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Hold‘em uses a flat disc called a dealer
button to indicate the player who, in theory, deals the cards for
that pot. The button (player with the dealer button) is last to
receive cards on the initial deal and has the right of last-action
on all betting rounds, except the first.
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On the first round one or more blind bets
are used to stimulate action and initiate play. Blinds are posted
before a player looks at his cards. Blinds count as part of the
player’s bet.
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Blinds are posted by players who sit in
consecutive clockwise order from the button. Action is initiated on
the first betting round by the player on the immediate left of the
person who posted the furthest blind clockwise from the button. The
Blinds act last on the first betting round and are “live” which
means the player is allowed to raise his own blind bet.
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Each player receives two cards as his
initial hand. There is a round of betting after these cards have
been dealt.
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Three board cards are turned
simultaneously (which is called “the flop”) and are community cards
available to all players. Another round of betting takes place.
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The next two board cards are turned one
at a time with a round of betting after each one.
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After the final round of betting has been
completed, a player may use any combination of five cards (one in
his hand, four from the board, etc.) to determine his best hand. A
player may use all of the board cards (called “playing the board”).
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The best 5-card poker hand wins the pot.
- In all
Hold ‘em games a bet and 4 raises are allowed.
