Finally, in accordance with the official rules of Texas Hold em, limit tables mark their betting range in “lower limit/upper limit” notation. For example, in a $2/$4 limit Texas Holdem game, the lower limit, or “small bet,” is $2, and the upper limit, or “big bet” is $4.

 

The best way to learn how to play Texas Hold em poker is to sit through a single game, or “hand,” with commentary. The following is a step-by-step account of limit Texas Holdem poker rules using a single hand as an example.

 

Step 1: Placing the Dealer Button

After joining a table you’ll notice a round button marked “D” or “Dealer.” This is the “dealer button.” As one of the most basic of Texas Holdem poker rules, it rotates clockwise after each hand, indicating that the player seated behind it is the “dealer.” Each hand begins with setting the dealer button, after which the two players seated to its left must “post the blinds.” (See: Step 2)

 

According to the official rules of Texas Hold em, being the “dealer” does not mean you deal the cards. Rather, it is part of the game’s mechanics denoting which player is seated to the right of the “blinds.” This is mainly to help players determine who should pay the blinds, but sitting dealer also has its perks: As the dealer, a player has the advantage of always being late in the betting rotation. (For more information on sitting dealer, please see out “Texas Hold ‘em Strategy” section).

Step 2: Posting Texas Hold em Blinds

Texas Holdem poker rules dictate that before any player can look at his cards, the two players to the left of the dealer must post forced bets, or “blinds.” In Texas Holdem blinds ensure that each hand always has a minimum amount of action. The player sitting to the immediate left of the dealer posts the “small blind,” which in limit Texas Holdem is equal to half the small bet.

Then, the player to his left posts the “big blind,” which is equal to the small bet. Using our example of a $2/$4 limit game, the small blind would post $1, and the big blind $2. No limit Texas Hold em blinds are pretty much the same. The only difference is that small no limit Texas hold em blinds are equal to the small bet and the big blind is equal to the big bet.

As detailed in our "Texas Holdem Strategy" section in no limit Texas Holdem blinds allow you to see the flop without indicating what your hole cards are. In limit Texas Holdem blinds aren't nearly as useful as a result of the format's betting restrictions; with no risk of anyone going over the top of them, many limit players will raise more freely before the flop and put the blinds on the spot. So, overall, while limit has its advantages, it also has some disadvantages too.

 

Step 3: Drawing Your Hole Cards

After the blinds are posted, each player draws two cards face down. These are called the “hole cards” or “pocket cards.” Unlike Stud or Draw, in which each player secures his entire hand individually, Hold ‘em is a community game. Players can use any combination of their hole cards and the five community cards to make up their best five-card hands.

Step 4: Participating in the First Round of Texas Hold ‘em Betting

The player sitting to the immediate left of the big blind is first to act, after which betting continues clockwise around the table. During his turn, a player can chose one of the following actions:

• bet – to wager that your hand will beat your opponents’, forcing them to match your bet if they want to stay in the hand.
• call – to match the previous bet.
• raise – to increase the previous bet, forcing your opponents to risk more chips if they want to stay in the hand.
• check – to take no action; this is only possible if none of the players sitting to your right have bet.
• fold – to quit the hand and forfeit whatever chips you have already contributed to the pot.

Note: During the first betting round, limit Texas Holdem rules forbid players from betting or raising by an amount larger than the small bet ($2 in our example above). The first betting round ends with the player seated in the big blind position.

 

Step 5: Seeing the Flop

After the first round of Texas Hold ‘em betting has ended, the dealer discards the top card from the deck and places the next three cards face-up in the center of the table. Together, these make up the “flop,” three of the of five community cards you and your fellow players will receive during the hand.


Step 6: Participating in the Second Texas Hold ‘em Betting Round

The second Texas Hold ‘em betting round begins with the first remaining player to the left of the dealer. Again, the action advances clockwise, and each player can check or bet if no one before him has bet. Alternatively, he can call, raise or fold if someone has. This and all subsequent betting rounds end with the last remaining player to the right of, or on, the dealer button.

 

Note: According to limit Texas Holdem rules, the amounts wagered during this round may not exceed the small bet ($2 in a $2/$4 limit game).

Step 7: Seeing the Turn

The dealer discards another card from the top of the deck and places a fourth community card, called the “turn,” face up in the center of the table.

Step 8: Participating in the Third Texas Holdem Betting Round

The third betting round follows the same order as the second, starting to the left of the dealer button and ending with the dealer. In limit Texas Holdem, the stakes rise in this round to the big bet, allowing players to bet and raise by the upper limit ($4 in a $2/$4 limit game, for example).

Step 9: Seeing the River

The dealer discards one last card from the top of the deck, then places the fifth and final community card, or “river,” face up in the center of the table.

 

Step 10: Participating in the Final Texas Holdem Betting Round

The fourth and final Texas Holdem betting round takes place after the river is dealt. According to limit Texas Holdem rules, the third and fourth betting rounds are identical.

Step 11: Playing the Showdown

After the final betting round, players reveal their hole cards to determine the winner of the hand. The last player to bet or raise must show his cards first. Other players may either show their cards or turn them in without participating in the showdown (called “mucking”). The player with the highest-ranked hand in the showdown wins the pot. Then, another hand begins with the dealer button rotating one seat to the left.

 

What Now?

You may think just because you’ve made it through AceHoyle.com’s “Texas Hold em Rules” section you know how to play Hold em poker. But nothing could be further from the truth. Miss Dolly still has quite a bit of info to beat into your head and she’s not letting up till she’s sure you, poor bugger, have mastered the game. The only thing we can suggest, then, is getting it over with as soon as possible and heading to our “Texas Hold ‘em Strategy ” section next. Otherwise, you’re just delaying the inevitable….