Texas Hold'em

Poker Promotions | Poker Tournaments | Poker Tour | Poker FAQ's

· General Info – Learn more about our games
· Quick Tour – Learn more about registration and icashier
· Texas Hold’Em – Learn about the game of Hold’em
· Omaha – Learn about the game of Omaha
· Omaha High-Low - Learn about the game of Omaha High-Low
· Tournaments – Learn more about our Tournaments
· Poker Hand Ranks – Learn all about the different Poker Hand Ranks
· Glossary – A list of all the different Poker terms

At iPoker.net we offer Texas Hold’em Poker (known by most as simply “Hold’em”). This is by far our most popular game and the most popular game at offline casinos and Cards Rooms across the world. Below we’ve provided you with an overview and the basic rules of this exciting game.

1. Overview:

In a game of Hold’em each player at the table is dealt two cards ("hole cards"). These cards belong to the player they are dealt to, and no one else at the table.

Once all players have their “hole cards” and have placed their first bets, five (5) community cards are dealt face-up on the "board".

The “community cards” are available to all players at the table and can be combined with their “hole cards” to make the best five-card poker hand possible.

To view the rankings of poker hands, visit our hand ranks page.

2. Basic Rules

The Open
Before a game of Hold'em commences, a disc known as "the button" is moved around the table indicating which player is the dealer for the game about to begin.

This is important since before the game begins, the player immediately clockwise to “the button” must post a "small blind", typically half a small bet (for example, $1 in a $2/$4 game).

The player immediately clockwise to the small blind posts the "big blind", which is always a full small bet ($2 in a $2/$4 game).

Once the “small and big blind” have been posted each player at the table will receive their four (4) “hole cards”.

Betting action proceeds around the table, starting with the player immediately clockwise the big blind.

The Flop
Now, the "flop" is dealt face-up on the board. The “flop” is the first three of the five “community cards” available to all active players.

Each remaining player at the table now has the option to increase, check or call their wagers. Betting begins with the active player immediately clockwise to "the button". All bets and raises occur in small bets (increments of $2 in a $2/$4 game).

The Turn
When the second round of betting action is completed after the “flop” round, what is known as the "turn" is dealt face-up on the board. The “turn” is the fourth “community card” in an Hold'em game.

Betting begins with the active player immediately clockwise to the “the button”. On this round, betting doubles from the small bet to the big bet. In a $2/$4 game, betting on the “turn” is done in $4 increments.

The River
When betting action is completed for the “turn” round, the "river" is dealt face-up on the board. The river is the fifth and final "community card" in a game of Hold'em.

Betting begins with the active player immediately clockwise the button.

The Showdown
If there is more than one remaining player when the final betting round is complete, the last bettor or raiser shows his or her cards.

If there was no bet on the final round, the player immediately clockwise to "the button" shows his or her cards first.

The player with the best five-card hand for high wins half the pot, and the player with the best hand for low wins the other half.

After the pot is awarded, a new game of Hold'em is ready to begin. “The button” now moves clockwise to the next player and play resumes once the “small and big blind” have been posted.

These rules and overview are all you need to get you started on your way to Hold'em poker playing fun. However, we’ve barely scratched the surface of what iPoker.net has to offer. Learn more about the site by taking another one of our quick tours.