Texas Hold 'em Poker - (Rules)

Texas Hold 'em
Introduction
Texas Hold'em, a version of Poker for between 2-10 players, is today among the most popular variations of Poker. The game has gained popularity, both in the US and abroad, due to its fast paced play and simple game rules. A hand of Texas Hold'em consists of up to four Betting Rounds. After the placing of the Blind Bets (see The Blind Bets below), each player receives two private, facedown "Pocket Card". Throughout the hand, five face-up "Community Boarfcards" are placed in the center of the table, to be shared by all the players.
After the fourth and final Betting Round is complete, there is a "Shutdown". The player who creates the highest ranking (valued), five card, Poker hand, using any combination of their two Pocket Cards and the five Community Boardcards, wins the Pot.

The Blind Bets
The first player "Sitting-in", in a clockwise fashion to the left of the Dealer, places the "Small Blind" Bet (half the table's Lower Limit Stake - on tables with Stakes higher than $1 the Small Blind is rounded down to the nearest dollar) (see Betting Rounds & Limits below);
The second player Sitting-in, in a clockwise fashion to the left of the Dealer, places the "Big Blind" Bet (equal to the table's Lower Limit Stake).

The Pocket Cards - The First Deal
The Dealer distributes two facedown "Pocket Cards" to each player. The cards are dealt in a clockwise fashion, one at a time, starting with the player to the left of the Big Blind.

The First Betting RoundBetting Limit: Lower Limit Stake
The first player to the left of the Big Blind initiates the first Betting Round. The Betting Round then proceeds, in a clockwise fashion, around the table, with each player acting in turn. In this Betting Round, each player is required to at least "Call" the Big Blind, in order to remain in the game.The Betting in this Round is set at the table's Lower Limit Stake.

"The Flop" - The Second Deal
The Dealer places the first three "Community Boardcards", face-up, in the center of the table. These cards are shared by all the players at the table.

The Second Betting RoundBetting Limit: Lower Limit Stake
The first "active" (has not Folded) player to the left of the Dealer initiates the second Betting Round. The Betting Round then proceeds, in a clockwise fashion, around the table, with each active player acting in turn.

"The Turn" - The Third Deal
The Dealer places a fourth Community Boardcard, face-up, in the center of the table.

The Third Betting Round Betting Limit: Higher Limit Stake
The first active player to the left of the Dealer initiates the third Betting Round. The Betting Round then proceeds, in a clockwise fashion, around the table, with each active player acting in turn. The Betting in this Round is set at the table's Higher Limit Stake.

"The River" - The Fourth & Final Deal
The Dealer places a fifth Community Boardcard, face-up, in the center of the Table.

The Fourth and Final Betting RoundBetting Limit: Higher Limit Stake
The first active player to the left of the Dealer initiates the fourth Betting Round. The Betting Round then proceeds, in a clockwise fashion, around the table, with each active player acting in turn. The Betting in this Round is set at the table's Higher Limit Stake.

The Showdown
Once the fourth Betting Round has been completed, there is a "Showdown" (if more than one player remains active - see The Showdown below). In the Showdown, each active player combines any combination of their two Pocket Cards, and the five Community Boardcards, to create the highest ranking (valued), five card, Poker hand possible .
The active player who creates the highest ranking Poker hand wins the Pot, minus the "Rake".