Texas Hold'em FAQ
Every question below has a short answer here on the hub and a full dedicated article behind it. Skim the list, open the ones you need, and follow the related-question links inside each article to dig deeper.
New here? The fastest path to the basics is how to play Texas Hold’em and the one-page cheat sheet.
General Rules
How many players can play Texas Hold’em?
Texas Hold’em can be played with 2 to 10 players at a single table. Two-player games are “heads-up”; six or fewer is “short-handed”; nine or ten is “full ring.” Full answer: how many players →
How many cards does each player get?
Each player receives two private hole cards face-down, combined with five shared community cards on the board to make the best five-card hand. Full answer: how many cards →
What is the order of play?
Preflop, the player to the left of the big blind acts first. After the flop, the first active player to the left of the dealer button acts first. Play always moves clockwise. Full answer: order of play →
What are the blinds?
Forced bets posted before cards are dealt. The small blind (half the minimum bet) sits left of the dealer button; the big blind (the minimum bet) sits next. Blinds rotate every hand. Full answer: the blinds →
Betting
What does “no-limit” mean?
In No-Limit Hold’em, you can bet any amount from the minimum up to your entire stack at any time. There is no cap. Full answer: no-limit →
What is the minimum raise?
The minimum raise must be at least equal to the previous bet or raise in the same round. If the big blind is $10 and someone raises to $30, the next raise must be at least $30 more. Full guide: minimum raise →
Can you raise your own bet?
No. You cannot raise your own bet. You can only raise in response to another player’s bet or raise. The big blind’s “option” is the lone exception. Full answer: raise your own bet →
What happens if you don’t have enough chips to call?
You go all-in with your remaining chips. A side pot is created for the players with more chips. You can only win the portion of the pot you contributed to. Full answer: not enough chips →
The Board
What is the flop, turn, and river?
The three stages of community card dealing: flop (3 cards), turn (1 card), river (1 card). One card is burned before each. Full answer: flop, turn, river →
Do you have to use both hole cards?
No. You make your best five-card hand from any combination of your two hole cards and the five community cards — including zero hole cards (“playing the board”). Full answer: using hole cards →
Winning the Hand
What happens at a showdown?
When two or more players remain after the river, they reveal their hole cards. The best five-card hand wins. Identical hands split the pot. Full answer: showdown →
Who has to show their cards first?
The last player to bet or raise shows first. If the river was checked through, the first active player to the left of the dealer shows first. Full answer: who shows first →
What if everyone folds except one player?
That player wins the pot immediately and does not have to show their cards. They can choose to show or muck. Full answer: everyone folds →
Can you win with a hand entirely on the board?
If the community cards make the best hand and no player can improve on it, the pot is split among all remaining players. This is called “playing the board.” Full answer: playing the board →
Common Situations
What if two players have the same pair?
The pot is awarded by kicker — the highest unpaired side card. K-K-A-8-3 beats K-K-Q-J-10 because Ace outkicks Queen. Full answer: same pair →
What if two players have a flush?
The flush with the highest card wins. If tied, compare second, third, and so on. Suits do not matter for tiebreaking. Full answer: same flush →
Does a straight wrap around?
No. The Ace can be the highest card (A-K-Q-J-10) or the lowest (A-2-3-4-5), but hands like Q-K-A-2-3 are not valid straights. Full answer: straight wrap →
What is a “split pot”?
A split pot occurs when two or more players have hands of exactly equal value. The pot is divided equally. Most common when the best hand is made entirely from community cards. Full answer: split pot →
Etiquette
Can you show your cards before the showdown?
In most cash games you technically can, but it’s considered poor etiquette because it gives information to players still in the hand. Tournaments penalize it. Full answer: show before showdown →
What is “slow rolling”?
Slow rolling is when a player with a very strong hand deliberately stalls the reveal at showdown to fake out their opponent. It is the most disrespectful move in poker. Full answer: slow rolling →
Can you talk about your hand during play?
Rules vary. In cash games, discussing your hand while others are still acting is frowned on. In tournaments, talking about your hand — even vaguely — is usually prohibited until the hand ends. Full answer: talking about your hand →