can be exchanged for money after the game is completed. The goal of Texas Hold'em is to win opponents' tokens. In a poker tournament, a participant wins when all the chips on the table pass to him.

Blind and position

At the poker table can sit from 2 to 10 players, while one of them is the dealer. A special chip is placed next to it, which is a plastic disk with the inscription "dealer". She moves clockwise around the table after each hand, indicating whose turn it is to deal. If the game takes place at home, then the participant with the dealer's chip shuffles and distributes cards, and in the casino this work is done exclusively by an authorized croupier. The dealer chip is still used to indicate the difference in positions between the players at the table.

In order to create a starting pot, certain participants must make mandatory bets before the cards are dealt. Immediately to the left of the dealer is the small blind (SB), to the left of which is the big blind (BB). Both participants are required to place blind bets. In most cases, the BB pays twice as much as the SB, although this may vary by casino.

To the right of the dealer chip (BTN) is the cut-off (CO), then the middle position (MP) and under the gun (UTG). Specifically, on a table with 9 or 10 players, the place directly to the right of the SO can be called a hi-jack, and even to the right - a lo-jack. The fundamental difference between a table with 6 and 10 players is that the latter will have 3 middle positions and "under the gun", while the former will only have one. Place plays an important role in hold'em as it determines the betting order. The best position at the table is generally considered to be BTN, while the worst position is SB or UTG.

Draw

After all the participants are seated in their seats, you can start playing poker! The game is divided into rounds of bidding called streets. Each hand of Texas Hold'em is broken up into 4 streets called "preflop", "flop", "turn" and "river". On each street there is a round of betting. If there is more than one player left at the table by the river, it is time for the “showdown”. All remaining participants show their cards and the one who made the best combination takes the chips or the pot, which is located in the middle of the table.

Round 1: preflop

Before any action is taken, all players receive 2 hole cards, starting with the player to the left of the dealer in a clockwise direction. In Texas Hold'em poker, these cards are kept secret and should not be revealed to others. By the time the hand is dealt, the SB and BB must make their mandatory bets. There is a round of bidding before any additional cards are dealt. UTG (to the left of BB) makes the first move and so on around the table in a clockwise direction. BB preflop will be the last one. Once all bets have been placed (more on that below), players move on to the next street. On each street, as a rule, you can declare a bet, call, raise or fold. However, depending on the situation, not all of these options are possible.

Postflop

The betting order on the flop changes slightly. On each street, SB will be first and BTN last. This is why BTN is considered the most profitable position on the table. This player knows the actions of all the others before his turn.

Round 2: flop

Before bets are placed, three cards called the "flop" are dealt face up to the center of the table. Together with one or two of his own, each player can use them to build a combination of 5 cards. You can check, bet, fold or raise.

Round 3: turn

After the betting round is completed, an additional community card (turn) is dealt face up and another round of betting takes place.

Round 4: river

Finally, the last community card is called the river. This answers the question of how many cards are in Texas Hold'em. In total, 5 community cards and 2 pocket cards are dealt to each player. Next comes the final round of betting. After that, all remaining participants must show their hole cards. The player with the strongest hand wins the pot.

Bargaining

Below is a list of actions that bidders can take during the bidding round.

Bet - the desire of the player to bet part of his chips on the outcome of the hand. Typically, a bet implies that no one has yet acted on the current street (and therefore cannot be hit pre-flop since the blinds have already been posted). Players must place their chips in the center of the table or the pot. When playing online, this is done automatically.

A check is a refusal to take any action. The move is passed to the next player to his left. Note that this is the only valid option when there were no bets on the current street (and therefore no pre-flop hit). If this happens, then the rules of "Texas Hold'em" are limited only to calling, raising or folding.

Call - an action allowed in the case when the previous participant made a bet on the current street. To continue the game, you must put at least the number of chips in the bank. For example, if a bet of 5 tokens was made, you must also bet 5. If there is no desire to continue with this layout, you should fold, i.e., instead of declaring a call or raise, put cards on the table.

Depending on the actions of the previous player, you can check, bet, call, fold or raise.

Fold - the desire of the player to stop the game after the beta of the previous one. At the same time, he agrees that he no longer participates in the distribution and has no chance of winning. The cards are returned to the dealer unopened.

A raise is possible if the previous player made a bet. It can be increased by putting more chips in the pot. The next player, including the first raiser, must now call, fold, or raise. The round will end only after a call that stops any action, or a fold.

Players can repeatedly raise each other's bets until one of them goes all-in. After that, the next participant chooses only from two options. He can either call or fold.

To increase the bet more than the player has chips is prohibited by the rules. Texas hold 'em in films is sometimes portrayed as a game where players can bet watches, phones, houses, and yachts. In any casino, players can only bet what is on the table. Although a standard bet can also be considered a raise, this term is only used when the previous player has already bet and is willing to raise.

Card combinations

Naturally, the above information is useless without understanding how to determine hand strength. Below are all possible poker combinations. Texas hold'em allows you to take into account combinations of five cards. For example, if we assume that two players have a pair, then the remaining 3 cards or kickers will help determine the winner. In a situation where they are the same, the pot will be divided equally among the winners.

A royal flush is 10, jack, queen and king of the same suit. In Texas Hold'em poker, combinations of this kind are extremely rare.

• Straight Flush - 5 cards of the same suit in a row. For example, 56789 worms.
• Four of a kind - 4 cards of equal value. For example, DDDD.
• Full House - 3 cards of the same rank and 2 others. For example, DDD44 or KKKVV.
• Flush - 5 cards of the same suit. For example, 579DK worms.
• Straight - 5 cards in order. For example, 56789, regardless of suit.
• Three of a kind (set) - 3 cards of equal value. For example, KKK75T king or 3 ladies). Since all hands are made up of five cards, the remaining two are called "kickers". KKK97 loses to KKKT9. This combination is called a "triplet" when it is made up of two community cards, and a "set" if both closed cards are taken into account.
• Two pair - a combination of 2 cards of the same rank with two others. For example, KKDD5 or BB447. The combination is also called "doper".
• Pair - 2 cards of the same value. For example, 99523, or DD764.

Popularity Secret

So what makes no-limit hold'em so popular and exciting? First, it is very easy to learn. The rules may seem complicated, but after a few hands it becomes clear that the concept of the game is extremely simple. However, learning how to win at Texas Hold'em is difficult. It can take the whole life of a master to develop a strong strategy.

One thing that makes Texas Hold'em poker stand out from other variations of the game is the betting structure. Many varieties set their maximum amount. The rules of "Texas Hold'em" do not provide for such restrictions - each player can risk all his chips at any time. This speeds up the game and makes it more exciting.

And although at first it seems that Texas Hold'em poker strategies are about making the best combination, this is not true. After a while, the beginner realizes that the pot can only be won by pretending to have good cards. It's called a "bluff". The excitement experienced by a player who has received a big win without having a worthwhile combination in his hands attracts many people to this game.

It's also important to remember that Texas Hold'em is only partly a game of luck. Ultimately, it's a matter of skill. Although good players can lose for a long time, they will always win if they have enough experience. Although any hand is more dependent on luck than skill, with a large number of games, the best strategists are likely to make a profit. For experienced players, Texas Hold'em can be a source of income, regardless of whether poker is only a hobby or a profession.

• In Texas Hold'em poker, hands should be judged very critically. As a rule, only 25% of hands are played. And beginners should limit themselves to only the top 20%.
• You should use your current position at the table, playing more often in the dealer's place and less - "at gunpoint".
• The rate must be correlated with the bank. Instead of counting in chips or money, it is better to focus on a certain percentage of its size. This means that as the bank grows, so should the rate.
• Slowrolling should be avoided. This is the practice of delaying the river call with a clearly good hand. Such tactics of playing on the early streets allows you to mislead opponents. However, delaying the end of the game on the river, when all action is over, is considered bad manners and will make the player an unpopular opponent.
• Partial betting is also not allowed. Poker "Texas Hold'em" with a computer does not have such a problem, since the procedure is limited by the program. If you need to raise the bet, then you should declare a raise and place the chips in the pot in one smooth movement. There is no need to imitate the players from some films, when they add chips when they call and immediately raise the bet, repeating the contribution. If you try to do this in a casino, then only the first action will be taken into account. This avoids unethical play when a participant, seeing a reaction to accepting a bet without raising it, changes his mind and announces a raise.
• It is not always possible to open cards. Showing your hand after a fold is made is against the rules. Texas hold'em does not allow cards to be revealed, as this affects the decision of other players. In a casino, such actions may result in a fine. At the end of the game, cards are allowed to be opened, but it must be remembered that this is not necessary if no aggressive actions were taken before the end of the game. So if someone makes a big bet on the river and the player calls, then your opponent should open first. If you lose, you can not show your cards to anyone. At the same time, no one has the right to insist on their opening, except in situations where this is agreed in advance. The same players who assume they have the best hand and bid for the pot should of course always show their cards.
• Talking during the game that is not related to it, although practiced even by professional players, is considered bad form. You can not scold or insult opponents. One of the signs of a true professional is the ability to adequately accept the blows of fate.

Texas Hold'em is the most popular kind of poker in the world. Therefore, in this article we will analyze the rules of the game in this type of poker.

If we talk about the exact date and place of birth of this game, then it is unlikely that reliable figures and facts can be found anywhere. The most acceptable version is that he came to us from North America (in particular, from Alaska) in the form in which we know him now.

For the first time the rules of Texas Hold'em were approved in 1900 in Texas (Robstown), which actually owes its name. But its popularity really began to gain momentum with the holding of the first tournament in this poker discipline in 1969.

World Poker Tournament (WPT) commentator and poker pro Mike Sexton likes to say: It only takes a minute to learn the rules of Texas Hold'em poker, and a lifetime to become a master.".

How to learn to play poker? Poker is like an onion - you peel back layers of knowledge one by one. As you travel through the world of poker, you never stop learning something new.

How to play Texas Hold'em? Rules

Now we will analyze in detail all the stages of playing poker. You can also learn the combinations and rules of Texas Hold'em with the help of a video from the Poker Academy. Below the video information about the rules of Texas Hold'em poker is described in more detail.

• Landing

Hold'em is usually played by nine or ten players. On the figure 1 shows a typical posture for this variant of poker. In this example, there are ten players at the table with the same banks (number of chips).

Picture 1

• Dealer chip

Dealer chip, inscribed disc "Dealer" or "D", is a very important part of the game as it shows who is dealing and who is in position "button". Each player will have to visit the dealer once in one round. If you are playing in a casino, then you will have a professional dealer at the table who will deal cards to everyone except himself. However, in this case, the dealer's chip passes in a circle from player to player.

First of all, the cards are dealt to the player to the left of the button, and then clockwise. On the figure 1 Player 1 has the dealer's chip. In the next hand, Player 2 will have it, and then Player 3, and so on. In a company without a professional dealer, players deal cards (are dealers) in turn.

Dealer position (button) is the most favorable in the game. The player in this place makes the last bet, after he has seen what decisions the others have made. The exception is the first round of betting, as the blinds come into play immediately after the dealer.

• Blinds ("blind bets")

Before the players receive cards, according to the rules, the two players to the left of the dealer are required to put the so-called blinds– mandatory bets that are made by default in each hand. The player to the left of the button (picture 1) bets half the required bet - small blind. The next player places a full bet - big blind. In our example, the small blind is $1 and the big blind is $2.

• Distribution

After the small and big blinds are posted, each player is dealt two cards face down and face down. These are pocket cards. The best starting cards, according to the rules of Texas Hold'em, are two aces. The first round of preflop trading begins.

The goal of this most popular type of poker, like all others, is to make a combination of five cards (hands) during the game that is stronger than that of opponents. Card combinations in poker are the same for all its varieties and their description and ranking by strength is on the page " Poker combinations". But don't rush to deal with them, let's first take a look at the basic rules of the game.

So, very briefly, the essence hold'em rules can be easily reduced to the following phrase: “each player is dealt two hole cards and in the process of bidding another 5 common open cards are laid out on the table. Whose combination of 5 cards (any 5 cards from 2 personal closed and 5 common open cards) is the strongest, he takes the pot. That's it, it's that simple! Game details are below.

The process of playing Texas Hold'em

Texas Hold'em is played by two to ten people with a regular full deck of 52 cards.

In a casino, as a rule, the cards are dealt by the dealer or the croupier, and when there are none, the dealer is determined by a special chip - the button. Before each new hand, the button is passed clockwise around the table. The player sitting (clockwise) behind the dealer is called the "Small Blind" (SB), the one behind him is the "Big Blind" (BB).

Both Blinds form the initial prize fund of the game even before the cards are dealt as follows: the Small Blind must put into the game bank a bet equal to half the minimum bet or 10% of the maximum, and the Big Blind - twice as much. The BB places the full minimum bet or 20% of the maximum. By the way, the name "blind" is "tracing paper" from the English word blind, which means "blind", - the blinds make bets blindly, not yet knowing which cards will fall out.

First betting round - preflop

After the Blinds have placed their bets, the dealer deals clockwise, starting from the Small Blind, 2 hole cards to each player. When the cards are dealt, the first round of betting begins - preflop. There are four rounds in total - preflop, flop, turn and river.

Trading is carried out in strict order, and this circumstance gives an advantage to those players who will be the last to make decisions. They already know what decision other players have made, and this indirectly speaks of the strength of their cards. In order to level this superiority, they came up with the idea of ​​transferring the button to the next player in a clockwise direction before each new distribution.

Since the Small and Big Blinds have already participated in the trade and made their bets, preflop trading begins with the third player (he is also called the “under the gun” or utg player). Knowing his 2 cards, the player chooses what is more expedient for him to do from the following alternatives:

• fold (fold, fold) and get out of this distribution and the fight for the pot,
• equalize the previous bet (make a “call”, call) and stay in the game
• increase the previous bet (raise, raise, raise)

If the bet has been raised, subsequent players will have to respond to the raise by either folding, calling (adding missing chips to the pot), or increasing it. A player who has already made the current bet before (for example, the Big Blind in the absence of raises in the time until his turn came) can say "check" (check), which will mean confirmation of his participation in the game and unwillingness to increase.

The main key to understanding the various betting options in Texas Hold'em, as in all other varieties of poker, consists in the fact that each participant must put the same number of chips into the pot. In other words, if after the player has made a bet, the other player not only equalizes the bet, but also raises it, i.e. increases its share of chips in the pot, then everyone who wants to stay in the game will have to at least add the missing number of chips to the pot (equalize the shortfall).

Now is the time to look and remember what combinations of cards are in poker. Note that if several players have collected combinations of the same strength, then the pot is divided equally between them.

Complete rules of Texas Hold'em in the picture

Texas Hold'em Formats

Where to play Texas Hold'em?

All poker rooms described in our poker room review, provides an opportunity to play Hold'em on the terms that suit you best. Formats, bets, opponents, bonuses, prizes - anything and everything. There are a million options to choose from, for every taste!

Have a stable bankroll growth in Texas Hold'em!