Night of Nuts
Know the flow

Texas Hold'em Rules

The most popular form of poker. Each player makes the best five-card hand from their two private cards and the five shared community cards.

A pair of hearts with stacks of poker chips

The Objective

Win chips by making the best five-card hand at showdown, or by betting hard enough that everyone else folds first. You may use any combination of your two hole cards and the five community cards, including all five community cards (playing the board).

Players & the Button

Play with 2 to 10 players. The dealer button marks the nominal dealer and rotates one seat clockwise after every hand, so position and the blinds pass around the table fairly.

The Blinds

A stack of poker chips

Before cards are dealt, the two players left of the button post forced bets:

  • Small Blind: one seat left of the button, posts half the minimum bet.
  • Big Blind: two seats left, posts the full minimum bet.

Blinds guarantee there's always something to play for. In a tournament, blind levels rise on a timer so the action keeps building.

On Your Turn

FoldGive up the hand and any chips already bet.
CheckPass the action along, if no bet is live.
CallMatch the current bet to stay in.
RaiseIncrease the bet; others must call or re-raise.

The Four Betting Streets

Pre-Flop

Hole Cards

Two cards face-down to each player. First betting round, starting left of the big blind.

The Flop

3 Cards

Three community cards dealt face-up. A new betting round begins left of the button.

The Turn

4th Card

A fourth community card is added. Another full betting round follows.

The River

5th Card

The final community card. Last betting round, then showdown.

The Showdown

If two or more players remain after the final bet, cards are revealed and the best five-card hand takes the pot. Ties split the pot equally. If everyone folds to a bet, the last player standing wins without showing.

Tournament Play

  • Everyone starts with an equal stack; play until one person has all the chips.
  • Blind levels rise on a fixed timer, which is what the clock on the screen is running.
  • Bust out of chips and you're out (in a freeze-out). Two players left is heads-up.
  • Breaks are a chance to top up snacks, chip up, and stretch before blinds climb again.

House Etiquette

  • Act in turn: don't fold, bet, or reach for chips out of order.
  • One motion for a raise; announce "raise" before you move chips if in doubt.
  • Keep your cards on the table and in view; protect them with a chip.
  • Verbal declarations are binding. "Call" means call.
  • No talking about a live hand you've folded out of.

The House Game

We'll play Texas Hold'em. For more info, check this out: nightofnuts.com.

We shuffle behind the dealer and cut in front. Seats will be assigned. Aim to be here at 7:30pm, as the game will start no later than 8pm. You may still join after it's started, but your chip stack will play the blinds in turn from the start.

We're playing tournament style with a $40 buy-in and a one-time option to rebuy for $40 when you're kicked out. Bring cash, please!

The Apps We're Using

A couple of apps keep the night running smoothly:

Tick Tock Poker Clock app icon
Tick Tock Poker Clock Times the round levels, so the blinds go up right on schedule.
Buy-In Boss app icon
Buy-In Boss Manages the tournament: randomizes seat placement, tracks the payout bubble, and sorts out payouts.
New to the rankings? Keep the poker hand cheat sheet open in another tab. It settles every showdown.