This is a guide for those Lighthouse Keepers who may be unfamiliar with the rules of their game. Much like surviving the storm outside the tower walls, Texas Hold'em is a game of skill, strategy, and luck.
Objective of the Game
The goal of the game is simple. Win as many chips (Sanity) as possible by having the best hand or by convincing others to fold. Players use two private cards (hold cards) and five public cards (community card) to create the best five-card poker hand.
Setup
Players: Typically 2 to 10 players.
Deck: A standard 52-card deck.
Chips: Used to place bets.
Each game round begins with two players posting the "blinds" (forced bets). The player to the dealer's left posts the small blind (in the case of The Black Lamp, 5 Sanity), and the next player posts the big blind (10 Sanity). These ensure there's something to win in every hand.
The Flow of the Game
A round of Texas Hold'em is divided into four stages:
1. The Deal
Each player is dealt two private cards face down, known as "hole cards."
These cards are for the player's eyes only and will be combined with the community cards to form a hand.
2. The Betting Rounds
Texas Hold'em has four betting rounds. Players can fold, check, bet, call, or raise depending on their position and cards.
a. Pre-Flop
After the hole cards are dealt, the first round of betting begins.
From left to right, players decide to call (match the big blind), raise (increase betting more than the big blind), or fold (give up their cards and the pot).
Betting continues until all players who have not folded have placed equal bets.
The Flop
The dealer places three community cards face up on the table. These are shared by all players.
Another round of betting occurs as in the pre-flop.
If no one has bet, players can "check" and pass the opportunity to bet onto the next player.
The Turn
A fourth community card is dealt face up.
Another betting round begins.
The River
The fifth and final community card is dealt face up.
A final round of betting ensues.
The Showdown
If more than one player remains after the last betting round, players reveal their hole cards. The best five-card hand wins the pot. The hierarchy of poker hands, from highest to lowest, is:
Royal Flush: A, K, Q, J, 10 of the same suit.
Straight Flush: Five consecutive cards of the same suit.
Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank.
Full House: Three of a kind and a pair.
Flush: Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence.
Straight: Five consecutive cards, not of the same suit.
Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank.
Two Pair: Two sets of pairs.
One Pair: A single pair.
High Card: The highest card if no other hand is formed.
Strategies for Beginners
Initially, only play strong hands to avoid losing any chips.
Don't chase hands. If you don't have something by the flop, it is probably best to fold.
Be smart about bluffing. Only bluff when the cards on the table could make a great hand with one or two lucky hold cards.
Know your friends. Try to spot patterns in your friends betting behavior and reactions.
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