Hold'em is a poker game for two to ten players with fairly simple rules. The object
is to make the best 5-card poker hand using any combination of the 2 cards dealt
face down to you and the 5 common cards dealt face up on the table. Here is the
flow of play:
The Dealer. Cards are dealt from the position of Dealer, which
rotates clockwise around the table after each hand. The player designated as
Dealer for a given hand is identified by a round "D" marker on the
table. The software will automatically deal cards on behalf of the Dealer.
Blinds. To start the game, the player to the left of the Dealer
puts up the Small Blind (which is usually half the minimum bet) and the player
to his left posts the Big Blind (equal to the minimum bet). This gets the pot
started and encourages other players to place bets. They are called "blinds"
because these bets are made before any cards are seen.
The Deal. Each player is dealt two cards, called Pocket Cards,
which are visible only to the player holding them.
Betting. After all players have received their two pocket
cards, there is a Round of Betting starting with the player to the left of the
player who posted the Big Blind. Depending on prior activity in the current
hand of play, a player can fold, check, call, bet, raise or re-raise within
the bounds of the Game Limits and Table Stakes. A round of betting may circle
the table several times if there are raises and re-raises. The round ends when
all players have either called the last bet or folded.
The Flop. Next comes the Flop, where 3 cards are dealt face-up
in the common area of the table, followed by another round of betting.
The Turn. Then comes the Turn, where a 4th common card is
dealt face-up next to the Flop, and a third round of betting occurs.
The River. The final common card, called the River, is placed
face-up next to the Turn and is followed by the last round of betting.
The Showdown. The Showdown occurs after betting concludes.
The remaining players compare the best five-card poker hands they make using
any combination of their 2 pocket cards and the 5 common cards. The player with
the highest hand rank takes the pot. Occasionally, two or more players will
have hands of equal rank or the best possible hand is comprised using all 5
common cards. In these cases, the players involved share the pot.
Next Hand. After the pot is distributed, the Dealer button
moves to the next player on the left (clockwise around the table), and the players
to the left of the new Dealer post blinds so the deal for a new hand can start.
