The Rules
The Play
First betting round
Each player is dealt two cards face-down (pocket cards)
Second betting round
Dealer turns over three community boardcards (the flop) face-up
Third betting round
Dealer turns over 1 more community boardcard (the turn)
Final betting round
Dealer turns over 1 final community boardcard (the river)
Showdown
At the showdown for players may use either:
* Both pocket cards & three boardcards
* One pocket card & four boardcards
* All five boardcards (playing the board)
Winners are judged by standard Poker Rules
The Betting
There are four possible betting rounds in texas holdem poker, shown in the
poker rules above.
Each bet and raise during the first two rounds is set at the lower limit of
the stakes structure ($3 in this case).
Betting and raising during the last two rounds is set at the higher limit of
the stakes structure ($6 in this case).
The maximum allowable number of bets during any betting round in texas
holdem poker is four. This includes a (1) bet, (2) raise, (3) re-raise, and
(4) cap. The term cap is used to describe the 3rd raise in a round since
betting is then capped and can't be raised further. Once capped, players
will have only the option of calling or folding.
Check-raising is allowed.
The Button
A flat disk is used at the Hold 'em table to indicate the theoretical dealer
of each hand. This is called the dealer-button.
After each hand has completed, the button moves clockwise to the next
player. This player will be considered to be playing "the button" for that
hand.
The player to the left of the button is first to receive a card and
is required to post a small blind. The small blind is equal to half the
lower limit bet rounded down to the nearest dollar ($3 in this case). The
player to the left of the small blind is required to post the big blind,
equal to the lower limit bet ($3 in this case).
Both blinds in Hold 'em are considered live bets and therefore, have the
option of checking, calling, raising or folding when the betting action
returns to their position. After the flop and each subsequent betting round,
the first active texas holdem player left of the button is first to act.
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