What is a Tournament: A tournament is an organized competition in which many participants play each other in individual games. After each game, each participant is either dropped from the tournament, or advances to play a new opponent in the next "round." Usually, all the rounds of the tournament lead up to the "finals", in which the only remaining participants play, and the winner of the finals is the winner of the entire tournament.

What is Texas Hold'em: Texas hold 'em (or simply hold 'em or holdem) is the most popular of the community card poker games. It is the most popular poker variant played in casinos in the western United States, and its no-limit form is used in the main event of the World Series of Poker (abbreviated WSOP), widely recognized as the world championship of the game.

Below are a set of basic Texas Hold'em tournament rules you can follow when you play the game.

Texas Hold'em Tournament Rule 1Identify the dealer

In Texas Hold'em tournament rule no. 1, the dealer is identified using the dealer button, a device made of plastic. When the dealer is determined, the Texas Hold'em tournament requires all players to take their turns at betting on a clockwise manner, starting to the left of the dealer. The player who is immediately to the left of the dealer will assume the dealer button after each round is completed.

Texas Hold'em Tournament Rule 2Make the Blinds

The Texas Hold'em tournament rule no. 2 requires the two players sitting to the left of the dealer to make the first bets. The one sitting closes to the dealer places in the 'small blind' which, according to basic Texas Hold'em tournament rules, is equivalent to half of the minimum bet. The other player will make the 'big blind' and this is equivalent to the minimum bet, as stated in the basic Texas Hold'em tournament rules.

Say, for example the betting structure adopted is $2/4. This means that, according to the Texas Hold'em tournament rules, the small blind should be $1 and the big blind should be $2.

Texas Hold'em Tournament Rule 3Starting the Rounds

The Texas Hold'em tournament rules require that the dealer give two pocket cards to each player and place down five more at the center of the table. These five cards are called community cards and will be dealt face up later in the game. Texas Hold'em tournament rule no. 3 requires the player next to the one who posted the big blind will now start the first betting round.

Texas Hold'em Tournament Rule 4The Flop, Turn, and River

In Texas Hold'em tournament rules, the flop is the stage where the first three of the community cards are 'flopped' or revealed. After the initial betting round, the player who made the big blind has an option to 'bet' or 'check' the previous player's call. Checking in Texas Hold'em tournament rules means that the player may pass if no bet has been made.

The fourth card that is dealt face up is called the turn and this signals the end of the second betting round and the beginning of the third round. After the third round, the Texas Hold'em tournament rule no. 4 requires the delaer to open another community card, called the river or fifth street.

Texas Hold'em Tournament Rule 5The Showdown

After the final betting round is completed, Texas Hold'em tournament rule no. 5 requires all players to show their hands. The first one to reveal his cards is the one immediately to the left of the dealer. The rest of the players follow clockwise from left, choosing either to fold or show.

Simple warning about gambling: Know your limit and play within it'