In Hold’em, all players receive two downcards as their personal hand, after which there is a round of betting. Three boardcards are turned simultaneously (called the “flop”) and another round of betting occurs. The next two boardcards are turned one at a time, with a round of betting after each card. The boardcards are community cards, and after the final round of betting, a player may use any five-card combination from among the board and personal cards. A player may even use all of the boardcards and no personal cards to form a hand. This is called “playing the board.”

Hold’em uses a flat disk called a dealer button to indicate the player who is in the dealer position for that hand (even though a non-playing casino employee actually deals). The dealer button rotates clockwise. The player with the dealer button is last to receive cards on the initial deal and has the right of last action after the first betting round.

One or more blind bets are used to stimulate action and initiate play. Blinds are posted before the players look at their cards. Blinds are part of a player’s bet, unless the structure of a specific game or the situation requires part or all of a particular blind to be “dead.” Dead chips are not part of a player’s bet. The small blind is posted by the player immediately clockwise from the button, and the big blind is posted by the player two positions clockwise from the button.

The player to the left of the blinds initiates action on the first betting round. On all subsequent betting rounds, the action begins with the first active player to the left of the button.

In non-tournament play, the button rotates one position clockwise after each deal. The button must move forward, and the blinds adjust accordingly.

Rules for Hold'em

Blinds

• 1. When there are two blinds in a game with three or more players, the smaller blind is to the immediate left of the dealer button. In heads-up play, the small blind is on the button.
• 2. A new player entering a Hold’em game, has the following options:

a. To immediately be dealt a hand.
b. To let the blinds and the button pass before being dealt a hand.

$15-$30 limit and higher

• a. Posting in any position
• b. Buy the button: Post both blinds in between the button and the small blind

• 3. In multiple-blind games players must meet the total amount of the blind obligations for every round they play. Players cannot have the button twice; the button always moves forward, and the blinds are adjusted accordingly.
• 4. If you miss any or all blinds, you can resume play by either posting the total amount of the blinds for that limit game or waiting for the big blind. If you choose to post the total amount of the blinds, an amount up to the size of the minimum opening bet is live, and the remainder is placed in the pot as “dead money.” When it becomes your turn to act, you may either call the action or you may raise.
• 5. When a game starts, a new player will not be required to post a blind until the button has made one complete revolution around the table, provided a blind has not yet passed that seat. A player may also change seats without penalty provided a blind has not yet passed the new seat. However, a player who drew for the button is considered active in the game, and is required to make up both blinds if he or she misses a blind.
• 6. No live “straddle” bets are allowed.