The rules of poker are very simple and you need only 5 minutes to learn how to play it. Learn rules with poker games guide - poker tutorial and hand ranking.

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As in any other poker game, the main aim in Texas Hold'em is to get the strongest hand. A game can be divided into stages: pre-flop, flop, turn, river, showdown.

THE START OF THE GAME, PRE-FLOP
Before the deal some chosen players make the so-called blind bets that are referred to as "blinds". The two players to the left of the dealer (i.e. the player who deals a hand; in a casino this is the croupier or the house dealer who performs this task) make a small blind and a big blind respectively. These are the only players to put money to the pot before the cards are dealt (if there is no "ante" - a forced bet in later stages of tournaments). Each player receives two cards which should not be shown to others. Then, the first betting takes place and the players estimate the strength of the cards received as well as decide whether to play and pay the amount of the big blind into the pot (call), put more money into pot (raise) or withdraw from the game (fold).

FLOP
Once the betting has been closed there is the time for the flop, that is, three faced-up cards common to all players. Another betting round takes place - the players may fold, check or raise.

TURN
Once the betting round has been finished, the fourth card common to all players appears on the board, and another betting round starts.

RIVER
Once the betting has ended, the remaining players watch the last of their common cards, the so-called "river", and the next betting round begins.

SHOWDOWN
Once the last betting round has finished, the players show their cards. The player who last raised the bet begins or, if there was no raise at the river stage, it is the first player to the left of the dealer who does that. The other players who are to reveal their cards may muck (i.e. fold without showing their hands) if their hands are weaker than the winning hand shown.

In order to win, the player has to hold the best five-card hand consisting of the cards common to all players as well as his or her own. The winning hand may include one or two of player's own cards. In a situation where the strongest set of cards is produced solely out of the common cards, the cards held by the players have no significance - the deal ends in a draw and the players split the pot.

POKER HAND RANKING

	Royal Straight Flush An ace-high straight flush such as A K Q J 10 is known as a royal flush, and is the highest ranking standard poker hand.
	Straight Flush A straight flush is a poker hand which contains five cards in sequence, all of the same suit.
	Four of a Kind Contains four cards of one rank, and an unmatched card of another rank.
	Full House Three matching cards of one rank, and two matching cards of another rank.
	Flush Five cards of the same suit, not in rank sequence.
	Straight Five cards of sequential rank but in more than one suit.
	Three of a kind Three cards of the same rank, plus two unmatched cards.
	Two Pairs Two cards of the same rank, plus two cards of another rank
	Pair Two cards of the same rank
	High Card Hand in which no two cards have the same rank, the five cards are not in sequence, and the five cards are not all the same suit.

The description of the rules may seem a little complicated but once you have played a few hands, you'll feel more confident and take pleasure in the game. In the beginning, take a crack at some special tournaments and low-stake games. You can try yourself at higher-stake games later and the huge winnings will come in due time too.

We strongly encourage you to watch the short video illustrating the rules of the Texas Holdem Poker game.

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