Official Hold'em Rules

Object of the Game

Obtain the highest ranking hand to win the pot. The dealer button rotates clockwise after each hand.

The game is played with a standard deck of 52 cards (No Joker).

The deck consists of four suites:

• Spades
• Hearts
• Diamonds
• Clubs

The suits are all equal value. Each suit has 13 cards. Ranking from highest to lowest are:

• Ace
• King
• Queen
• Jack
• 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2, and Ace = 1

Note

An Ace may be played high or low for a 5-card straight.

Example:

A-2-3-4-5 = Low Straight

10-J-Q-K-A = High Straight

Rank of Hands

• Royal Flush
• Straight Flush
• Four of a Kind
• Full House
• Flush
• Straight
• Three of a Kind
• Two Pair
• One Pair
• High Card

The Play

Hold'em is played with a flat disc called the dealer button. The player with the button is the last to receive cards onthe deal.

The two players to the left of the dealer button post blinds before any cards are dealt.

The blinds are live and count as part of the player's bets.

All players are dealt two down cards (hole cards) as their initial starting hands. There is a round of betting. The action starts with the first player in front of the big blind

All players have the right to throw their hand away, call the big blind, or raise the pot. The action goes clockwise

Three board cards (called the flop) are now turned face up at once in the center of the table, and another round of betting occurs.

The action now starts with the active player in front of the button. The next two cards are turned face up (the turn and the river) one at a time with a round of betting after each card.

The five board cards are community cards and shared by all active players at the table.

A player may chose any combination from the 7 total cards to make a 5-card hand.

Example:

The players may play the 5 cards on the board or use 1 card from their hand and 4 cards on the board or use both cards from their hand and 3 cards from the board.

A bet and 3 raises are allowed.

Check and raise are permitted.