Three Versions

There are 3 versions of Texas Holdem differentiated by the betting structure.

1). Limit Holdem - There is a limit placed on each betting round and is displayed with the lower limit and upper limit in the format "$1/$2", where $1 is the lower limit and $2 is the upper limit. More on what this means in the betting section below.

2). Pot Limit Holdem - Any player may bet the amount in the pot at any time it is their turn to bet.

3). No Limit Holdem - Any player may bet all their chips on the table at any time it is their turn to bet.

The Table

An online Texas Holdem table will usually seat between 6 and 10 players and the dealer.

A dealer button is placed next to the first player to the dealer's left. This button moves one player to the left after each hand and designates the nominal dealer for the hand.

Betting Options

• Fold - The player folds their hand and has no further claim on the pot.
• Check - The player wants to remain in the game but does not bet. A player may only check when there has been no bet in the round so far.
• Call - The player places a bet to equal the other active players bets.
• Raise - The player raises the bet and the other active players must call, raise or fold.

Blind Bets

Before the first deal two blind bets are placed starting with the player first to the left of the dealer button. This player places a blind bet equivalent to half the lower limit stake. This bet is known as the small blind. In the example $1/$2 above the small blind bet will be $0.50.

The next player to the dealer's left will now place a blind bet equivalent to the lower limit bet. This is the big blind. In the example $1/$2 above the big blind bet will be $1.

These blind bets get the betting started and ensure that there is some money in the pot.

First Round

Bets in this round are based on the lower limit stake, in our example $1.

Play starts with the dealer dealing two face down cards to each player, starting with the player after the button. The betting commences with the player to the left of the Big Blind. This player may bet the $1, raise the bet by betting $1 to call the previous bet and another $1 to raise or fold.

The betting moves round the table in a clockwise motion when every player has the option to call, raise or fold until all remaining players have bet the same amount into the pot.

The Flop

Once the first round of betting has finished it's time for the flop.This envolves the dealer placing the top three cards from the deck face up in the center of the table.

The flop cards are community cards. This means that each player uses these cards to build their hand with the two face down or pocket cards they were first dealt.

Another round of betting ensues, again starting with the player that placed the small blind. If this player has folded then the next active player to the left makes the first bet.

The betting options and stakes are exactly the same as in the first round based on the lower limit stake.

Once all players have called all bets or folded the round is finished.

The Turn

The dealer now places the next card from the deck face up in the center of the table. This card is known as the turn.

Another round of betting takes place in the same format as the previous rounds however in this round the bets are governed by the upper limit stake. In our example the bet would be $2 and the raise $4.

As before, once all players have called all bets or folded the round is finished.

The River

The fifth and final community card is now turned face up on the table by the dealer. This card is know as the river.

The final round of betting takes place and continues until either all but one player have folded or all bets are called.

The Showdown

The eventual winner of the hand is declared either in a showdown when the active players show their hands or by default if all other players fold.

The winner of a showdown is determined by which remaining player has the highest ranking hand as defined in hand rankings.

The hand is now finished, the winner collects their winnings and the next hand is dealt.