In Texas Holdem, the usual game involves two blinds and a dealer button. Before beginning a game, a random card from the deck is dealt to each player. The player with the highest card is chosen to be the dealer. If there are two of the same value card, then the card with the highest ranked suit wins.
The prettiest card in the deck is also the most powerful card in the deck; the power of the suits are used only for this and go in alphabetical order as follows from weakest to strongest: clubs, diamonds, hearts, and finally spades.
Each player then receives two cards face down which are called “hole cards.” After receiving these down cards a round of betting occurs. Three community cards are placed onto the board. This is called the “flop. Another round of betting occurs. The fourth card placed on the board is called the “turn” card. It may also be known as “fourth street.” A fourth round of betting occurs and the fifth and final card is laid onto the board. This fifth card is known as the “river” card or “fifth street.” A final round of betting occurs and then there is a “showdown” to determine the winner of the hand. The cards on the board are called the community cards because everybody shares them.
Variations of Texas Holdem
There are a numerous amount of variations of Texas Holdem poker. The most common include Omaha Poker, Pineapple Poker, Crazy Pineapple Poker, and Tahoe Poker.
Where to Play Texas Holdem Poker
We have drawn up a table of where to play Texas Holdem poker online. The table gives you access to our numerous online poker reviews and also directs you to the Texas Holdem poker site. For you Mac users, we have a separate page on where to play Texas Holdem for Mac.
Of course, if you don’t want to play Texas Holdem on the internet, then you can always pick up a phone book and call your local casinos to see if they spread any Texas Holdem games.
Texas Holdem Irregularity Rules
While playing Texas Holdem, poker rules may come into play if there is a minor error. This section will cover the proper procedures that should be taken if such an error occurs.
- What should I do if the dealer flashes or shows a player’s hole card?
- What is the proper procedure to take if the flop contains too many cards?
- What happens if the dealer accidentally deals the flop before the first round of betting has closed?
- What Texas Holdem Poker rule applies if the dealer prematurely lays the turn card down?
- Oops! The dealer accidentally dealt the first player an extra hole card. What happens to that card?
- What can I do if I muck my hand at the showdown and my opponent declares that he is playing the board?
- A card flew off the table during the deal. What do we do?
1. What should I do if the dealer flashes or shows a player’s hole card?
If the dealer flashes the first card from the deck the hand must start over. However, if the dealer flashes a card other than the first card, the dealer must flip that card over, announce the card, and show the card to all players. This card cannot be kept and will be used as the burn card. If the dealer flashes another card, then a misdeal will be called and players must return their hole cards and replay the hand.
2. What is the proper procedure to take if the flop contains too many cards?
If the dealer lays out the flop and it contains more than three cards, the flop must be re-dealt. This Texas Holdem Rule applies to the hand even if the extra card(s) are able to be identified. The cards that were flopped are mixed in with the rest of the deck and shuffled. A new flop is then dropped.
3. What happens if the dealer accidentally deals the flop before the first round of betting has closed?
If the dealer accidentally deals the flop before the first round of betting has closed then, just like above, the flop should be re-dealt. The cards from the flop will be mixed in with the rest of the deck and shuffled. A new flop will be dropped after the shuffle.
4. What Texas Holdem Poker rule applies if the dealer prematurely lays the turn card down?
If the dealer reveals the fourth card or the “turn” card before the round of betting has been completed, that particular card will be taken out of play. The dealer burn a card and turn what would have subsequently been the river card. After the third round of betting is completed, the dealer will place the revealed turn card into the remaining deck and shuffle it. The dealer will not include burn cards in this shuffle. Play will now continue as normal.
5. Oops! The dealer accidentally dealt the first player an extra hole card. What happens to that card?
The player whom received the extra card will have that particular card returned to the deck. If the dealer dealt more than a single extra card, the hand would be declared a misdeal and would be replayed.
6. What can I do if I muck my hand at the showdown and my opponent declares that he is playing the board?
In order to claim any portion of the pot, a player must declare that he is going to play the board before mucking their cards. If they muck their cards, they forfeit all rights to receiving any portion of the pot.
7. A card flew off the table during the deal. What do we do?
The card that flew off of the table is simply treated as an exposed card and is placed back on the table.