This article explains the basic rules of Texas Holdem Poker
Texas Holdem is the number one form of poker in the world right now. It's the most common game on the Internet, in casino cardrooms, even at home games. Texas holdem is almost certainly the kind of poker you see on TV whenever one of the half dozen different poker shows are on.
So how does it work?
Every player is dealt two cards. Based on the value of these cards, they decide whether to fold, call the bet(s) before them (there are always bets in the middle because the two players to the left of the dealer are forced to put in blind bets), or raise.
Once the betting round is finished, three cards are dealt face up in the middle. This is called the flop. Each player combines his cards with the three in the middle and decides what he wants to do.
After the flop betting round is finished, one single card is dealt face up in the middle (the turn). Again, each player combines their cards with the ones in the middle and decides what they want to do. The turn betting round is when the bets double if you're playing Limit poker.
Once the betting round is finished, one more card is dealt face up into the middle (this is the "river" or "that damn river"). There's one last betting round, and then any players who are still in at the end compare the best hand they can make out of their two cards and the five in the middle. Whoever can make the best hand wins the pot.
