Preflop, deal the cards starting with the small blind and give every player one card at a time, clockwise, until each player has two hole cards. The player in that position has the small blind, and the next player has the big blind. Start pitching to the left of the player with the dealer button. Ensure that the bottom card is completely covered by your hand. Hold the deck in one hand with the cards fanned slightly. Count them quickly to ensure that there’s an ante for every player. Make sure the button is in the proper place and players put their blinds and antes on the table. The shuffling gives players time to put out their blinds and antes. Practice increases the speed of Texas Hold’em. Shuffle once more, and the deck is ready to go. Riffle and separate the cards into two stacks again, repeating two or three times, per the preference of the players.įinally, cut the cards by putting one stack on top of another.

Next, the dealer scrambles the cards on the table and organizes them back into a deck before dividing it into two stacks of cards. Always count the number of cards at the start of a new game. Without a shuffler, the dealer should start a new deck by fanning it out and counting to ensure there are 52 cards. And with two decks, one deck can shuffle while the other is in play. If an automatic shuffler is available, using it will help to move the game along faster. The dealer must shuffle the cards between every hand, no matter the action. The button, blinds, and position will come more naturally. As a player, that person can focus more on watching competitors and working various strategies. In the end, those who learn the ins and outs of dealing Texas Hold’em poker also have an edge when playing the game. They also keep tabs on the pot and divide it according to the winners and losers for each hand. They help the game run smoothly, track the action, and count the chips. The dealer - whether in a casual home game or one where the stakes are high - is the key to running a fair game. Dealers should understand “burning” cards and handling misdeals as well. There are a few other details that are just as important, such as moving the button and ensuring that players make their moves in the proper order. Most poker players can learn the ropes without much experience. These involve shuffling and then dealing hole cards and community cards. There are some basic methods and techniques to follow when it comes to dealing Texas Hold’em poker.

Texas holdem blind rules