There are a number of different versions on Texas hold’em. These include no limit, pot limit, and fixed limit variations. These all refer to the different limits on wagers during each given hand, while the basic rules of the game are the same. No limit is probably the best known as this is the one seen on television, and this is partly because it is the most exciting. No limit poker means that a player can bet all in during any round of betting, whilst in pot limit poker, the size of the wager is limited to the size of the pot, or pool. Fixed poker is the most rigid about the amount that can be bet as the betting limit.

Blinds are often used in Texas poker rather than the more familiar ante found in traditional poker. Blinds are forced bets that are generally more than the ante and they are limited to two players in any given hand. The big blind can only be anted by the player to the right of the dealer, with the player to their righ making the small blind. The small blind is always half the amount of the first blind.

Each player is then dealt two cards, face down. These are for the player’s eyes only and are known as player’s pocket cards. The round of betting then begin with the dealer, going left, so that it ends with the player that made the big blind. The player can then either call the bet, raise the amount (provided it is within any betting restrictions), or fold.

Once the betting is complete, three cards are dealt, face up, in the centre. Betting then begins again, starting with the player to the left of the dealer, and thus ending with the dealer.

Once all bets have been placed, a fourth community card is dealt, known as the turn. Betting then begins again, once again starting with the player to the left of the dealer and ending with the dealer. A fifth community card is then dealt called the river, followed by one more. This is then followed by the final round of betting, beginning again with the player to the left of the dealer. The players then use the cards to make up the best five card hand that they can to decide who the winner is.

Texas poker is very position dependent. The dealer has an advantage as they get to see how other players are betting before having to decide how to play their hand. The dealer therefore shifts position to the left with each hand. As a professional dealer is often used, a disc called ‘the button’ is used to clarify the dealer position and it is the button that circles the table.
Texas poker is a great way to play poker, and guaranteed entertainment!