While betting limits, time limits, and other technicalities vary from table to table, there are some general rules that always apply to Texas Hold'em poker. Before you begin playing online, it's important to review the rules to prevent any misunderstandings once game play has begun.

If you're new to Texas Hold'em, playing online is a great way to learn the rules of the game and the best betting strategy for every hand. Over time, you'll also gain a better idea of the odds for playing each hand and how to read other players by their bets and their showdown hands. One of the best places to learn the rules of Texas Hold'em is VIPpoker.com.

If you log onto VIPpoker.com, you'll find a listing of the official Texas Hold'em rules. If you register for a Texas Hold'em game, you'll find a listing of the betting limits, the type of game, and the buy-in amounts. The minimum buy-in is often calculated by multiplying the big blind by 20. If you sit down at a table and your buy-in amount doesn't meet the minimum requirement, you will receive a prompt on your computer screen with the minimum buy-in for the table.

The betting in Texas Hold'em occurs after all of the players receive two cards face down. After the first round of betting, the dealer burns a card and then places three cards, "the flop," face up on the table. Players bet on their hands using these community cards and then the dealer reveals the fourth community card, "the turn." After another round of betting, the dealer places a final card face up, "the river," and a final round of betting occurs.