How to Bet in Texas Hold'em

Texas holdem is a fun game to play at home or in the casinos, but there is a betting structure that you need to follow. Knowing how you need to bet will save you a lot of time and money in a game. Take the time to practice before playing in a real game as this will help you concentrate more on your cards and other players than on raising and calling.

Things You'll Need

• Poker chips
• Cards
• Money

Instructions

1. There are 2 mandatory bets: the small blind and the big blind. These seats are immediately to the left of the person with the dealer button. The first seat to the left is the small blind while the the seat to the left of that person is the big blind. There are also 4 betting rounds (pre-flop, flop, turn and river).

2. If you are playing limit holdem, the small blind is one half of the first incremental bet size. For example, if you are playing $2/$4 limit holdem, the small blind needs to post $1 while the big blind needs to post $2. Each person there after can choose to call, fold or raise. However the raising and betting can only be done in pre-determined increments. Using the previous example, those determinations are $2 increments on the pre-flop and flop and $4 increments on the turn and river.

3. Once the blinds are posted, each person (including the small blind) can either call, fold or raise given that it is in those determined increments. The one exception is the small blind who needs to complete the full bet by adding another $1. The small blind can then raise another $2.

4. Once the betting is completed, 3 cards are dealt (flop). Betting starts with the person in the small blind position in increments of $2; this player can also check meaning that he or she does not want to bet, but wants to remain in the hand. Players can again choose to call, fold, raise or check. If someone chooses to bet after the check, then you need to call that bet if you want to keep playing. Checking only allows you to remain in a hand if no one else bets and checks as well.

5. Next, another card is dealt (turn). Betting starts again with the person in the small blind position, but this time betting is done in the $4 increments. Players can again choose to call, fold, raise or check.

6. The last card is then dealt (river). Betting starts again with the person in the small blind position and is done in the $4 increments. Players can again choose to call, fold or raise.

7. The player with the best 5-card hand wins the pot. If players share the same top hand, they split the winnings--otherwise known as a split pot.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice by playing online for fun money.

• Never gamble with money you cannot afford to lose.

• Only play in games you are comfortable in.