Poker rules: how to play Texas Hold'em
In Texas Hold’em each player gets two private cards and shares five community cards on the table. There are four betting rounds: preflop, flop, turn and river. You win the pot by making the best five-card hand at showdown, or by betting so that everyone else folds.
What you need
Section titled “What you need”- 2 to 10 players and a standard 52-card deck.
- Chips. Online, the app handles everything for you.
- A dealer button that moves one seat to the left after every hand.
The blinds
Section titled “The blinds”Before the cards are dealt, the two players to the left of the button post forced bets:
- Small blind (SB): usually half of the big blind.
- Big blind (BB): the minimum bet for that table, for example $0.10 at $0.05/$0.10.
The blinds make sure there is always something to play for.
How a hand is played
Section titled “How a hand is played”- Preflop. Everyone gets two cards face down. The player to the left of the big blind acts first.
- Flop. Three community cards are dealt face up. A new betting round starts with the first active player to the left of the button.
- Turn. A fourth community card, then another betting round.
- River. The fifth and last community card, then the final betting round.
- Showdown. Remaining players show their cards. The best five-card hand wins the pot.
What you can do on your turn
Section titled “What you can do on your turn”- Check: pass without betting, only if nobody has bet yet.
- Bet: put chips in when nobody has bet.
- Call: match the current bet.
- Raise: increase the current bet. In No-Limit, a raise must be at least as big as the previous bet or raise.
- Fold: give up your cards and any chips you have already put in.
- All-in: bet all your chips. If others have more, a side pot is created for the extra chips.
A full example hand
Section titled “A full example hand”You hold A♥K♥ on the button. You raise, the big blind calls.
- Flop: K♣9♥4♥. You have top pair and a flush draw. The big blind checks, you bet, they call.
- Turn: 2♠. Both players check.
- River: 7♥. You make a flush. The big blind bets, you raise, they call.
- Showdown: they show K♦Q♣, a pair of kings. Your heart flush wins the pot.
How the winner is decided
Section titled “How the winner is decided”Each player makes the best five-card hand from their two cards and the five on the table. You can use both, one or none of your own cards. Hands are ranked from royal flush down to high card; see our poker hand rankings. If two hands are exactly equal, the pot is split.
Heads-up (two players)
Section titled “Heads-up (two players)”With only two players, the button posts the small blind and acts first before the flop, then last on every later round.
How many cards do you get in Texas Hold’em?
Section titled “How many cards do you get in Texas Hold’em?”Two private cards each, plus five community cards shared by all players.
Who goes first in poker?
Section titled “Who goes first in poker?”Before the flop, the player to the left of the big blind. After the flop, the first active player to the left of the button.
What happens if two players have the same hand?
Section titled “What happens if two players have the same hand?”They split the pot. Suits never break ties in Texas Hold’em.
Do you have to use both of your cards?
Section titled “Do you have to use both of your cards?”No. Your hand is the best five cards out of seven: you can use two, one or none of your own cards.
How many players can play Texas Hold’em?
Section titled “How many players can play Texas Hold’em?”From 2 to 10 players at one table. Online, tables of 6 or 9 are the most common.