TEXAS HOLD‘EM

Object of the Game

The goal of each player is to win the pot which contains all the bets that the players have made in any one deal. A player makes a bet in hopes that he has the best hand, or to give the impression that he does. The top combination of five cards is the best hand and winner for that deal. The winner gets all the chips in the pot at the end of the round.

The Play

Once the cards are dealt, the person to the left of the dealer begins the first round of betting. Players have the option to check, bet, raise or fold after each deal.

Check: A nominal bet; usually one that does not require any chip to be put in the pot.

Bet: Put a number of chips in the pot based on your likeliness of having the best hand and winning.

Raise: Put more chips in the pot than are needed to meet the previous bet. Fold: Withdraw from the current deal, as signified by turning one’s cards face down.

After the first betting interval, three of the five center cards are turned face up in the center. Then there is a second betting interval, followed by one more center card being turned up. Then there is a third betting interval, and the last center card is turned up. Then there is a final betting round. The player must use his best five cards, taken from the two in his hand and the five turned up in the center of the table to form the best poker hand possible.

The player with the best hand wins the pot.