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Introduction

Rules

Texas Holdem Full House

Pyroxene’s Common Flop Odds. Texas Hold’em Flop Odds. There are two other ways to flop this type of full house that have an equal chance: (1) tripping the first and third cards while pairing the second, (2) tripping the second and third cards while pairing the first.

  1. A single 52-card deck is used. All cards count as its poker value. Aces may be high or low.
  2. One player is designated as the dealer, usually with a laminated marker. This person does not have to physically deal the game. However it is important that a symbolic dealer position rotate around the table.
  3. The player to the dealer's left must make a 'small blind' bet. The player to the left of the small blind must make a 'big blind' bet. The amounts of both blinds should be specified in advance. The purpose of the blinds is to get the ball rolling with some money in the pot.
  4. Two cards shall be dealt down to each player, starting with the person to the dealer's left.
  5. The player to the left of the big blind must either call or raise the big blind bet. The play in turn will go around the table according to normal poker rules, which I assume the reader already knows. Table rules will specify any limits on the size or number of allowed raises.
  6. The small blind may also raise the big blind. If nobody raises the big blind the player making the big blind has the option to raise his own bet. The term for this is the 'big blind option.'
  7. Three community cards will be dealt face up in the center of the table. This is called the 'flop.'
  8. Another round of betting will ensue, starting with the player to the dealer's left.
  9. A fourth community card will be dealt face up in the center of the table. This card is called the 'turn.'
  10. Another round of betting will ensue, starting with the player to the dealer's left. Generally the minimum bet is double the first two rounds of betting.
  11. A fifth and final community card will be dealt face up in the center of the table. This card is called the 'river.'
  12. Another round of betting will ensue, starting with the player to the dealer's left. The minimum bet is generally the same as the previous round.
  13. Each player still in the game at the end will determine the highest poker value among his own two cards and the five community cards. It is NOT a requirement that the player use both of his own cards. The player with the hand of highest poker value shall win. Following are the hand rankings.

    1. Straight flush: Five consecutive and suited cards. For example 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
    2. Four of a kind: Four cards of the same rank, plus any fifth card. For example Q, Q, Q, Q ,4.
    3. Full house: Three of a kind and a pair. For example 6, 6, 6, J , J.
    4. Flush: Any five cards of the same suit, except for a higher ranking straight flush. For example A, Q, 8, 4 , 3.
    5. Straight: Five consecutive cards, except for a higher ranking straight flush. For example 8, 9, 10, J, Q.
    6. Three of a kind: Three cards of the same rank, plus any other two cards. For example 5, 5, 5, Q ,2 .
    7. Two pair: Two pairs, plus any fifth card. For example 8, 8, 2, 2 ,Q .
    8. Pair: A pair and any other three cards. For example 7, 7, 2, 5 ,A .
    9. ? High: Any five cards that do not form any higher poker hand. A king high hand for example might be K, Q, 7, 5 ,4 .
  14. If two or more players have poker values of the same rank then the individual cards will be used to break the tie. If necessary all five cards will be considered.
  15. I get asked a lot whether the two unused cards in a player's hand are used to break a tie. The answer is a firm NO. The two unused cards do not matter.
  16. If a new player arrives at the table he should either wait for the big blind position or put up an amount equal to the big blind, amounting to a call of the big blind.
  17. If a bet is made after another player runs out of money, then a separate pot is created. The player that ran out of money is not eligible to win the second pot. If more than one player runs out of money then multiple separate pots can be created.
  18. In formal games players may not bet with cash or buy chips with cash in the middle of a hand.
  19. There are numerous rules of etiquette, which I won't get into.
  20. There house may set the betting rules. There are three main types. A 'structured' game features raises of specified amounts. For example a '3/6 game' would mean that raises after the deal and flop are $3, and after the turn and river are $6. There is usually a limit to the number of raises a player may make, typically three. A 'pot limit' game has structured minimum raises but the maximum raise may be anything up to the amount in the pot at the time the raise is made. A 'no limit' game also has structured minimum raises but there is no maximum raise.

Examples

  1. The question asked 'What is the “Top Five Cards” rule and how does it apply to splitting pots?' Has become the post at Poker Stack Exchange that people who post hand reading questions are usually referred to when we close a question. We usually say something like this is a duplicate of the top five cards rule and hopefully provide a link here.
  2. Straight flush A straight flush is a five-card straight, all in the same suit. For example, 7-6-5-4-3 all of clubs. Four of a kind Four of a kind Four of a kind, or quads, are four cards of equal value. For example, four jacks. Full house A full house contains a set (3) of cards of one value and a pair of another value.
  3. Simple Texas Hold'em odds and probabilities for common situations. Includes preflop odds, outs, and percentages for flush draws, straight draws, and more. You will complete a Full House on the turn: 10.8 to 1 (8.5%) Note that the figures above also apply on the turn to calculate odds for the river since you have the same 1 card to come.

Example 1

Board: A, 2, 4, 5, 6
Player 1: J, 6
Player 2: 7, Q

Texas Hold'em Full House Kicker

Player 1 wins. Both have an ace high flush, so the second highest card is considered. Player 1's jack beats player 2's 7. The only way to have a flush tie is if the flush is entirely on the board and no hole cards are higher than the lowest card on the board in the same suit.

Example 2

Board: J, A, 7, 5, 6
Player 1: 2, J
Player 2: 10, J

Player 2 wins. Both have a pair of jacks so the singletons are considered. High highet singleton in both hands is an ace so the second highest singleton is considered. Player 1's second highest singleton is a 7, compared to player 2's 10. A 10 beats a 7 so player 2 wins.

Example 3

Board: A, A, K, Q, J
Player 1: Q, J
Player 2: Q, 2

Tie. Both have a two pair of aces and queens, with a king singleton. Some people incorrectly believe that in such cases the unused cards are considered, in this case player 1's pair of jacks beating player 2's jack/2. Only the top five cards matter. The jacks and deuce are irrelevant.

One of the most important aspects of Texas Hold'em is the value of each two-card hand before the flop. The decision of how to play your first two cards is something you face every hand, and the value of your first two cards is highly correlated to your probability of winning.

The following table shows my power rating for each initial 2-card hand in a 10-player game. Wp gry online poker texas holdem. The numbers are on a 0 to 40 scale. Basically, you should only play hands that are dark green, blue, or purple. Of course you should be more be more liberal in late position and picky in early position. If forced I would say you should need 10 points in late position and 19 points in early position to call the big blind. If your table is loose, as if often the case online, you can play a bit looser yourself.

Use the top table if you have a pair, the middle table if your cards are suited, and the bottom table if your cards are unsuited. Except for a pair,look up your high card along the left and your low card along the top.

Following are the links to my tables of the value of each intial hand according to the number of players. The 10-player section explains the methodology for creating the table table.

Pot Odds

The following table shows the probability of making various hands after the flop and the correct 'pot odds.' The pot odds are the breakeven ratio of money in the pot to the amount you have to bet for the player to be indifferent about calling, assuming the player would definitely win if he makes the hand (a big if) and there are no additional bets (another big if). This table is a good starting point the player should make mental adjustments for the probability of winning without making the hand, losing with making the hand, and expected future bets. The odds of a two pair improving to a full house are the same as those for four to an inside straight.

Pot Odds — After Flop

Texas Hold'em Full House Split Pot

HandProbability of
Making Hand
Pot Odds
Four to a flush34.97%1.86
Four to an outside straight31.45%2.18
Four to an inside straight16.47%5.07

The next table shows the pot odds after the turn.

Pot Odds — After Turn

HandProbability of
Making Hand
Pot Odds
4 to a flush19.57%4.11
4 to an outside straight17.39%4.75
4 to an inside straight8.70%10.50

Hand Strength Calculator

I'm proud to present my new and improved Poker Odds Calculator. Enter any situation in Texas Hold 'Em, and it will tell you the probability of each possible outcome.

Poker Tournament Calculator

My Poker Tournament Calculator will determine each player's probability, for up to nine players, of finishing in each place, and his expected share of any prize pool, assuming equal skill among all players. It produces the same results as what is known as the Independent Chip Model.

Internal Links

  • Pinapple — Strategy and analysis of which card to discard before the flop.
  • Bad Beat Jackpots: What is the Probability of Hitting one?
  • Texas Hold 'Em Dominated Hand Probabilities: What is the probability one of your opponents has similar, and better, hole cards than yours?
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Texas Hold ‘em is one of the most popular forms of poker, and over the years it has developed a language all it’s own. While you’ll definitely want to be familiar with the most basic poker terms before trying out variations of the game, when you’re ready to tackle Texas Hold ‘em, consult this comprehensive glossary.

Poker Terms:

  • Anchor: The player seated in the last position before the dealer.
  • Ante: The minimum amount players must put in the pot before betting begins. This occurs prior to cards being dealt. Antes are separate from blinds. In Texas Hold ‘em tournaments, they typically appear in later stages of play.
  • Baby: A card with a low rank.
  • Blank: A community card that does not affect the players’ hands.
  • Bluff: Pretending that you have a better hand than you do.
  • Board: Card that are on the table and are thus “on the board.”
  • Burning a Card: Discarding the top card of the deck. This is done before the community cards are dealt at the beginning of each round of betting.
  • Buy-In: The minimum amount you must bring to the poker game. Also, the cost of participating in a poker tournament. In Fixed-Limit Texas Hold ‘em, it is the equivalent of 10 times the small blind.
  • Catch: When a player makes the hand for which they were drawing.

Community cards are the cards that are dealt face-up and shared by all players.

  • Community Cards: The cards that are dealt face-up and shared by all players.
  • Dealer Button: The disc that identifies the dealer’s position on the table.
  • Drawing to a Hand: When a player remains in a round hoping to make his or her hand when more cards are dealt.
  • Flop: The first three community cards dealt face-up on the table.
  • Free Card: A community card on the turn or river in which there was no betting in the previous round (everyone checked).
  • Hand: A player’s best five cards, always including the two initial cards dealt to the individual.
  • Hole Cards: Also known as Pocket Cards, these are the two cards dealt face-down to each player at the beginning of every round.
  • House: The host of a game. Generally, a casino or poker website.
  • Kicker: The remaining undeclared card in a five-card poker hand (the top high card after matched hands).
  • Limit Game: A version of Texas Hold ‘em in which a player can only bet or raise the equivalent of the big blind.
  • Live Blind: When the player who posted the big blind still has the option of raising when it is his or her turn.
  • Muck: When a player discards his or her hand without showing it to the table.
  • No-Limit Game: A version of Texas Hold ‘em in which players may bet any amount of chips they choose.
  • Nuts: The best possible hand based on the cards that were dealt.
  • Outs: The cards that may allow a player to win the hand.
  • Off Suit: Two cards of different suits.

The first two “down” cards dealt to a player are called Pocket cards or Hole cards.

  • Pocket Cards: The first two “down” cards dealt to a player, often called Hole Cards by stud players.
  • Post a Blind: When a player puts in money for a forced blind.
  • Pot: The amount of chips/money that accumulates as players place bets. In a game of Texas Hold ‘em, all winnings are paid from the pot.
  • Pot Limit: A version of Texas Hold ‘em in which players may only bet up to the amount of money in the pot.
  • Rags: Bad cards.
  • Rake: The percentage of the pot that is taken by the house.
  • River Card: The final community card that is dealt.
  • Semi-Bluff: Bluffing when a hand still has drawing potential.
  • Showdown: When remaining players reveal their hands to determine a winner after the last betting round.
  • Slow Playing: When a player does not play aggressively with a powerful hand. Also known as “Sandbagging.”
  • Stack: A player’s chips.
  • Straddle: An optional third blind posted by the player three seats left of the dealer. It is equal to twice the amount of the big blind and announced before the cards are dealt.

Poker Hand Terms:

  • Ace-High: A hand composed of five cards that contains one ace but no hand combinations (e.g. a straight or a pair).
  • Bad Beat: When a player that has a strong hand is beaten by an even stronger hand.
  • Big Pair: A pair of cards with a value of 10 or more.
  • Big Slick: An ace and king. This is one of the best starting hands in Texas hold ‘em.
  • Big Chick: An ace and queen.

Full House Texas Holdem

Texas

Broadway is a straight composed of 10, J, Q, K, A.

  • Broadway: A straight composed of 10, J, Q, K, A.
  • Boat: Same as a “Full House”.
  • Bottom Pair: A pair of cards that includes the smallest ranked card in the flop, the turn or the river.
  • Bullets: A pair of Aces. Also known as “Pocket Rockets”.
  • Dead Man’s Hand: A two-pair hand of aces and 8’s. Legend has it that Wild Bill Hickock was shot and killed while holding this hand.
  • Deuces: A pair of 2’s.
  • Doyle Brunson: A 10-two hand of any suit. Named for the player who won the World Series of Poker with this hand two years in a row.
  • Flush: A hand in which all five cards have the same suit.
  • Flush Draw: A hand where four cards are the same suit, and only one more card is needed to form a flush.

A 4 of a kind has four different cards of the same rank or value.

  • Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same ranking.
  • Full House: A hand made of a pair and three-of-a-kind (also known as a boat).
  • Gutshot: When the two cards in a player’s hand and two community cards form the high and low ends of a straight, leaving him or her one card from making the hand. Also known as an inside straight draw.
  • Hooks: When hole cards (a.k.a. pocket cards) are a pair of jacks.
  • Made Hand: When a player makes a pair or better.
  • Monster: An extremely strong hand.
  • Nut Flush: The highest-ranking flush being played during a round.
  • Over Pair: A pair that is higher than the rank of any of the community cards.
  • Pair: Two cards of the same rank and different suits.
  • Pocket Rockets: When a player’s receives a pair of aces as hole cards.
  • Quads: Four of a kind.
  • Rags: Cards that are useless and do not improve a player’s hand.

A top pair is created with the highest card on the board.

  • Rockets: See entry for “bullets.”
  • Royal Flush: A flush consisting of 10 J Q K A of any one suit.
  • Runner-Runner: A hand created by catching the needed cards on the turn and the river.
  • Seven Deuce: The weakest starting hand.
  • Straight: Five cards of any suit that are in sequential order.
  • Straight Flush: Five cards of the same suit that are in sequential order.
  • Suited Cards: Cards that are the same suit.
  • Top Pair: A pair that is made with the highest card on the board.

A 3 of a kind is 3 cards of the same rank but different suits.

  • Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank but different suits. Also known as a set.
  • Two Pair: A hand that has two pairs.

Poker Betting Terms:

  • All-In: When a player bets all of his or her chips on a hand.
  • Bet the Pot: Making a bet that is equal to the size of the pot.
  • Big Blind: A forced bet posted by the player two seats to the left of the dealer. This is the equivalent of the minimum bet in the game.
  • Call: When a player places a bet equal to the bet of the previous player.
  • Cap: In a Fixed-Limit Texas Hold ‘em game, a cap is the last raise in a round made before the predetermined maximum number of raises is reached. For the rest of the round, players can only call or fold.
  • Check: When a player wants to stay in the game but not place a bet. This is only allowed if no other bets have been placed in that round.
  • Check Raise: The act of checking, then raising if the betting gets back to you. This can only be done post-flop.

The fifth and final card dealt in a round is known as the River.

  • Fifth Street: The third round of betting, so called because all remaining players have five cards. Also the fifth community card that is dealt. May be known as the “River”.
  • Fold: When a player discards his or her cards and gives up a chance at the pot.
  • Fourth Street: The second betting round, so called because all remaining players have four cards. Also the fourth community card that is dealt. May be known as the “Turn”.
  • Limping In: When a player calls the big blind instead of raising.
  • Live Blinds: Blind bets that are currently in play.
  • Over the Top: To bet after a previous raise or raises. Also known as a “Re-Raise”.
  • Raise: When a player increases the bet made by the previous player. This action increases the stakes for the remaining players.
  • Re-Raise: An increase after previous raises. Also see “Over the Top.”
  • River: The fifth and final card dealt in a round. Also known as “Fifth Street.”
  • Small Blind: A forced bet posted by the player to the direct left of the dealer. It is equal to half the amount of the big blind.
  • Turn: Dealt card that signals the second round of betting. Also known as “Fourth Street.”

Poker Player Terms:

Texas Holdem Full House Rules

  • Dog: The player who is the underdog in the hand.
  • Go on Tilt: When a player plays irrationally or recklessly.
  • Heads Up: When there are only two players left in the game.
  • Maniac: A loose and aggressive player.
  • Rock: A player who will only play the best hands.
  • Rounder: A skilled player.
  • Under the Gun: The player that must act first during a betting round.