The Texas Holdem Limit game is normally played with up to ten players and a dealer who in most cases does not play in the game. In Texas Holdem home games, however, dealing will pass from player to player.
Each Texas Holdem Limit player receives two cards face down these are known as the "hole" cards, these cards are known only by them, the two hole cards form the basis for their Texas Holdem poker hand.
The two hole cards can be used in combination with any of the five exposed Texas Holdem community cards, which are dealt in a certain sequence, these Texas Holdem community cards are used by all players, and form a five-card Texas Holdem poker hand that determines the winner.
Texas Holdem with the exception of No Limit Holdem, the rules of the game dictate the size of the bets and raises in Texas Holdem, rather than the individual Texas Holdem player.
In the first two rounds of a Texas Holdem Limit game all bets and raises are equal to the minimum bet and during the last two rounds bets and raises are limited to the maximum bet, typically double the minimum.
For example: a TexasHoldem Limit $1–2 table, $5-10 table,$20–40 table,$50–100 table, denotes the minimum and maximum bets and raises allowed in the particular Texas Holdem Limit game.
Betting is also limited to no more than three raises per round, with the exception of when two players are heads up in the final round, the betting will continue until a Texas Holdem player calls the other Texas Holdem player or folds.
The first Texas Holdem Limit player to the dealer’s left antes one half of the minimum bet with the player to his left anteing an amount equal to the minimum bet, eg $5-10 table Texas Holdem Limit game.
Antes are passed clockwise around the table at the beginning of each new game of Limit Texas Holdem, this ensures there is always some money in the pot.
After the Texas Holdem players have been dealt their first two cards a round of betting begins, clockwise from the Texas Holdem Limit player who made the second ante. Texas Holdem players may then bet the minimum, fold, check, or raise the minimum bet, depending on the strength of their two cards.
Checked Texas Holdem players must then see the bets in order to stay in the game."After the first round of betting is completed the dealer burns the top card from the deck and deals three cards face up on the table. This is known in Texas Holdem Limit and No Limit games as the "flop".These are Texas Holdem community cards used by all Texas Holdem players.
A second round of betting then begins.When the second round of betting is completed the dealer once again burns the top card and deals a fourth Texas Holdem community card face up known in Limit and No Limit games as "4th Street" or the "turn".
Remaining Texas Holdem players bet, raise, check, or fold, with bets and raises limited to the maximum for the table.The last round of Texas Holdem Limit betting begins when the last card,known in Limit and No Limit games as "5th Street" or the "river", is dealt face up.
The winner of the game is the Texas Holdem player with the highest five-card Texas Holdem hand made up of any (or none) of his two hole cards in combination with any of the five Texas Holdem community cards.
If the five Texas Holdem community cards are the best hand he would elect to "play the board," usually resulting in a split pot.
• Straight Flush—five consecutive cards of the same suit
• Four of a Kind
• Full House—three of a kind plus a pair
• Flush—five cards of the same suit
• Straight—five consecutive cards
• Three of a Kind
• Two Pair
• Pair
• High Card
NOTE: In Texas Holdem Limit and Texas Holdem No-Limit games - Aces are played high or low. the Joker is not played and there are no wild cards.
copyright © Barry Whitmore 2007. all rights reserved
