<P> Following a shuffle of the cards , play begins with each player being dealt two cards face down , with the player in the small blind receiving the first card and the player in the button seat receiving the last card dealt . ( As in most poker games , the deck is a standard 52 - card deck containing no jokers . ) These cards are the players ' hole or pocket cards . These are the only cards each player will receive individually , and they will only ( possibly ) be revealed at the showdown , making Texas hold ' em a closed poker game . </P>
<P> Following a shuffle of the cards , play begins with each player being dealt two cards face down , with the player in the small blind receiving the first card and the player in the button seat receiving the last card dealt . ( As in most poker games , the deck is a standard 52 - card deck containing no jokers . ) These cards are the players ' hole or pocket cards . These are the only cards each player will receive individually , and they will only ( possibly ) be revealed at the showdown , making Texas hold ' em a closed poker game . </P>
who gets the first card in texas holdem
who gets the first card in texas holdem
the player in the small blind
the player in the small blind