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Monday, March 7, 2005
Fixed Limit Texas Holdem Set-Up and Play
By PokerListings.dk
Fixed Limit Texas Holdem Set-Up and Play
Fixed Limit Texas Hold'em: Set-Up and Play
In Limit Texas Hold'em the bets are fixed. There are small bets and big bets. The small bets are used in the first two rounds of betting and the big bets used in the third and fourth rounds of betting. The big bets are always double the sum of the small bets. The amount of the bets depends on the size of the game.
Before the cards are dealt
- One player functions as the dealer (in a casino this person has a plastic marker in front of him). This spot is called the button. The button determines the order in which the players are to act in the hand and rotates clockwise after each hand is played.
- The first player to the left of the button (the number 1 seat) puts a forced bet on the table, called the small blind, and the second player to the left of the button (the number 2 seat) also places a forced bet on the table, called the big blind. The big blind is always the same size as the small bet, whereas the small blind is usually half the size of the big blind. For example, in a $10/$20 Limit Texas Hold'em game, the small bet is $10 and the big bet is $20. Therefore, the big blind is $10 (the size of the small bet) and the small blind is $5 (half the size of the big blind and the small bet).
The cards are dealt
The cards are dealt clockwise, starting with the player to the left of the button (the small blind) and ending with the player who is acting as dealer (the button). Each player receives two hole cards, which are placed face down on the table. This hand is called the starting hand.
The first round of betting
- The action starts with the player sitting to the left of the big blind (the number 3 seat, also known as sitting under the gun). This player has the option of folding (throwing his hole cards in the middle of the table, called the muck), calling (putting the same amount as the big blind on the table) or raising (by placing two small bets in front of him).
- The action now rotates to the number 4 seat (the player sitting to the left of the number 3 seat), who has the option of folding, calling, raising or re-raising (though only if it has been raised in front of him).
The betting continues clockwise until every player that has not folded has contributed equally to the pot.
Example
It is a $10/$20 Limit Texas Hold'em game and 10 players are seated at the table. The cards are dealt and the first player to act (sitting under the gun) decides to raise. He must then put $20 into the pot (two small bets). The players sitting in seats 4, 5, 6 and 7 opt to fold and throw their cards in the muck. The player in the number 8 seat chooses to re-raise and must therefore contribute $30 into the pot (three small bets). The player sitting in the number 9 seat decides to call and, consequently, must put $30 into the pot (three small bets). The player sitting on the button (the dealer) folds.
The small blind, who already has $5 committed to the pot, calls and, as a result, must contribute an additional $25 to the pot ($30 in total; equal to three small bets). The action moves to the big blind, who opts to re-raise and, as such, has to put $40 into the pot (since he had $10 in the pot at the start of the hand, he has to put in an additional $30 thus making his bet $40 in total; equal to four small bets).
This is called cap the betting, which means that raises are no longer allowed. In each betting round there are only three raises allowed, making it four bets in total. After the cap, the remaining players can either fold or call. The action resumes with the initial raiser who is sitting under the gun.
- Once the first betting round is finished and all remaining players have contributed equally to the pot, it is time for the flop.
The flop and the second round of betting
- The dealer begins by burning the top card of the deck and placing it face down on the table. This is done in order to prevent cheating in case the top card is marked. This card, the burn card, is henceforth excluded from play. The dealer then flips up three cards on the table for everybody to see. These three cards are the flop. This is a defining moment for all remaining players, as only two more cards are left to come. In other words, 5 out of 7 cards have been revealed. The flop contains community cards, which are used together with the two hole cards to create the best possible 5-card poker hand.
- Since the blinds are only used on the first round of betting, it is now the small blind who acts first (sitting in the number 1 seat). If the small blind folds before the flop, it becomes the big blind's turn to act, and so forth.
- The first player to act has the option of checking (the action moves clockwise towards the next remaining player) or betting (if the player bets, it must be exactly one small bet). If all players check on the flop, they are all allowed to see the fourth card (the turn) without putting in any additional money.
The betting progresses in the same pattern followed in the first round, with a permitted maximum of three raises (four small bets in total).
Example
It is a $10/$20 Limit Texas Hold'em game and 10 players are sitting around the table. Following the first round of betting, only the players seated in the small blind, the big blind and on the button are left in the hand. The dealer brings in the pot and puts it in the middle of the table, burns the top card (places it face down on the table) and flips open the three community cards (the flop). Given that the betting proceeds clockwise from the button, it is the small blind who is first to act and he decides to check. The big blind bets ($10; equal to one small bet) and the button opts to call (puts in $10). Once again, it is the small blind's turn to act and he can raise (make it $20; referred to as a check-raise), fold (throw his hole cards in the muck) or call (put in $10).
- Once the second round of betting is finished and all remaining players have equally contributed to the pot, it is time for the turn.
The turn and the third round of betting
- The dealer burns the top card of the deck and flips open a fourth community card next to the flop. This card is called the turn.
The betting then advances clockwise from the button, as on the flop. The only difference is that now the bets are doubled and are referred to as big bets.
Example
It is a $10/$20 Limit Texas Hold'em game and 10 players are seated at the table. After the flop, only the players sitting in the big blind and the button stay in the hand. Since the betting progresses clockwise from the button, the big blind must act first. The big blind decides to bet (puts in $20; equal to one big bet), the button chooses to raise (puts in $40; equal to two big bets) and the big blind elects to call (puts in another $20; making two big bets in total). The third round of betting is now complete.
- Once the third round of betting is finished and all remaining players have given equally to the pot, it is time for the river.
The river and the fourth round of betting
- The dealer burns the top card of the deck and flips open a fifth community card next to the flop and the turn. This card is called the river.
- The betting then moves clockwise from the button, as on the flop and the turn.
The bets equal the same amount as those placed on the turn.
Example
It is a $10/$20 Limit Texas Hold'em game and 10 players are seated around the table. After the turn, only the players sitting in the big blind and the button are left in the hand. Since the betting advances clockwise from the button, it is the big blind who is first to act. The big blind chooses to check and the action continues on to the button, who bets (puts in $20; equal to the size of one big bet). The big blind now has the option of folding, raising or calling and decides to call (puts in $20; equal the size of one big bet). The button has been called and, because this is the last round of betting, he has to flip two hole cards face up on the table. He then combines his hole cards with the five community cards to create the best possible 5-card poker hand. The big blind has the option of throwing his hole cards in the muck (in case he can not beat the button's hand), or of flipping his hole cards face up on the table to show the winning hand. In order to win the pot, both hole cards must be flipped face up, even though only one hole card might be used for making the best hand.
- The hand is over.
- The dealer moves the button one position clockwise. The deck is reshuffled and dealt again.
Comment(s) on this article
Sean Lind Aug 8, 2008
Ruud Peersman. If a fourth card has been turned over before burning, it's treated as an exposed card. The dealer shows the card to eveyrone, and flips it over as the burn with the next card flipped as the turn.
Another scenario that can happen.
If the turn gets flipped before all action has completed, the burn card for that round stays burnt, and the flipped card gets reshuffled into the remainder of the deck. After shuffling and cutting, the top card is the new turn (you don't burn again).
Ruud Peersman Aug 8, 2008
Hello, i have a situation in which we don't exactly know what to do:
after the flop, the dealer turns the fourth card without burning a card before. Does the "the table sticks" principal count, or is it something else?
thanks,
Ruud
Sean Lind Jul 29, 2008
alisarp
1. A bets, B calls, C calls, can A raise again?
No, a betting round ends when two conditions are met. Every player with cards has teh same amount of money bet, AND everyone has had a chance to act.
As son as player c just calls, both conditions have been met, the betting round is over. Player A would be raising herself if she could raise again.
2. A bets, B raises, C calls, can A raise again?
For the same reason, B and C have more money bet than A, He now has option to raise again.
3. A bets, B raises, C raises, can A raise again?
Same as before, Yes he can
4. A checks, B bets, C calls, can A raise again?(check raise)
Yes, same reason
5. Is check raise a house rule or allowed in all games?
Check raising is allowed in most all games, unless they have made a specific rule against it.
Here's one for you:
A bets, B raises, C re-raises
A re-reraises.
B now is unable to do anything but fold or call. After one bet and three raises the betting has been capped meaning no more raises are allowed.
alisarp Jul 27, 2008
1. A bets, B calls, C calls, can A raise again?
2. A bets, B raises, C calls, can A raise again?
3. A bets, B raises, C raises, can A raise again?
4. A checks, B bets, C calls, can A raise again?(check raise)
5. Is check raise a house rule or allowed in all games?
If 1 is true, is this scenereo true?
6. A bets, B calls, C calls, A raises, B calls, C calls, A raises, B calls, C calls, A raises, B calls, C calls.
Sharp Jul 27, 2008
Confused about the capping. One bet, max three raises.
1.A bets, B calls, C calls, can A raise again?
2.A bets, B raise, C calls, can A raise again or must call or fold?
3. A bets, B raise, C raise, can A raise again?
hh Jul 23, 2008
TNX A LOT SEAN!
Sean Lind Jul 22, 2008
HH:
1st plyr: 5H,QC
2nd plyr: 6H,2S
on the board:
Jack H,10H,3H,7H,8S
You can only ever use 5 cards to make your hand. So the kickers don't play, since all 5 cards are used in making up the flush, making player two the winner.
Sean Lind Jul 22, 2008
jack: "can the other person just show the king to win the hand? or must he flip over both cards even tho the other card has no effect on the hand?"
In a casino or card room, you must always show both cards to win a pot. It's a blanket rule put in place mostly to avoid cheating and mistakes. The rule is "You need two cards to win", you're not allowed to have three, and you can't play a hand with one.
To win you must show both cards always. Since the second card has nothing to do with the hand, in a private game just showing the one winning card is totally legal, unless someone wants to be a jerk about it.
Sean Lind Jul 22, 2008
Poker man: 10-10-9-9-2
1st player: Q-6
2nd player: 4-4
The second player got counterfeit. He is now playing 10-10-9-9-4, while the first player has 10-10-9-9-Q, making player one the winner.
HH Jul 21, 2008
hi sean, just wondering who will win this situation:
1st plyr: 5H,QC
2nd plyr: 6H,2S
on the board:
Jack H,10H,3H,7H,8S
now they are both flush, but who will win? the higher hand which is 6h or the highest kicker wich is the QC?
tnx!
jack Jul 21, 2008
the cards are A Q J 10 4
one kid flips over 4 8
can the other person just show the king to win the hand? or must he flip over both cards even tho the other card has no effect on the hand?
Poker man Jul 21, 2008
i have a situation where are this cards
10-10-9-9-2
1st player: Q-6
2nd player: 4-4
who wins???
Sean Lind Jul 18, 2008
NL4M:
THe pot goes to Q8 making the winning hand
AAKQ8
Count from the top down until there is a difference. You always make the best 5 card hand
AAKQ8
AAKQ6
it's the same until the 8 vs. 6. 8 is higher, so Q8 wins as the hand. It would be a chop if there was another pair on board:
AAKK2
IN this scenario you both have the hand:
AAKKQ
Making it a chop, or split pot.
NL4M Jul 18, 2008
If the board has AAK(flop) 2(turn) 3(river)
Player 1 has Q6
Player 2 has Q8
Who wins ? The game I got,a video game, it goes to a "2nd kicker". Even if there is a pair on the board.
I always thought that if you are playing a high card, and there even, you move on to the next high card. If they, too, are even it's a tie. From what I read in your artical I can say that it's not a tie. You go on to the 3rd card, 4th card, 5th high card. If all are the same then the pot is split. If the 5th card is the only one that differces then the pot goes to one player, right ?
Sean Lind Jul 17, 2008
Skip:
Your 5-card hand: K-K-5-5-Q
Their 5 card hand: Q-Q-7-7-5
When looking at two pair vs two pair, you start with the high pair first. In this case KK is higher than QQ, so your 5-card hand wins.
If the high pair is the same, then you look at the low pair. If that is the same, only then do you look at the kicker.
Skip Jul 16, 2008
Hey Sean,
I saw your recent post regarding:
Your 5-card hand: K-K-5-5-Q
Their 5 card hand: Q-Q-7-7-5
I was just wondering who would win in this situation? Thanks.
Sean Lind Jul 8, 2008
Yes, A-2-3-4-5 is a straight, and is known as the wheel, or the bicycle.
Aces are both high and low for straights in poker, but you are not allowed to wrap, meaning you can not go J-Q-K-A-2. That is NOT a straight.
asif gujarati Jul 6, 2008
if you got a 5 and 2 as your hold cards and there is a Ace a three and a four on the flop does that count as a five high stright???
Sean Lind Jun 24, 2008
mick - if there are 2 players left and the second player hasnt enough for big blind what happens
The player with less than the big blind is considered "all in". The other player must match the amount of chips the all in player holds. Winner takes all.
Chirag :
Hi if i have a game as 2 2
and other has Q 5
On board cards are A A A 9 9
It's a chop, you split the pot. Poker is always always always the best possible 5 card hand. For both of these players, that's a full house aces over nines.
The 22 hand got counterfeit, he had the house on the flop, but it's better than a Q or 5 falling.
Chirag Jun 23, 2008
Hi if i have a game as 2 2
and other has Q 5
On board cards are A A A 9 9
Who wins the hand and how ?
mick Jun 20, 2008
if there are 2 players left and the second player hasnt enough for big blind what happens
Sean Lind Jun 10, 2008
Sampson:
The board is: K-10-10-5-K
Player one: 5-2
His best 5 card hand is the board. Two pair, Kings and Tens, with a 5 kicker.
Player two: A-7
He can beat the board with two pair Kings and Tens with an Ace kicker.
Player two wins the pot. This is called getting counterfeit. On the turn player one was ahead, until the river brought a higher two pair, to counterfeit the players hand.
Sampson Jun 9, 2008
Could you please tell me who wins if K-10-10 are the flop and 5-K are the turn and river cards. Player 1 has 5-2 as his hole cards and player 2 has A-7???? Thankyou
Sean Lind Jun 5, 2008
You really should never have more than 10 players in a holdem game. You can play it with 11 or 12, but 10 is the max I would recommend.
As for the direction, I've never played in Asia. Poker in America and Europe always goes clockwise though.
timbits Jun 5, 2008
Is the game always played clockwise, or is this different in some countries (Asian cultures often play games anti-clockwise)
pokerface Jun 5, 2008
In your opinion, what is the max number of players for a game of holdem
Sean Lind Jun 4, 2008
That was kind of long, Hope it helped!
Sean Lind Jun 4, 2008
after the flop player A raises, play B calls, and player C raises to put player A all in. Can player B re-raise or can he only call the raise?
In what you described, player B has the option to raise again.
You look at is as if the betting round is closed, re-opened. In what you describe, player C will have to have put in a legal full raise.
What I mean is, if player A has less than double the amount he bet, player C would have been required to bet double the original bet amount regardless. Any complete raise re-opens the betting round, giving all players after option to act again.
Now if player C had moved all in for less than the amount of a full raise, player A and player B can only call. Only a full raise can re-open a betting round.
NOTE: The standard definition of a full raise is always double the bet, or matching the previous raise amount. So if you raise from $2 to $10 a full raise for me is $18.
Some card rooms will call an all in, that is half or more of the amount of a full raise as re-opening the betting round. So if Player C had moved all in for $14+ it would have allowed player B to raise again.
This ruleing is rare, and is incorrect as far as I, and all other serious poker player, are concerned.
Also, I have played in games in Australia (NPL AKA the National Poker League) games where they seem to think that a full raise is the amount of the big blind... this is wrong for a number of reasons, but it's how they play.
So ask the floorman what a minimum raise is for the room. If it's a home game play by the standards, double the bet, or matching the previous raise.
Dave B Jun 3, 2008
Cash game No-Limt Texas Holdem:
after the flop player A rasies, play B calls, and player C raises to put player A all in. Can player B reraise or can he only call the raise?
Thanks
Sean Lind Jun 3, 2008
Newt, in hold'em you hand is always made up of the best possible 5 card combination. If that is the 5 board cards, such as in your example, that is your hand.
For example, if the board has a royal flush, all players in the hand have a royal flush, so they all split the pot.
If no players have a hand better than that of the board, the pot is split.
Newt May 30, 2008
Question Who win the hand in texas holdem
the best hand is on the board straight flush
none have any card in the flush who win?
Sean Lind May 13, 2008
alex lopes:You win the hand.
Your 5-card hand: K-K-5-5-Q
Their 5 card hand: Q-Q-7-7-5
You have two pair, King high, he has two pair Queen high.
Phil: technically you must be seated for the dealer to give you cards. But, in every cardroom I've ever been to if you ask the dealer to "deal you in" when you stand up, you'll still recieve your cards.
In a tournament, you will always receive cards regardless of your presence at the table. As soon as the last card of the deal is dealt, your hand is considered mucked.
In a cash game, you usually have until it's your turn to act before they muck your hand.
phil May 13, 2008
during a game if a player stands up to watch for a while does the dealer still deal 2 cards to that seat
alex lopes May 11, 2008
I need help with a rule on texas holdem.
If I have 2 Kings in my hand.
The other has Q7.
and on the board has Q7554
who wins the hand?
David Allen Mar 23, 2008
I am also interested in the response to Tim Young's question on March 6, 2008 - Do you have to show your hand after the river and all bets are in or do you have the option of discarding them in the muck unseen by other players?
Tim Young Mar 6, 2008
if thare are 2 players or more after the river card cums out if one person bets $20.00 ant the other players call The $20.dollers do all players have to show thare cards or Not win or loose at the end of the game or can thay just bin them??? we a reson to beleave that players can cheat by not showing thare hands and chipping up thare friends so we made a ruling that u have to show all at end is this true or not?? Thanks Tim uk
pj Mar 2, 2008
Question 4 all: Im new to this, can any one tell me what hapens when u have all in's and the player that goes out s the next person to deal. What happens the blinds? big and small and who deals?
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