Texas Hold'em - the basic rules

In Texas Hold'em, each player is dealt two cards - the hole cards, which they keep secret from everyone else. Later In the game, five cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table. Each player can use their own two hole cards and those in the middle to make their best hand with five cards:

The hands in descending rank order:

1. The ultimate poker hand is the royal flush - Ace, King, Queen, Jack and ten - all of the same suit
2. The straight flush - five cards of the same suit in sequence (the ace counts as 1)
3. Four of a kind - four cards of the same rank, such as four jacks or four sevens and one other card. The higher the rank, the higher the hand
4. The full house - three of one rank and two of another e.g. three eights and two fives. The higher the set of three cards, the higher the hand
5. The flush - five cards of the same suit. The higher the cards, the higher the hand, starting with the highest ranking card
6. The straight - five cards in sequence. The higher the cards, the higher the hand, starting with the highest ranking card. The ace can be high - above the King, or low - below the two
7. Three of a kind - three cards of the same rank and two of different ranks. The higher the three of the same rank, the higher the hand, with the rank of the other two counting if the threes are the same
8. Two pairs - two cards of one rank and two cards of another, with one other card of a different rank. Ranked by the highest pair, then the other pair and then the fifth card
9. One pair - two cards of one rank and three of different ranks. Ranked by the pair followed by the next three cards in rank order
10. High card - any hand that is not one of the above i.e. five different, non-sequential cards of at least two different suits. Ranked by high card, then second highest etc
N.B. All suits are of equal ranking and are not used to decide the winner in the case of identical hands - the pot is split equally

Dealing

The person dealt to last is the dealer. The dealer is identified with a dealer marker at their place on the table. After the hand is over, the marker should be passed left to the next seated player.

Getting started

In order to move the game along and ensure a reasonable pot for each hand, there are two 'blinds' - players who bet before the any of the players see their cards - the hole cards. The blind players are the two immediately to the left of the dealer. The player on the left next to the dealer Is known as the 'small blind' - they make the first bid and the next player to the left, known as the 'big blind' makes the second bet. The big blind's bet is always the same as the minimum bet at the table - the small blind's bet is half the minimum bet

During play

After the blind players have bet, each player in turn moving left from the dealer can choose a play:

Betting - putting money in the pot
Calling - matching another players bets with the same amount
Folding - handing over their cards and taking no further part in this hand
Checking - doing nothing - this can only be done if no bet is in play
Raising - increasing another players bet
Re-raising - increasing another players raise

The first round - the pre-flop

Once the blind bets have been made, two cards are dealt to each player (the hole cards). Players then decide if they want to bet, starting with the player after the big blind - in the first round you must bet, call, raise or fold - you cannot check. All players who continue to the next round must put the same amount into the pot - if one player raises, the others must re-raise to continue - they can of course fold

The second round - the flop

The dealer now turns three cards face up on the table - the flop. These cards can be used by all players in combination with their hole cards, which are kept hidden

The remaining players now start the second round - the first player to the dealer's left starts. Players either

9 ball is just a case of sinking nine balls in order - it is a fast fun game as your opponent may sink 8 balls and then miss the ninth. You sink the ninth ball and you have won!

A great game to relieve stress - the balls are heavier and a more powerful shot is needed. If you are skillful enough to run the ball along the cushion the ball will always fall in the pocket, why not give it a go for a fun evening out .

The object of the game is to pot the 9 ball by ensuring that you always hit the lowest numbered ball first.

The object balls are racked in a diamond shape, with the 1 ball at the top of the diamond and the 9 ball in the centre of the diamond. The other balls are racked in random order as tightly as possible.

The game begins with the cue ball in hand behind the line at the other end of the table.

The 1 ball must be hit first on the break - if not it is a foul. After the break shot has been taken the oncoming player may play a push out - an attempt to move the cue ball into a better position.

The player must declare that they are playing a push out. The next player can choose to shoot from that position or pass it back.

The following shots are classed as foul shots:


Not hitting the lowest numbered ball on the table
Failure to hit the number 1 ball first on the break
If any ball jumps off the table
Missing any ball you are aiming for
Potting the cue ball
Failure to drive the cue ball or any numbered ball to the cushion
Three consecutive fouls means you lose the game

The object of the game is to win by being the first player to pot all of their colours (red / yellow) or (spots / stripes) and then pot the Eight ball.

The balls are set up in a triangle with the eight ball in the middle on the spot.

The cue ball is placed behind the line at the opposite end of the table.

If a coloured ball is potted on the break then that is the colour for that player.

If no coloured ball is potted then the next player can choose any colour to pot.

The following shots are classed as foul strikes:



Potting the cue ball
Potting an opponents ball
Failing to contact with the cue ball
If any ball jumps off the table
Missing any ball you are aiming to hit