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Tournament & Table Rules

How To Play Texas Hold’em

Master the cards, the betting rounds, and tournament strategy. From the opening shuffle to the river showdown.

The Tournament Format

Buy-In, Chip Stacks & The Grand Pot

We run a classic freezeout tournament structure. Equal footing, calculated risks, and high-energy showdowns where every chip counts.

01

The Buy-In

Every player pays an identical set entry fee to take their seat at the table. All entry fees are pooled directly into the tournament championship pot.

02

Starting Chip Stacks

Each contender receives an identical starting stack of casino tournament chips. No real cash is wagered during hands—chips represent your table life.

03

Winner Takes The Pot

Play continues through escalating blind levels until the final table showdown. Whoever amasses the entire chip stack at the end walks away with the grand pot!

Game Formats

Limit vs. No-Limit Texas Hold’em

Understanding bet structuring dictates your tactical play. Here is the decisive difference between both formats:

Structured & Controlled

Limit Hold’em (Fixed Limit)

Bets and raises are set to fixed increments established before each hand.

  • Pre-Flop & Flop: All bets and raises must equal the predetermined Small Bet (e.g. £10).
  • Turn & River: All bets and raises increase to the predetermined Big Bet (e.g. £20).
  • Raise Cap: Each round usually has a strict maximum cap of 1 bet and 3 raises (4 actions total).
  • Style: Mathematical, pot-odds focused, lower variance, and impossible to lose your whole stack in one go.
Aggressive & Uncapped

No-Limit Hold’em (NLHE)

Any player can push all their chips across the line at any point during their turn.

  • Minimum Bet: Must always equal at least the size of the current Big Blind.
  • Minimum Raise: Must be at least equal to the amount of the previous bet or raise in that round.
  • The Famous “All-In”: You are permitted to bet your entire chip stack whenever action is on you.
  • Style: Psychological warfare, pressure plays, explosive tension, and high table drama.
Interactive Step-By-Step

The Rounds of a Hand

Click the timeline tabs or use the navigation arrows to follow every deal, card drop, and available player action from start to finish.

Stage 01

The Shuffle & Compulsory Blinds

Before a single card is dealt, tournament structure and positions are established:

The Dealer Button (BTN)

A round disk marks the nominal dealer. The button rotates clockwise one position after every single completed hand.

Small Blind (SB)

The player directly to the dealer button’s left must post a compulsory opening bet before seeing any cards.

Big Blind (BB)

The player directly to the Small Blind’s left posts the full blind (typically double the small blind). This creates the starting pot.

The Professional Shuffle & Cut

The dealer executes a riffle-riffle-strip-riffle shuffle, presents the deck for a cut using a cut-card, and secures the deck.

Stage 02

The Deal & Pre-Flop Betting

The cards are distributed and the first active round of wagering commences:

Dealing Hole Cards

The dealer deals two cards face-down to each player one at a time, beginning with the Small Blind and finishing on the Button.

First to Act: “Under the Gun” (UTG)

Action begins with the player seated directly to the left of the Big Blind. Action then proceeds clockwise around the table.

Your Allowed Pre-Flop Moves:

  • Fold: Toss your hole cards face down to the dealer and forfeit all interest in this hand.
  • Call: Match the amount of the current Big Blind.
  • Raise: Increase the wagering size, forcing all following players to match your raise or fold.
Stage 03

The Burn & The Flop

The first communal cards hit the felt to connect with your private hole cards:

The Burn Card

The dealer slides the top card face down into the muck pile (“burning” it) to prevent marked cards or card-peeking.

The Flop (3 Cards)

The dealer deals three community cards face up together in the center of the table. Every active player can use these cards.

Post-Flop Actions (Order resets to first active player left of the Button):

  • Check: Pass action to the next player without betting any chips (only if nobody has bet yet).
  • Bet: Stake chips into the pot. Once a bet is placed, nobody else can check.
  • Call / Raise / Fold: Standard responses to any bet placed in front of you.
Stage 04

The Turn (Fourth Street)

The suspense mounts as hands start materializing into straights, flushes, or full houses:

The Second Burn

The dealer burns another card face down into the muck to maintain deck security.

The Turn Card

A single 4th community card is dealt face up next to the flop. Players now evaluate 6 total cards (2 hole + 4 board).

Round 3 Betting Protocol:

Wagering starts again with the first active player to the dealer button’s left. In Limit games, bet sizing doubles here to the “Big Bet”. Active players may Check, Bet, Call, Raise, or Fold.

Stage 05

The River (Fifth Street)

The 5th and final community card is revealed—no more cards will be dealt:

The Final Burn

The dealer burns a third and final card face down into the muck pile.

The River Card

The 5th community card lands face up. All remaining players now know their absolute best 5-card combination out of 7 total cards.

Final Betting Round:

This is the final opportunity to bet for value or execute a calculated bluff. If a bet is called, the hand advances to the final reveal.

Stage 06

The Showdown & Awarding the Pot

The bets are settled and the remaining contenders lay their cards face up on the felt:

Determining the Best Hand

Players make the highest possible 5-card poker hand using any combination of their 2 hole cards and the 5 board cards.

Order of Reveal

The player who made the last aggressive bet or raise on the river shows first. If everyone checked, the first active player left of the button shows first.

Awarding Chips & Split Pots:

The dealer verifies hand rankings and pushes the entire pot to the winning player. If two players hold identical hands, the pot is sliced and split equally.

Step 1 of 6
Card Hierarchy

Hand Rankings (High to Low)

Keep this in mind when building your five-card showdown hand:

1 Royal Flush A-K-Q-J-10 all of the identical suit
2 Straight Flush Five consecutive cards of the same suit
3 Four of a Kind Four cards of identical numerical rank
4 Full House Three of a kind combined with any pair
5 Flush Any five cards sharing the same suit
6 Straight Five sequential cards of mixed suits
7 Three of a Kind Three cards of identical rank
8 Two Pair Two independent pairs of matching cards
9 One Pair Two cards of equal numerical rank
10 High Card No matching combinations; highest card plays

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Interactive Table Tools

Live Pot & Dealer Calculations

Calculate live call value, pot odds, and potential payouts as a player—or quickly compute exact dealer chop payouts and uneven odd chip allocations during a split pot.

Player Tool

Live Pot & Payout Calculator

Work out your total potential return and the pot odds required to make a profitable call.

Total Pot if Called: 0 chips
Net Profit on Win: 0 chips
Pot Odds (Ratio): 0 : 1
Equity Needed to Call: 0.0%
Dealer & Croupier Tool

Split Pot (Chop) Calculator

Divide the pot evenly among tying hands and determine exact odd chip distribution instantly.

Each Player Receives: 0 chips
Remaining Odd Chips: 0 chips
Dealer Rule: In an uneven chop, odd chips cannot be divided. Award the extra chip(s) to the winning player seated closest to the dealer button's left.