The hand begins with a 'pre-flop' betting round, beginning with the player to the left of the big blind (or the player to the left of the dealer, if no blinds are used) and continuing clockwise. The player immediately clockwise from the small blind posts the 'big blind', which is typically twice the size of the small blind, but the blinds can vary depending on the stakes and betting structure being played.ĭepending on the exact structure of the game, each player may also be required to post an ‘ante’ (another type of forced bet, usually smaller than either blind, posted by all players at the table) into the pot. Before the game begins, the player immediately clockwise from the button posts the 'small blind', the first forced bet. In Hold'em, a ma rker called ‘the button’ or ‘the dealer button’ indicates which player is the dealer for the current game. The dealer spreads five cards - three at once, then another, then another - which can be used by all players to make their best possible five-card hand. Winning poker players work to enhan ce their opponents' betting and maximize their own expected gain on each round of betting, to thereby increase their long-term winnings.Įvery player is dealt two cards, from the dealer's left to right. The objective of winning players is not to win every individual hand, but rather to win over the longer term by making mathematically and psychologically better decisions regarding when and how much to bet, raise, call or fold. To stay in the hand and see the next card, all players must have put the same amount of chips in the pot as each other. Before and after each card(s) is revealed, players take turns to bet.

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