Texas Hold 'em begins by every participant being dealt two down (hole) cards followed by a round of wagering. Once the initial round of betting has been completed, three community cards** are placed in the center of the table. These cards are called “the flop”. Another round of wagering occurs. This is followed by another community card (the turn), and another round of betting. Lastly, a last community card is revealed (the river), and a final round of betting concludes the game. Any players still left in the hand turn over their cards and attempt to make their best possible five card poker hand using any combination of their down cards and the five community cards in the center of the table.

The player who assembles the best five-card hand wins the pot. In the event two or more players assemble the same valued hand, the pot is divided equally amongst the winners.

Texas Hold 'em Gameplay Review

1. The dealer gives each player two down cards.

2. First round of wagering.

3. The dealer burns** a card and deals the flop.

4. Second round of wagering

5. Another card is burned and a fourth community card “the turn” is given.

6. Third round of betting.

7. A last card is burned and the final community card or “river” is dealt.

8. The last round of betting.

9. All remaining players participate in a showdown. Each participant makes his or her best five card poker hand. The person who started the last round of betting shows his/her cards first.

Texas Hold 'em five card hands may contain any combination of the following.

A. Both of the participant’s hole cards along with any three cards from the community board.

B. One of the participant’s hole cards along with any four cards from the community board.

C. None of the player’s hole cards and all five cards from the community board.

General Texas Hold 'em Poker Rules

1. In the event that the first hole card dealt is revealed to all players, the dealer must reshuffle and deal again.

2. If any other hole card is revealed during the initial deal that card is taken by the dealer and replaced with an unseen card. The revealed card then becomes the burn card for the flop.

3. Each participant is responsible for protecting their hole cards by either placing a marker on top of them or making it clear that they are still in play. In the event that a player’s hole cards are not marked and are taken by the dealer, the player is out of the hand.

4. If there is any error in the dealing of the flop, it must be reshuffled and re-dealt.

5. Whenever a dealer turns a board card before a betting round is finished it must be removed from play for that round.

6. A participant who decides to play the board must declare so before throwing his/her cards away. If they do not openly declare that they are playing the board, their hand is forfeited.

7. When a participant reveals his hole cards, he must not allow them to touch any of the board cards. If they become mixed with the board cards (even if it is possible to distinguish and remove them), the participant’s hand is forfeited.

**Definitions.

Community Cards: The cards that are shared by all the players in a hand.
Burn Card: The taking off and setting aside of the top card of the deck before dealing the next community card.

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