How To Play Fixed Limit Texas Holdem Poker

This article shows how to play a game of Fixed Limit Texas Holdem Poker by going through a complete hand of the game. Starting from before the cards are dealt and going through to determining the winner at the end of the hand we show the betting rules and order of play. Fixed Limit Texas Holdem poker can be played in both cash games and online poker tournaments at all of the major online poker sites - at a wide variety of buy-in levels ranging from just cents through to $100’s.

Pre-Flop

Before any cards are dealt one player must be designated at the dealer for the first hand. This position rotates clockwise around the table after each hand and determines the order of play. The 2 players to the immediate left of the dealer for each hand will post ‘blinds’. These are bets made before cards are dealt which make up the initial pot, the size of these bets are determined in advance and are typically approximately 1% of the average stack. The player to the immediate left of the dealer posts a ‘small blind’ of half size, with the next player left posting a ‘big blind’ of the bet amount.

Next each player is dealt 2 cards face-down, these are viewed only by each individual player and are referred to as ‘hole cards’. The first round of betting will then commence starting with the player seated to the left of the big blind – known as the ‘Under The Gun’ player.

Limit Poker Betting

The size of bets are determined in advance in fixed limit Texas Holdem poker, each player in turn must either match the current bet - known as ‘calling’, raise the bet single increments or fold their hand. If a player raises then everyone at the table will be given an opportunity to react to the raise. The most common format is to have a maximum of 4 raises per round. In the initial round the big-blind is considered the opening bet and must be matched by any player wishing to remain in the hand.

Limit Flop Play

Once betting is completed 3 cards are dealt face-up in the middle of the table, this is commonly known as the flop. These are community cards – all players will use some combination of their own hand and the community cards to determine the winner at showdown. A second betting round will then begin, this time started by the player to the immediate left of the dealer position and ending with the dealer or player closest to this position on the right.

Turn Play

The 4th community card is then dealt – known as the ‘turn’ – followed by another betting round in which stakes are doubled from the initial bets. For example with blinds of $5 / $10 and initial bets and raises at $10 the betting after the turn would be $20 and raises the same amount. The final community card, called the ‘river’ is then dealt with a final betting round at the higher level following this.

Showdown in fixed limit poker

Once betting is completed, players remaining in the hand must show their hands to determine who wins the pot. The best poker hand is determined by combining each players 2 ‘hole cards’ with the 5 community cards to make the best possible 5-card poker hand. This can be in any combination such as 2-3, 1-4 or even just the 5 ‘board cards’. Once the winner is determined the dealer position moves one place to the left and the next hand can begin.