Only by accident Texas Holdem didn't one of the greatest and most widespread games. There's a fact that it is possible to understand its rules within 5 minutes, but it will take a lifetime to become a pro.

We offer the simple 10 step-by-step instructions, called to provide you with the information so you could play the greatest game in the world. Good luck!

Step 1. Some key rules

Holdem is played with a standard 52-card pack. Distinctive feature consists of five general cards (прикупа), that is five open cards laying on a game table and being general for all players. Each player receives two cards from the dealer — they are known as the closed or pocket cards and make your initial hand.

Each round of poker begins with that every player receives two closed cards. The winner becomes the player who after several circles of trade can use the closed cards to make the best five-card poker hand.

Step 2. How good is your hand?

And, you, certainly, will ask, what hand is good and what is not? It is simple. The player who can collect the highest five-card combination from seven cards (five general plus two closed) wins bank. How this hand gathers, has no value — it can consist of four general cards and one closed or from three general and both closed. Sometimes the best hand is represented with five general cards. If it has occured — the bank shares between all players.

The thing that never varies is that the hand always consists of five cards. For example, if both players have pair of aces the winner will be defined with the senior collateral card.

Step 3. Who has an advantageous hand?

Example of advantageous hands:

Player A has a pair of aces and a king as the senior collateral card.

Player B has a pair of aces too, but its collateral card is queen. It means that it loses the player A.

Player C has a three of a kind. Its pocket nines (the closed pair cards also known as pocket cards) together with the nine from the general cards give it a strong combination of three cards. It is in a good position!

Wait a minute! Player D has an even stronger hand! Together with the nine, ten and a jack, it can collect straight (from eight up to qyeen)

At last, player E opens the hand. With the hand of diamonds and three cards of diamonds from the table it collects flush, taking the bank away!

Step 4. Button of the dealer

Button defines the order of game. It is a special marker with an arrow which turns between players before each delivery. The player sitting to the left of the button always has the first word in each circle of trade. It is logical, that the player sitting directly in front of the button, is the last who makes a decision. This player has huge advantage as it sees and estimates courses of other players before making its decision.

On an illustration above Player A goes first, player B — the second and player C sitting on the button goes the last.

Step 5. What are blinds?

After the players are handed over their closed cards, rates blindly begin – blinds. These are small obligatory rates which guarantee, that each separate bank contains the small sum. Blinds are put only before the first circle of trade. In Holdeme these small rates are done by two players to the left of the button (on an illustration above — players A and B). Blinds are an obligatory. A duty to put blinds passes by together with the button. Blinds are always put by two players to the left of the button and their size depends on how big game you play.

Step 6. Structure of a circle of the trade.

When blinds are put, trade begins. The first circle of the trade also called a circle before flop. Only the closed cards participate in this circle of the game.

Then trade with delivery of additional general cards (turn) follows. At last, river – the last circle of trade. Starting with this moment all five general cards on a table.

Step 7. Time for action!

Time to make a decision! The player has five variants to go – call, bet, check, pass or raise. Here is what they stand for:

Call means an equalizing the rate with previous one.

Bet means the rate of the certain sum of money.

Check (the zero rate) — can be made, only if in game there are no rates. In this case the lead passes to the following player.

Pass is a dump of cards and an output from current bank without end of trade.

Raise means an increase of the rate.

Step 8. Some additional data on trade.

It is important to remember, that the circle of trade proceeds until each player does not equalize the highest rate or does pass. When the circle comes to an end, all the chips are added in the general bank and the new circle of trade begins. As it was already mentioned, the player to the left of the button begins trade first.

Remember that blind is considered for a rate in the first circle of trade, that is the third player from the button starts trade as the first and the second players are compelled to put blinds.

Step 9. What are the limits of a table?

Every poker table has the established limit. This limit defines the size of the blind. In a game $1 / $2 blind should make $0,50 for a small blind (for the first player) and $1 for a big blind (for the second player). Remember, that size of blinds can be various. Usually small blind makes half size of the big blind. For example, in game $3 / $6 big blind makes $3, and small — $1,50. It is very important for a choice of a correct level of your game. Think that if you have $100 you do not need to play at a level $10 / $20 because, probably, you might put all the chips before you get any good card.

Step 10. Game without limits.

It is the most popular version of Holdem. Each player at any time can put or raise the sum defined only by quantity of its chips. Putting all in, a player puts all the chips in one call. If somebody, even having more chips in a stack, raises it, the first player does not lose automatically, but can win only the sum equal to quantity of its own chips. In Holdem with limits the rates are limited with level of the blind. For example, on a limit $3 / $6 first rate should be $3. Raise means an additional rate of $3 — neither more nor less.

Step 11. Now you are ready to play!

You have read through our ten-step-by-step guide on Holdem basics. As we have told in the beginning, charm of this game in its simplicity, however we recommend to read closely this rules until you completely understand each step.

For better understanding the passed material we recommend you to login in one of poker rooms, for example, FullTiltPoker, and to play for virtual money (Play Money). Web-site FullTiltPoker has the Russian version, therefore you will not have any difficulties. You need to make only two steps:

To fill the registration form (latin letters); download and install a software of poker room for free.

You will receive some virtual money so you can train.

Thus in 5 minutes you have an opportunity to sit down for such table and play against real people from all over the world!

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