Texas Hold 'Em is a popular version of Poker played in many casinos. We will be playing "All In", which is the version seen on TV. These are the basic rules for Texas Hold 'Em Poker.

The Shuffle and The Deal

The dealer shuffles a standard 52-card deck. In poker, each player takes a turn being the dealer.

In our tournament, to make things easier, a dealer will be supplied to each table. The dealer will not play. A round disc -- known as the "button" -- moves clockwise from player to player with each hand. The button marks which player would be the dealer if the players had to deal themselves.

The Blinds and the First Round of Betting

Each hand starts with the two players to the left of the dealer (the button) putting a predetermined amount of money into the pot before any cards are dealt, ensuring that there's something to play for on every hand. This is called "posting the blinds." Most often, the "first blind" -- the player to the left of the dealer -- puts up half the minimum bet, and the "second blind" puts up the full minimum bet.

Each player is dealt two cards, face down. These are known as the "hole cards."

A round of betting takes place, beginning with the player to the left of the two who posted the blinds. Players can call, raise, or fold when it's their turn to bet.

The Flop

After the first betting round, the dealer discards the top card of the deck. This is called burning the card and is done to ensure that no one accidentally saw the top card, and to help prevent cheating.

The dealer then flips the next three cards face up on the table. These cards are community cards and are called the "flop."

NOTE: Eventually, a total of five community cards will be placed face up on the table. Players can use any combination of the community cards and their own two hole cards to form the best possible five-card Poker hand.

After the flop, another round of betting takes place, beginning with the first remaining player to the left of the dealer (the button). During this and all future rounds of betting, players can check, call, raise, or fold when it's their turn to bet.

The Turn

The dealer burns another card and plays one more face up onto the table. This, the fourth community card, is called the "turn" or "Fourth Street."

The first remaining player to the left of the dealer (the button) begins the third round of betting.

The River

The dealer burns another card before placing the final face-up card on the table. This card is called the "river" or "Fifth Street."

Final Betting and The Winner

Players can now use any combination of seven cards -- the five community cards and the two hole cards known only to them -- to form the best possible five-card Poker hand.

The fourth and final round of betting starts with the first remaining player to the left of the dealer (the button).

After the final betting round, all players who remain in the game reveal their hands. The player who made the initial bet or the player who made the last raise shows their hand first.

A Review of the Four Rounds of Betting

1. Pre-Flop - based on your "hole" cards
2. After the Flop - you can see 5 of out 7 possible cards
3. After the Turn - you can see 6 of out 7 possible cards
4. After the River - you can see all 7 cards, choose the best 5

How to Bet
Typically, a player will always have four options:

• Check - basically the same as "pass" (as long as no one has bet before you)
• Call - match a bet made before your turn
• Raise - make a bet greater than a previous bet
• Fold - choose not to match a bet made before your turn

It is important to clearly announce to the table your intentions by saying "Call", "Raise" or "Fold". Once you state your intentions you cannot change your mind.

A bet is a declaration that either: a)"I have the best hand and I'll wager money on it" or b)"You have a poor hand, and you will fold if you are forced to wager on it".

Typically, players are supposed to bet when they have a good hand. Players who don't have good hands are supposed to fold. Of course, if it was this simple, then everybody would be a professional.

Betting Limits

Our Tournament is a No Limit tournament. No Limit Hold'em, the maximum bet is determined by the number of chips you have in front of you. Players can bet and raise by any amount, and at any time, a player can go "all-in" by pushing all their chips toward the center of the table. To call, the other players at the table must push in all of their chips, up to the amount of their opponent's all-in bet. This is the type of Hold'em that is played on the pro level, and on TV shows such as the World Poker Tour and the World Series of Poker.

Blind Limits

The amounts of the small and big blinds (the two forced bets at the beginning of the game) will gradually increase as the night progresses. This is done to ensure fast play, and to increase the pressure on the players.

Hand Nicknames
Your two pocket cards, or hole cards, are the only factors that separate your hand from the other players' hands. So learning how to play them is vital. Here are some nicknames of popular starting hands:

AA	Pocket Rockets, Bullets, American Airlines
KK	Cowboys, King Kong
QQ	Double date, Canadian Aces, Siegfried and Roy
JJ	Fish hooks
99	Wayne Gretzky
88	Snowmen
77	Sunset strip
66	Route 66
55	Speed limit
44	Magnum, Sail boat
33	Crabs
22	Ducks
AK	Big slick
AQ	Big chick
AJ	Black Jack, Jack-ass
KQ	Royalty, Marriage
KJ	Kojak
J5	Jackson five
95	Dolly Parton
A8	Dead man’s hand (A player named Wild Bill Hickok was shot in 1876 after winning with it!)
K9	Canine
J4	Flat tyre