In Hold’em two cards are dealt face down to each player. After each player looks at his or her cards a round of betting takes place where any money staked is placed at the centre of the table. This collection of money is known as “the pot”.
After the first round of betting is complete, three cards are then dealt face up at the centre of the table. These three cards are known as “the flop”. Once the flop has been dealt, a second round of betting takes place.
After the second round of betting has been completed a fourth card is dealt, face up, next to the flop. This fourth card is known as “the turn” card.
Another round of betting then ensues.
Finally a fifth card is dealt at the centre of the table (known as “the river” card) and a final round of betting then takes place.
The winner of the pot is determined in one of two ways:
- Everybody else has thrown away or “folded” their hands because they are not prepared to equal a bet. For example, Mr A bets 50 pence and then Mrs B increases the bet to £2.50. Mr A might decide that his hand is not good enough to pay another £2 (which would equal the bet) and so he throws away or “folds” his hand. If nobody else equals Mrs B’s bet of £2.50 then she wins the pot.
- Consequently it is worth noting that not every hand will get as far as the river card. In fact if someone makes a big bet early on (e.g. during the first round of betting) and nobody wants to match the bet, the dealer may not be required to deal the flop at all!
- The other way to win the pot occurs when two or more players pay equal amounts into the pot at every round of betting. For example, after the river card is dealt, Mrs C might bet £3. If Mr D matches the bet (and nobody else is involved at this stage) then all betting rounds have been completed. The winner is the player who can make the best five card combination using any of the two face face down cards that were dealt to him, and using any of the five cards dealt to the centre of the table (these communal cards are collectively known as “the board”).
To recap, if two or more players continue through every betting round, the following stages will occur:
- Each player is dealt two cards
- First round of betting
- Flop is dealt
- Second round of betting
- Turn card is dealt
- Third round of betting
- River card is dealt
- Final round of betting
- Surviving hands are declared
The next section of this tutorial discusses the ranking of hands and we then discuss how betting rounds work.