Whether you're looking to join a home game or understand what's happening on TV, this guide will walk you through all the essential rules.

Objective of the Game: How to Win

The primary objective in Texas Hold'em is to win the "pot" – the sum of all bets made during a hand. You can win the pot in two main ways:

  1. Have the best five-card poker hand at the showdown (when all betting is complete and remaining players reveal their cards).
  2. Be the last player remaining in the hand, meaning all other players have folded (given up their chance to win the pot).

Each player aims to make the best possible five-card hand using any combination of their two private "hole" cards and the five shared "community" cards.

Hand Rankings: Know What Beats What!

Understanding hand rankings is crucial. Hands are ranked from strongest to weakest. If two players have the same type of hand (e.g., both have a Flush), the hand with the higher-ranking cards wins (e.g., an Ace-high Flush beats a King-high Flush).

Here they are, from best to worst:

  1. Royal Flush: A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠ (Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Ten, all of the same suit). The unbeatable hand!
  2. Straight Flush: 9♥ 8♥ 7♥ 6♥ 5♥ (Five cards in sequence, all of the same suit).
  3. Four of a Kind: K♣ K♦ K♥ K♠ 7♦ (Four cards of the same rank, plus one kicker).
  4. Full House: A♥ A♦ A♣ J♠ J♦ (Three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank – "Aces full of Jacks").
  5. Flush: Q♦ 10♦ 7♦ 4♦ 2♦ (Any five cards of the same suit, not in sequence).
  6. Straight: 10♥ 9♠ 8♣ 7♦ 6♥ (Five cards in sequence, but not all the same suit. Ace can be high (A-K-Q-J-T) or low (A-2-3-4-5)).
  7. Three of a Kind (Set/Trips): 7♣ 7♦ 7♠ K♥ 2♠ (Three cards of the same rank, plus two unrelated kickers).
  8. Two Pair: J♥ J♣ 5♠ 5♦ Q♣ (Two cards of one rank, two cards of another rank, plus one kicker).
  9. One Pair: A♠ A♦ K♥ 10♣ 4♠ (Two cards of the same rank, plus three unrelated kickers).
  10. High Card: A♣ Q♦ 9♥ 5♠ 2♣ (If no player has any of the above, the hand with the highest single card wins. Ace is the highest).

Pro Tip: "See how different starting hands rank pre-flop with our calculator!"

The Button & Blinds: Starting the Action

Before any cards are dealt, some forced bets are made to create an initial pot.

  • Dealer Button (or "The Button"): A round disc that indicates who the nominal "dealer" is for the current hand. It moves one position clockwise after each hand. The player on the button is last to act in post-flop betting rounds, which is a significant advantage.
  • Small Blind (SB): The player immediately to the left of the Dealer Button posts the Small Blind. This is a forced bet of a predetermined amount.
  • Big Blind (BB): The player immediately to the left of the Small Blind posts the Big Blind. This is typically double the amount of the Small Blind.

These blinds ensure there's money to play for from the very beginning.

Betting Rounds: The Heart of the Game

A hand of Texas Hold'em involves up to four betting rounds.

1. Pre-Flop

  • Dealing: Every player is dealt two private cards face down (these are your "hole cards").
  • Action: The betting round begins with the player to the left of the Big Blind. They have three options:
    • Call: Match the amount of the Big Blind.
    • Raise: Increase the bet.
    • Fold: Give up their hand.
  • Action continues clockwise around the table. Players who have already posted blinds can also raise if another player has raised.

2. The Flop

  • Dealing: After the pre-flop betting round, three community cards are dealt face-up in the middle of the table. These are called "the Flop." All active players can use these cards to make their hand.
  • Action: Another betting round begins, starting with the first active player to the left of the Dealer Button. Players can:
    • Check: Pass the action if no bet has been made.
    • Bet: Make the first bet of the round.
    • Call: Match a bet.
    • Raise: Increase a bet.
    • Fold: Give up their hand.

3. The Turn (or Fourth Street)

  • Dealing: After the flop betting round, a fourth community card is dealt face-up. This is "the Turn."
  • Action: Another betting round occurs, following the same rules as the flop.

4. The River (or Fifth Street)

  • Dealing: After the turn betting round, the fifth and final community card is dealt face-up. This is "the River."
  • Action: The final betting round takes place, following the same rules as the flop and turn.

Player Actions: Your Choices in the Game

During betting rounds, you have several actions you can take:

  • Check: If no bet has been made before you in the current betting round, you can "check," meaning you pass the action to the next player without betting. You remain in the hand.
  • Bet: If no one has bet before you in the current betting round, you can make a "bet." You put chips into the pot, and subsequent players must at least call your bet to stay in.
  • Fold: You can "fold" at any time it's your turn to act. This means you give up your cards and any chance of winning the current pot. Your chips already in the pot remain there.
  • Call: If a player before you has bet, you can "call" by matching the amount of their bet to stay in the hand.
  • Raise: If a player before you has bet, you can "raise" by first matching their bet and then increasing it. Subsequent players must call your new, higher bet or re-raise.

The Showdown: Determining the Winner

If, after the final betting round on the river, two or more players are still active (haven't folded), it's time for "the Showdown."

  1. The player who made the last bet or raise on the river is typically the first to show their hole cards. If there was no betting on the river, the player closest to the left of the button shows first.
  2. Other remaining players then reveal their hands in clockwise order. Players with losing hands can choose to "muck" (discard their hand face down without showing) if they don't want to reveal their cards.
  3. The player with the best five-card poker hand, using any combination of their two hole cards and the five community cards, wins the entire pot.
  4. If two or more players have the exact same best five-card hand (e.g., same straight, or two players have a flush where the five highest cards making the flush are identical from the community cards), the pot is split equally among them.

Basic Table Etiquette (Online & Live)

Good etiquette makes the game more enjoyable for everyone.

Online Poker:

  • Be Respectful: Avoid abusive language in the chat.
  • Play Promptly: Don't intentionally slow down the game. Use your allotted time, but don't "time bank" unnecessarily every hand.
  • No Collusion: Never share information about your hand with other players or work together.
  • One Player to a Hand: Don't discuss your hand with anyone while it's in play.

Live Poker:

  • Act in Turn: Don't act before it's your turn, as this can unfairly influence other players.
  • Keep Cards Visible: Keep your hole cards on the table and visible (often by placing a chip on them).
  • Don't Splash the Pot: When betting, place your chips neatly in front of you, not directly into the main pot. The dealer will collect them.
  • Verbal Declarations are Binding: If you say "call," "raise," or "fold," that's your action. Be clear.
  • One Chip Rule: If you put a single oversized chip into the pot without declaring "raise," it's considered a call unless it's the first bet.
  • No String Betting: Announce your raise amount or put all chips for the raise in one motion. Don't put some chips in and then reach back for more to add to the raise.
  • Don't Discuss Hands in Play: Especially if other players are still in the hand.
  • Protect Your Hand: It's your responsibility to ensure your hand isn't accidentally mucked by the dealer.
  • Be Considerate: Avoid excessive celebrations or criticizing others' play.
  • Tip Your Dealer (Customary): If you win a decent pot, it's customary (and appreciated) to tip the dealer.

Now that you have a solid grasp of the rules, you're ready to start playing or observing with more understanding!