Basic Rules for Texas Hold 'Em Poker

Texas Hold 'Em Poker games start with the two players to the left of the dealer (the button) putting a predetermined amount of money into the pot before any cards are dealt, ensuring that there's something to play for on every hand. This is called "posting the blinds." The "small blind" -- the player to the left of the dealer -- puts up half the minimum bet, and the "big blind" puts up the full minimum bet.

The Deal

Each player is dealt two cards, face down. These are known as the "hole cards." A round of betting takes place, beginning with the player to the left of the two who posted the blinds. Players can call, raise, or fold when it's their turn to bet.

The Flop

After the first betting round, the dealer discards the top card of the deck. This is called burning the card and is done to ensure that no one accidentally saw the top card, and to help prevent cheating.

The dealer then flips the next three cards face up on the table. These cards are called the "flop."

NOTE: Eventually, a total of five community cards will be placed face up on the table. Players can use any combination of the community cards and their own two hole cards to form the best possible five-card Poker hand.

After the flop, another round of betting takes place, beginning with the player to the left of the dealer (the button). During this and all future rounds of betting, players can check, call, raise, or fold when it's their turn to bet.

The Turn

The dealer burns another card and plays one more face up onto the table.

The player to the left of the dealer (the button) begins the third round of betting.

The River

The dealer burns another card before placing the final face-up card on the table. This card is called the "river" or "Fifth Street."

Final Betting and The Winner

Players can now use any combination of seven cards -- the five community cards and the two hole cards known only to them -- to form the best possible five-card Poker hand.

The fourth and final round of betting starts with the player to the left of the dealer (the button).

After the final betting round, all players who remain in the game reveal their hands. The player who made the initial bet or the player who made the last raise shows their hand first.

The player with the best hand wins.

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Tournament Rules

The following poker tournament rules come from the World Poker Association and are based on the standard TDA (Tournament Director’s Association) rules.

Higher Denomination Chips Visible. Players must keep their higher denomination chips visible to all players at the table at all times. [Source: TDA Rule No. 19]

Chips Visible. All chips must be visible at all times. Players may not hold or transport tournament chips in any manner that takes them out of view. A player who does so will forfeit the chips and may be disqualified. The forfeited chips will be taken out of play. [Source: TDA Rule No. 23]

Chip Count. A player involved in a hand is entitled to ask how many chips an opponent has. If a player does not wish to respond verbally to such a request, the dealer shall count the player’s chips and respond to the question. [Source: WPA]

Splashing the Pot. A player may not interfere with the existing pot during a hand. A player may not splash the pot with his/her own chips when making a bet. [Source: WPA]

Raise Requirements. If a player puts in a raise of 50% or more of the previous bet but less than the minimum raise, he or she will be required to make a full raise. The raise will be exactly the minimum raise allowed. In no-limit and pot limit, an all-in bet of less than a full raise does not reopen the betting to a player who has already acted. [Source: TDA Rule No. 10]

Oversized Chip. A single oversized chip will be considered a call if the player does not announce a raise. If a player puts an oversized chip into the pot and states raise but does not state the amount, the raise will be the maximum allowable up to the size of that chip. After the flop, an initial bet of a single oversized chip without comment will constitute the size of the bet. To make a raise with a single oversized chip a verbal declaration must be made before the chip hits the table surface. [Source: TDA Rule No. 11]

Raises. There is no cap on the number of raises in no-limit games. A raise must be at least the size of the previous raise. [Source: TDA Rule No. 26]

Methods of Raising. In no-limit or pot-limit a raise must be made by (1) placing the full amount in the pot in one motion or (2) verbally declaring the full amount prior to the initial placement of chips into the pot or (3) verbally declaring “raise” prior to the placement of the amount to call into the pot and then completing the action with one additional motion. [Source: TDA Rule No. 32]

String Raises. A raise must be first announced or must be made by moving all of the chips forward in a single motion. Going back to the chip stack for more chips when raising without announcing raise first is prohibited as a string raise/bet. Dealers will be responsible for calling string raises. [Source: TDA Rule No. 39]

Forward Motion Rule. Forward motion is not considered to be a bet unless chips are released from the hand. Chips must be released in one continuous motion. [Source: WPA]

In Your Seat. A player must be in his or her seat by the time all players have been dealt complete initial hands in order to have a live hand. [Source: TDA Rule No. 8]

No Disclosure, No Advice, One Player to a Hand. Players are obligated to protect the other players in the tournament at all times. Therefore, whether in the hand or not, players may not:

1. Disclose contents of live or folded hands
2. Advise or criticize play before the action is complete
3. Read a hand that hasn’t been tabled
4. Do any form of taunting towards another player or dealer

The one-player-to-a-hand rule will be enforced. [Source: TDA Rule No. 12]

Misdeals. If two or more cards are exposed on the deal due to a dealer error, it is a misdeal. In flop games, exposure of one of the first two cards dealt is a misdeal. Players may be dealt two consecutive cards on the button. [Source: TDA Rule No. 27]

Unprotected Hands. If a dealer kills an unprotected hand, the player will have no redress and will not be entitled to a refund of bets. However, if a player had raised and the raise had not yet been called, the raise will be returned to the player. [Source: TDA Rule No. 28]

Killing Winning Hand. Dealers cannot kill a winning hand that was tabled and was obviously the winning hand. Players are encouraged to assist in reading tabled hands if it appears that an error is about to be made. [Source: TDA Rule No. 29]

Verbal Declarations; Acting Out Of Turn. Verbal declarations in turn are binding. Action out of turn will be binding if the action to that player has not changed. A check, call, or fold is not considered action changing. [Source: TDA Rule No. 30]

Exposing Cards. A player who exposes his cards with action pending will incur a penalty, but will not have a dead hand. The penalty will begin at the end of the hand. If a player intentionally opens his hand without declaration it will be ruled a dead hand. It will be up to the tournament director’s judgment when to enforce the rule. [Source: TDA Rule No. 31]

Dead Hand. Players are responsible for their own cards. A hand is deemed to be dead if the cards touch the muck. However, a hand that is clearly identifiable may be retrieved at management’s discretion if doing so is in the best interest of the game. The Tournament Director will make an extra effort to rule a hand retrievable if it was folded as a result of false information given to the player. [Source: WPA]

Side Pots. Each side pot will be split separately in the reverse order from the order in which the side pots were created. [Source: TDA Rule No. 4]

Face Up. All cards will be turned face up once a player is all-in and all betting action is complete. [Source: TDA Rule No. 9]

Showdown. At the end of last round of betting, the player who made the last aggressive action in that betting round must show first. If there was no bet on the river it will be the player who acted first on the turn or the flop. [Source: TDA Rule No. 37]

Playing the Board. A player must show both cards face up on the table when playing the board in order to get part of the pot. [Source: TDA Rule No. 40]

See Cards in a Showdown. No player may ask to see the cards of a losing hand in a showdown. The winning hand (whether it is called or checked) MUST be shown. A floor person can always be consulted to check any cards on request of a player. [Source: WPA]

Penalties and Disqualification. The Tournament Director may impose a penalty for any violation of these rules by a player. Penalties will be invoked in cases of abuse or disruptive behavior. Penalties available to the TD include verbal warnings and “missed hand” penalties. A missed hand penalty will be assessed as follows: the offender will miss one hand for every player, including the offender, who is at the table when the penalty is given multiplied by the number of rounds specified in the penalty; for the period of the penalty the offender shall remain away from the table. Tournament staff can assess one-, two-, three-, or four-round penalties or disqualification. A player who is disqualified shall have his or her chips removed from play. Repeat infractions are subject to escalating penalties. [Source: TDA Rule No. 7]

Declarations. Verbal declarations as to the content of a player’s hand are not binding; however, any player deliberately miscalling his or her hand may be penalized. [Source: TDA Rule No. 20]

Rabbit Hunting. No rabbit hunting (to see what card would have been dealt if a player had remained in the hand) is allowed. [Source: TDA Rule No. 21]

Dodging Blinds. A player who intentionally dodges (a) blind(s) when moving from a broken table will incur a penalty and will have to pay his blinds anyway. [Source: TDA Rule No. 22]

Ethical Play. Poker is an individual game. Soft play will result in penalties, which may include forfeiture of chips and/or disqualification. Chip dumping will result in disqualification. [Source: TDA Rule No. 33]

Etiquette Violations. Repeated etiquette violations will result in penalties. Examples include: unnecessarily touching other players’ cards or chips; delay of the game; and excessive chatter. Players are required to act in turn. [Source: TDA Rule No. 36]

Action Pending. Players must remain in their seat if they still have action pending on a hand. [Source: TDA Rule No. 38]

Foul Language. A player may not use foul language of any sort whether or not it is directed at another player or at the table. [Source: WPA]

Button Heads-Up. When heads-up the small blind is on the button and acts first before the flop. When beginning heads-up play the button may need to be adjusted to ensure that no player takes the big blind twice in a row. [Source: TDA Rule No. 35]