Texas Holdem Rules - The Rounds

To learn how to play holdem, you must first learn the texas holdem rules. Here are four basic terms:

The Pocket -- This term refers to the two cards dealt face-down to each player at the beginning of a hand. The pocket cards are the first ones dealt, the only ones to be hidden, and the only ones that belong to the individual players. These are the cards that separate you from your opponents. Sometimes referred to as "the hole," or "hole cards."

The Flop -- These are the first three community cards dealt out. According to texas holdem rules they are dealt together, face-up, usually after a single "burn" card is dealt face-down (these burn cards have nothing to do with the game, but discourage cheating). These cards will often give a good picture of whether you stand a chance of winning a hand.

The Turn -- Another card dealt face-up, by itself. It is laid next to the three flop cards. A burn card is dealt first, face-down. The turn is also called "fourth street" by many players. It is the last card before...

The River -- The climax of the hand. Once the single river card is laid down face-up next to the turn--after a burn card, of course, everyone still in the game knows exactly how strong their hand is. The river is sometimes referred to as "fifth street."

Once these four dealing rounds are finished, texas holdem rules says each player will have a total of seven cards from which his hand will be made: the two cards in front of him, plus the five community cards in the middle. Here only cunning can change the outcome, and fortunes are lost and made.

But wait! What separates the above four dealing stages of the game? Betting rounds--and it is here that the game is won or lost.

Between each stage, and after the river, the players bet. In just a moment we'll take a look at the Texas Holdem Rules governing betting, which vary depending on the limit, but first we'll go over the basics.

There are four betting rounds in Texas holdem rules. The first round comes after the pocket cards are dealt. This is called the "pre-flop" round. Here the player bet on the two cards they have in their hands.

The second betting round comes after the three flop cards have been dealt. This round is called the "post-flop" or "(betting) on the flop."

The third betting round comes after the turn card has been dealt, and is referred to as "(betting) on the turn."

The fourth betting round comes after the river card has been dealt, and is known as "(betting) on the river" or the "last round."

Each betting round must be complete before the next cards are dealt according to Texas Holdem Rules!