Beginners Special

Texas Hold'em- The rules explained

As Diwali draws closer, card parties will become the norm. While most of the action at these parties will be dominated by Flash or Teen Patti, the rapid rise in the amount of poker players will ensure poker tables are found at each party. The game is bound to generate interest amongst the Teen Patti players and we at Card Player India thought that a handy guide to the rules and the basic workings of the game for the absolute beginners might be just what is needed!

Game Objectives:

The object of Texas Hold'em Poker is to make the highest five card poker hand from the two cards dealt to you and the five community cards. Poker hands are ranked according to the following hierarchy:-

Poker hands from highest to lowest:

Royal Flush

A-10 of the same suit

Straight Flush

Any five consecutive cards of the same suit

Four of a kind/Quads

Full House

Three of a kind and a pair

Flush

Five cards of the same suit

Straight

Five consecutive cards of any suit- Aces can be high or low

Three of a kind

Two Pairs

One Pair

High Card

How to play:

The player to deal the first hand can be decided by any method. The 'Dealer button' is moved clockwise to the next player who becomes the dealer.

The dealer will give two cards face down to each player. These are 'pocket' or 'hole' cards. Players are not allowed to show their 'hole' cards to other players.

A round of betting follows the posting of the small and big blind (See Betting Explained)*

The dealer then turns over three community cards, face up. Before any cards are turned over face up, a card is always burnt (placed on the table, face down) to dissuade cheating.

These first three cards are known as the 'Flop' and are followed by another round of betting.

After another burn card, the dealer opens another card which is known as the 'Turn' or 'Fourth Street'.

A third round of betting takes place and is followed by dealer opening the final card or the 'River'.

A fourth and final round of betting takes place here.

The Showdown:

Each player may use the best five cards from the community cards and their own 'hole' cards. The player who has not folded and is still in the game show their hands and the highest hand wins the pot. If the community cards are of a highest scoring five cards, the players split the pot between them.

Betting Explained:

To ensure there is always money in the pot, each games starts with 'blinds'. Prior to seeing their cards the player to the left of the dealer bets half the minimum bet and the next player bets the minimum bet. Once players look at their cards, betting commences with the third player. This is only done once, prior to the first round of betting.

Betting always takes place in a clockwise direction, starting with the player seated to the left of the dealer. This player has three choices- He can bet, fold or check (pass the opportunity to bet to the next player). All bets remain in the centre and are knows as the 'pot'.

After the initial bet, if there is one, the rest of the players have three choices. They can fold, call (match the bet) or raise the bet. (Call and make an incremental bet). A round of betting is finished when all remaining players have acted at least once and have matched the highest bet.

You are permitted to check or call a bet the first time action comes to you and then raise if there is a re-raise.