How to Play Texas Hold Em Poker
By PD Laughlin

- The term cap is used to describe the final raise in a round since betting is then capped and no one can make another raise. Once capped, players will have the option of calling or folding only.

Exceptions to the value of betting in each round

A player who does not have enough chips to call a bet is declared All-In. The player is eligible for the portion of the pot to the point of his final wager.

All further action involving other players takes place in a "side pot", which is unavailable to the player who has already gone All-In.

When a player goes All-in, the pot currently at the center of the table, which has contributions from him/her as well, is treated as the main pot, over which the All-in player has rights.

After the player goes all-in, all the new bets are placed in a side pot, over which only the contributing players have rights. The All-in player does not have any rights over the side pot. The side pot is then given to the next winning combination.

After the final round of betting, it’s time for – Showdown. This refers to the action of deciding who the winner of the pot is.

Five cards of the total of hole and community cards are to be used for deciding on the winning hands. A combination of the following may be used:

- Both hole cards and three community cards - One hole card & four community cards - All five community cards (playing the board)

On the final round of betting, the player who bets first (or checks first if no one else bets) is required to show their cards first at the showdown. If they have the best hand, the remaining players may/may not show their cards as they wish.

The aggressors’ hand is only turned over first if he was the last to initiate action on the river. If two or more hands are the same ranking, the winner is the one having the higher cards.

For example, a Flush with an Ace high beats a Flush with a King high. If the poker hands remain tied, then the highest card not being held in common (the kicker) determines the winner.

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