Bluegate Poker Supplies
Based in Singapore
How to deal No Limit Texas Hold 'em
The game. Texas Hold 'em is a “community card” poker game that has 4 rounds of betting. Each player is dealt two cards and then five other cards are shared by all the players.
The dealer button. To begin the game, the dealer “button” is placed randomly in front of one of the players. The professional house dealer will actually deal the cards every hand, but the button is used to designate the playing order for each hand.
The blinds. To the immediate clockwise position from the dealer button is the “small blind” and then the “big blind.” These are forced bets that these two players must make before they see their cards. After each hand, the button, small, and big blinds will rotate one position clockwise.
The hole cards. Each player is dealt two cards, face down, starting with the small blind. These are called “hole cards.” They are the only two cards you will get to keep for yourself; all the rest of the cards will be community cards available to all players.
The bet. Once the two hole cards are dealt, the first round of betting ensues. The small and big blinds have technically already placed their bets so the first player to act is the person to the left of the big blind (the third person from the dealer button). This 3rd person is considered “under the gun” and must act; she cannot “check.” She can fold, call the big blind, or raise an amount equal to the amount of the big blind. In no-limit, the player can bet or raise her entire stack. The betting continues clockwise around the table (folding, calling, or raising) until the action comes back to the small and big blinds. The blinds are “live,” so if the action was merely folded or called around to them, they are allowed to raise their own blind bets. The betting action stops once there are no more raises and everyone has either folded or called the last bet.
The flop. After the first round of betting, the dealer will "burn" (discard) the top card on the deck and then deal three cards, called the “flop,” face up in the middle of the table. As community cards, these cards can be used by all the players. Betting begins with the first person still in the hand clockwise from the dealer button. This player can check (i.e. not bet), bet, or fold (which would be unnecessary at this point). Once a bet has been placed, however, players can no longer check; they must call the bet, raise the bet, or fold. The minimum bet is the size of the big blind and the minimum raise is the size of the previous bet or the amount of the last raise. For instance, let's say the blinds are 5 and 10 and the first player to act calls for 10. The next person raises to 25, which is an additional 15 on top of the original bet of 10. The next person now must fold, call 25, or raise. If he decides to raise, he needs to raise at least 15 more, the size of the last raise, to a total of 40. The round stops when all bets are called and there are no more raises or if everyone folds to the last bettor.
The turn. After betting on the flop is complete, the dealer will burn and then place another card face up next to the flop in the middle of the table. This card is the 4th community card and is called the “turn” or [less commonly now] “fourth street.” As before, betting begins with the first player who is still in the hand clockwise from the button.
The river. The last community card is called the “river,” or “fifth street.” This is the last card and the final round of betting occurs in the same order as after the flop and turn.
The showdown. If a final bet or raise is called, there will be a “showdown,” the revealing of the players cards to see who won the hand. At showdown, each live player will make the best 5-card poker hand using the 7 available cards (their two hole cards and the five community cards). In Texas Hold 'em, players do not have to use both (or even any) of their hole cards to make their best poker hand. Particularly in no limit hold 'em, hands often do not make it to the showdown. Large raises may cause everyone to fold, ending the hand prematurely.
The all in. A player can go “all in” for less than the amount previously bet. In such a case, the all-in player can win the pot only in the proportion she contributed to it. The rest goes into a side pot, which is contested by the other players. The dealer will figure this out for you.
The repeat. After the hand is complete, the dealer pushes the pot to the winner, and moves the dealer button one position clockwise to the left. The small and big blinds are placed, the cards are shuffled, and the next hand begins.
The dealer button. To begin the game, the dealer “button” is placed randomly in front of one of the players. The professional house dealer will actually deal the cards every hand, but the button is used to designate the playing order for each hand.
The blinds. To the immediate clockwise position from the dealer button is the “small blind” and then the “big blind.” These are forced bets that these two players must make before they see their cards. After each hand, the button, small, and big blinds will rotate one position clockwise.
The hole cards. Each player is dealt two cards, face down, starting with the small blind. These are called “hole cards.” They are the only two cards you will get to keep for yourself; all the rest of the cards will be community cards available to all players.
The bet. Once the two hole cards are dealt, the first round of betting ensues. The small and big blinds have technically already placed their bets so the first player to act is the person to the left of the big blind (the third person from the dealer button). This 3rd person is considered “under the gun” and must act; she cannot “check.” She can fold, call the big blind, or raise an amount equal to the amount of the big blind. In no-limit, the player can bet or raise her entire stack. The betting continues clockwise around the table (folding, calling, or raising) until the action comes back to the small and big blinds. The blinds are “live,” so if the action was merely folded or called around to them, they are allowed to raise their own blind bets. The betting action stops once there are no more raises and everyone has either folded or called the last bet.
The flop. After the first round of betting, the dealer will "burn" (discard) the top card on the deck and then deal three cards, called the “flop,” face up in the middle of the table. As community cards, these cards can be used by all the players. Betting begins with the first person still in the hand clockwise from the dealer button. This player can check (i.e. not bet), bet, or fold (which would be unnecessary at this point). Once a bet has been placed, however, players can no longer check; they must call the bet, raise the bet, or fold. The minimum bet is the size of the big blind and the minimum raise is the size of the previous bet or the amount of the last raise. For instance, let's say the blinds are 5 and 10 and the first player to act calls for 10. The next person raises to 25, which is an additional 15 on top of the original bet of 10. The next person now must fold, call 25, or raise. If he decides to raise, he needs to raise at least 15 more, the size of the last raise, to a total of 40. The round stops when all bets are called and there are no more raises or if everyone folds to the last bettor.
The turn. After betting on the flop is complete, the dealer will burn and then place another card face up next to the flop in the middle of the table. This card is the 4th community card and is called the “turn” or [less commonly now] “fourth street.” As before, betting begins with the first player who is still in the hand clockwise from the button.
The river. The last community card is called the “river,” or “fifth street.” This is the last card and the final round of betting occurs in the same order as after the flop and turn.
The showdown. If a final bet or raise is called, there will be a “showdown,” the revealing of the players cards to see who won the hand. At showdown, each live player will make the best 5-card poker hand using the 7 available cards (their two hole cards and the five community cards). In Texas Hold 'em, players do not have to use both (or even any) of their hole cards to make their best poker hand. Particularly in no limit hold 'em, hands often do not make it to the showdown. Large raises may cause everyone to fold, ending the hand prematurely.
The all in. A player can go “all in” for less than the amount previously bet. In such a case, the all-in player can win the pot only in the proportion she contributed to it. The rest goes into a side pot, which is contested by the other players. The dealer will figure this out for you.
The repeat. After the hand is complete, the dealer pushes the pot to the winner, and moves the dealer button one position clockwise to the left. The small and big blinds are placed, the cards are shuffled, and the next hand begins.
About Bluegate Poker Supplies. Bluegate Poker Supplies is run out of Singapore and primarily serves Asia (Shipping Info). We can also deliver to your hotel or office if you are traveling through Singapore. Our Singapore Warehouse is centrally located only a 5km taxi ride from the Central Business District and major hotels. Please Email Us with any comments or questions. We look forward to being your home poker products resource in Asia!
