Texas Hold'em @ Poker-Play.com

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In the poker game of Texas Hold’em, players are given two face-down cards, after which there is a round of wagering. Following this, three board-cards are exposed at the same time, also termed the 'flop', and a second round of wagering takes place. A fourth board-card is exposed after this process, and a third round of wagering takes place. This last step is repeated in exactly the same fashion, resulting in a fourth round of wagering.  The purpose of the board-cards is that they serve as community cards, and can be used at a players option when molding their poker hand.  There is no limit as to the combination of board-cards used with dealt cards.  In fact, a player may opt to use all five board-cards for their hand.  The common structure of the game is to implement two blinds, although it is permitted to use only one blind, an ante, or a combinations of blinds with an ante.  Also, a dealer button is assigned and exercised.  

Game Objective:  Using any combination of dealt cards with community cards to mold the highest ranked five-card poker hand.  

Betting Rounds

All players in the Showdown must exercise one of the following hand choices:

1. Two pocket cards combined with three board-cards
2. One pocket card combined with four board-cards
3. No pocket cards &combined with five board-cards (Also called 'playing the board')

The Wild Rules of Texas Hold'em 

1. It is deemed a 'misdeal' if the first dealt card is accidentally exposed.  If such is the case, the dealer will place the exposed card back into the deck and reshuffle, re-cut and re-deal the cards.  If the second or first dealt card to any other player is revealed, then the dealing continues.  When the dealing is completed, the exposed card will be replaced with the very next card in the dealers deck - The player who received the exposed card does not have the option of keeping it.  The exposed card will be used as the first burn-card.  However, if there was two or more exposed cards during the initial dealing, all cards must be returned to the deck, and re-dealt.    

2. Any time the 'Flip Flop' results in more than one card being turned - even if only one card was exposed - the 'Flip Flop' must be performed again. 

3. If the 'Flip Flop' is prematurely executed before  wagering is finished, or more than one card was turned over during the 'Flip Flop', the board-cards must be reshuffled into the deck.  The exposed 'Flip Flop' card is left on the table and is used as the 'burn-card' for the reshuffled deck.   

4.If the fourth community card is turned face-up before the first wagering round is finished, that card is thrown into the muck, the next card is burned, and the dealer replaces the fourth card with what would have been the fifth community card.  Even if players folded their hands based on the premature community card, the players' actions will remain as is, and the card will be replaced as just described.  When the wagering round is finished, the dealer will reshuffle the deck with the premature community card, leaving only burn-cards and displaced cards out of the deck.  If the fifth card is prematurely or improperly exposed, then the deck is immediately reshuffled in the same fashion as before, and the 'Flip Flop' is executed again.     

5. If the initial card dealing is completed, and the dealer accidentally deals another card to the first player, the card will be placed back into the deck and will serve as the burn-card.  If more than one extra card is dealt after all starting hands have dealt, then it is termed a misdeal, and all cards must be returned to be re-dealt.    

6. A player must verbally declare that they intend to 'play the board' before they toss their cards into the muck.  If not, they forfeit any rights or claims to the pot.