Poker Rules Lesson 1

Now we'll learn about common terminology for players' position at the table.

For each hand in poker, one player is assigned as the "dealer." This player is identified by the dealer "button." At a live table, the button might be a large chip or a disc, and at online table the button might be represented by a circle with the letter "D" in it.

The two players directly to the left of the button have to post what are called "blinds." The blinds are bets that must be made by those players in order to be dealt cards. The player directly to the left of the button is known as the "small blind," and the player second to the left of the button is the "big blind," which is usually double the small blind.

The blinds ensure that players are paying some amount of money or chips in order to continue playing. In tournaments, the blinds may raise at predetermined intervals, making it increasingly difficult for players with fewer chips to continue playing without acting.

It's worth noting that the button moves clockwise from player to player after each hand. This means that both the small blind and the big blind move clockwise from player to player after each hand.

Once the blinds have been posted, every player is dealt two cards, face down. The first round of betting takes place once players have looked at their hole cards and decide if they want to raise, call, or fold. This is known as the pre-flop betting round.

After the pre-flop betting round, three community cards are revealed (the flop). A second round of betting then takes place.

A fourth community card is the revealed (the turn), and another round of betting occurs.

A fifth and final community card is then revealed (the river), and the final round of betting takes place. If two or more players are still in on the river after the final betting round, they have reached what we referred to earlier as the showdown, and the player with the best five card hand wins.

Ready for the quiz?

If you now feel like you know all these let's head to the next Lesson of Poker Rules !