No Limit Texas Holdem takes only minutes to learn but takes a lifetime to master. The object of the game is to assemble the highest five card poker hand out of a possible seven cards. Unlike most other seven card games, each player does not have their own seven cards, but they share five board cards with every opponent. Instead they hold only two hole cards of their own. These board cards are dealt in rounds of three cards (the flop), one card (the turn, or Fourth Street) and one final card (the river, or Fifth Street).

The game begins with one player in the dealer position, a small blind player to the left of the dealer and the big blind player to the left of the small blind. (Blinds are a forced ante bet on the players in the worst positions, designed to entice the poor-positioned player to remain in the hand and to create action.) The blinds will rotate each hand so everyone has a turn.

Each player is dealt two hole cards and the betting then starts to the left of the big blind. Once any or all pre-flop bets are called, the dealer will deal the flop. At this point players can have a made hand because there are five possible cards in use for each player. The players then bet again, but the first player to act is no longer to the left of the big blind, it’s the player to the left of the dealer for the remainder of the hand. When all or any bets are called, the dealer will deal the turn card. Another round of betting and then the river card is dealt, and then the final round of betting.

In no limit holdem, a player can bet their entire stack at any time, saying “all-in”, so most hands don’t go to showdown and it’s common for early bets to win smaller pots. Making bluffs at pots is a big part of no limit holdem, and success at the game is rare without a bluff or two. Etiquette is also important, and players should only act in turn and should not discuss any hands they are not playing in.

And don’t forget to have fun.