How To Play Texas Hold'em Poker

Texas Hold'em, or Texas Holdem, poker is the most popular poker game in the world. In fact, poker's growing popularity is credited to the Texas Hold'em game. This is the game being played on televised poker tournaments like the World Poker Tour (WPT) and the World Series of Poker (WSOP).

Texas Hold'em is very easy to learn and the rules are simple. Here's how Texas Hold'em poker is played:

First, each player is dealt with two face down cards (also called hole cards). Then the dealer places five “community” cards face-up that the players will share to combine with their two cards and make the best possible five-card hand.

• Then the first round of betting follows.
• Play proceeds clockwise from the blinds where players are free to either fold, call the blind bet or raise.
• The blinds are usually “live”, meaning the players may raise themselves when the action gets back around them.
• Next, three cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table; this is known as the “flop”.
• A new round of betting begins starting on the first blind, immediately to the dealer's left.
• Another card is dealt face up, the “turn”, then another round of betting follows, again beginning to the dealer's left.
• Then the final card is dealt, the “river”, and the final round of betting.

Remaining players will have to create the best five-card hand using any combination of the hole cards and community cards. The highest hand wins the pot.

Texas Hold'em has three variations: Limit, No Limit, and Pot Limit Texas Hold'em games.

See Texas Hold'em poker in action at the 2005 World Series of Poker Championship from June 2-July 15 in Las Vegas. Watch your favorite poker superstars like Annie Duke, Daniel Negraneu, Chris Ferguson, Phil Ivey, Howard Lederer, Doyle Brunson, and a lot more!

Play Texas Hold'em Poker now!

More 2005 WSOP Championship coverage at The Poker Tournaments Page and the World Series of Poker 2005 Championship.

Poker, Texas Hold'em, WSOP 2005