How to Play Texas Hold'em
What Is Texas Hold’em?
Texas Hold’em is the most popular poker variant in the world. Each player receives two private cards (hole cards), and five community cards are dealt face-up on the board. You make the best five-card hand using any combination of your hole cards and the community cards. Not sure what a “hole card” or “community card” means? Check the poker glossary for all the key terms.
A standard game seats 2 to 10 players at a single table.
The Setup
Before any cards are dealt, two players must post forced bets called blinds:
- Small blind — posted by the player to the left of the dealer button. Usually half the minimum bet.
- Big blind — posted by the player to the left of the small blind. Equal to the minimum bet.
The dealer button rotates clockwise after every hand, so everyone takes turns posting blinds. Your seat relative to the button matters more than you’d think — position explained covers why.
The Deal
Each player receives two cards face down (hole cards). Only you can see your cards. The player to the left of the big blind acts first.
We’ll follow this hand through all four betting rounds so you can see how a full hand plays out.
Betting Rounds
A hand of Texas Hold’em has four betting rounds. For a deeper dive into when and how much to bet, see betting basics. In each round, players can:
| Action | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Fold | Discard your hand and forfeit the pot |
| Check | Pass the action (only if no bet has been made) |
| Call | Match the current bet |
| Raise | Increase the current bet |
| All-in | Bet all your remaining chips |
Each raise has to meet the minimum raise rule (at least the size of the previous bet or raise). For the full rules on how raises work, see our raise rules guide.
1. Preflop
After receiving hole cards, betting begins with the player to the left of the big blind. Each player must fold, call the big blind, or raise.
2. The Flop
Three community cards are dealt face-up on the board. A second round of betting begins with the first active player to the left of the dealer. For a deeper breakdown of all three community-card stages, see flop, turn, and river explained.
3. The Turn
A fourth community card is dealt face-up. Another round of betting follows.
4. The River
A fifth and final community card is dealt face-up. The last round of betting takes place.
The Showdown
If two or more players remain after the final betting round, they reveal their cards. The player with the best five-card hand wins the pot. See what happens at a showdown for the full order of reveal, tiebreaker rules, and what happens when hands are identical.
Your Ace-high flush beats your opponent’s three Queens. You win the pot.
If everyone folds except one player at any point during the hand, that player wins the pot without showing cards.
Hand Rankings (Best to Worst)
Here’s a quick summary. For a detailed breakdown with probabilities and tiebreaker rules, see the full poker hand rankings guide.
| # | Hand | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Flush | |
| 2 | Straight Flush | |
| 3 | Four of a Kind | |
| 4 | Full House | |
| 5 | Flush | |
| 6 | Straight | |
| 7 | Three of a Kind | |
| 8 | Two Pair | |
| 9 | One Pair | |
| 10 | High Card |
Need a quick reference to keep handy while you play? Our Texas Hold’em cheat sheet has everything on one page.
Betting Structures
Texas Hold’em can be played with different betting limits:
- No-Limit — You can bet any amount up to all your chips at any time. This is the most popular format.
- Pot-Limit — The maximum bet is the current size of the pot.
- Fixed-Limit — Bets and raises are a fixed amount determined by the stakes.
Split Pots
If two or more players have the same best hand, the pot is split equally between them. Suits are never used to break ties.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cards do you get in Texas Hold’em?
Each player receives exactly two private cards (hole cards). Five community cards are shared by all players on the board.
Can you use just one of your hole cards?
Yes. You can use both, one, or even none of your hole cards. Your hand is the best five cards from the seven available (two hole cards plus five community cards).
What happens if two players have the same hand?
The pot is split equally. If the hands differ only by kicker (the highest unpaired side card), the higher kicker wins.
What is the best starting hand in Texas Hold’em?
Pocket aces (A-A) is the best starting hand. Pocket kings (K-K) and pocket queens (Q-Q) are the second and third best.
See our starting hands guide for a full breakdown of which hands to play and which to fold.
For more rules questions and common scenarios, check the Texas Hold’em FAQ. And if you’re just getting started, learn the 10 most common mistakes so you can avoid them from day one.
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