Texas Hold’em

About the Game

Texas Hold'em may not be the most popular poker game in the universe, but anyone who plays poker seriously recognises the game to be number one. Many of the top players consider Hold'em to be the most challenging of all the poker games. After all, it's the game the greatest players on Earth play to determine the undisputed champion at the World Series of Poker at Binion's Horseshoe in beautiful downtown Las Vegas.

How to Play

In Hold'em each player is dealt two pocket cards face down with five community cards dealt face up. Your strategy is to obtain the best hand using any five of the seven dealt cards, whether the combination is your two pocket cards and three community cards, one pocket card and four table cards, or all five table cards. Any five-card combination of the seven cards makes a hand.

There are a total of four betting rounds in Hold'em. The first and second rounds are set at the low limit of the tables' stakes structure and the final two rounds are set at the high limit of the structure. Example: If the stakes structure is $5/$10 then the bets and raises would be set at $5 for the first two rounds and $10 for the final two rounds.

There are four bets per player. Betting rounds consist of a bet and three raises. The final raise is capped and a player has only the option to call or fold once capped.

Order of Play

• The dealer gives each player two cards face down.
• The first betting round takes place.
• Three community cards (the Flop) are dealt face-up to the center of the table.
• The second betting round takes place.
• A forth card is dealt to the community cards (the Turn card).
• The third betting round takes place.
• A fifth card (the River) is dealt to the community cards.
• The last betting round takes place.
• Showdown.

Texas Hold’em Rules

Buttons and Blinds

Dealer Button- the Button moves from player to player at the beginning of each hand and identifies the current dealer position; the player at this location is considered 'the dealer'. After each hand is completed the dealer button is moved to the next player to the left. This player will be the dealer during the next hand.

Blinds – In Texas Hold'em, there's no ante, so the two players to the left of the dealer must post blind bets. A blind is a forced bet before you receive your initial cards. The player to the immediate left of the dealer posts the small blind and the player to the immediate left of the small blind will post the big blind. This is used to seed the pot with cash. Everyone at the table takes their turn playing the blinds. No one is exempt.

Small Blind - In our Hold'em game, the small blind is equal to one half of the minimum bet (Example: in a $3-$6 game, the small blind would be $1.50).

Betting

There are four rounds of betting in this game. The first round is initiated after two cards, pocket cards, are dealt face down to each player. The next three cards, flop cards, are then dealt. The second round of bets follows. The fourth card, turn card, is dealt and the third round of betting ensues. The 5th and final card, the river card, is dealt, after which the final round of betting starts. When all bets are in, the showdown takes place between the remaining players. The winner is declared from the showdown.

Betting Structure.The stakes being offered at the particular table determines the limit or maximum bet on any player's turn. Example: at a $1-$2 table, the limit on any bet is $1 on the first two betting rounds and $2 on the final two betting rounds. Betting rounds consist of a bet and three raises. The final raise is capped and a player has only the option to call or fold once capped.

THE SHOWDOWN

The first person to show his hand is the last person to show strength with a bet or raise. The winning hand is the highest 5-card hand using any combination of the seven cards that are available. If none of the players bets or raises during the final round, the first person to show his hand is the player closest to the left of the dealer. Should multiple hands tie, the pot is divided equally.

One-ON-One - Heads Up

We also offer individual tables for exciting one-on-one action. This game is only for two players. It's your experience and skills up against a single player in this very exciting format. These tables will only allow two players to sit and will guarantee some very thrilling hands.

Of course we had to alter the rules slightly to accommodate play on the one-on-one tables. The player with the button now posts the small blind. Betting rounds will be extended to a maximum of six bets.