What Is Texas Hold’em Poker?
Texas Hold’em is the most popular card game in the world. You’ve probably seen it on TV or in movies — it’s the game played in the World Series of Poker. Each player receives two private cards that only they can see. Then five cards are dealt face-up in the center of the table for everyone to share. You use any combination of your two private cards and the five shared cards to make the best possible five-card hand. The player with the best hand — or the last player left after everyone else gives up — wins all the chips in the middle.
What You Need
- One standard deck of 52 playing cards
- Poker chips or something to bet with — coins, candy, or keeping score on paper all work
- Two to ten players
- A flat table
Understanding Hand Rankings — Best to Worst
Before you play, you need to know what makes a good hand. Here they are from best to worst:
- Royal Flush: the Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and 10 all of the same suit. The best hand possible.
- Straight Flush: five cards in a row, all the same suit. For example: 6♥ 7♥ 8♥ 9♥ 10♥.
- Four of a Kind: four cards of the same rank. For example: Q♠ Q♥ Q♦ Q♣.
- Full House: three cards of one rank plus two cards of another rank. For example: K K K 4 4.
- Flush: five cards all of the same suit, in any order.
- Straight: five cards in a row, any suits. For example: 5 6 7 8 9.
- Three of a Kind: three cards of the same rank.
- Two Pair: two different pairs. For example: J J 7 7.
- One Pair: two cards of the same rank.
- High Card: none of the above — your best single card plays.
Setting Up the Game
- Choose a dealer. Give that person the dealer button — a small chip or marker that sits in front of them.
- The player immediately to the left of the dealer must post the small blind — a forced bet to start the pot. This is usually a small agreed amount, like 1 chip.
- The player to the left of the small blind posts the big blind — usually double the small blind, like 2 chips. These forced bets ensure there is always something to win each hand.
- The dealer deals two cards face-down to every player, going clockwise one card at a time until everyone has two cards. These are called your hole cards or pocket cards. Look at them — keep them secret.
How to Play — The Four Betting Rounds
Round 1: Pre-Flop
After everyone has their two hole cards, betting begins. Starting with the player to the left of the big blind and going clockwise, each player must choose one of three actions:
- Fold: Give up your cards and sit out this hand. You lose nothing more but can win nothing.
- Call: Match the amount of the big blind to stay in the hand.
- Raise: Increase the bet. Everyone else must now call your higher amount or fold.
Betting continues around the table until everyone has put in the same amount or folded. The big blind acts last in this round and can raise even if everyone just called.
Round 2: The Flop
The dealer burns one card — sets the top card face-down and aside, never to be used. This is done to prevent cheating. Then the dealer places three cards face-up in the center of the table. These three cards are called the flop. They belong to everyone — every player still in the hand can use them.
Another round of betting happens, this time starting with the first player still in the hand to the left of the dealer. Players now have new options:
- Check: Pass without betting. Only allowed if no one has bet yet this round.
- Bet: Place chips in the pot.
- Call: Match someone else’s bet.
- Raise: Increase the current bet.
- Fold: Give up your hand.
Round 3: The Turn
The dealer burns another card, then places one more card face-up in the center. There are now four community cards showing. Another round of betting happens, same as the Flop round.
Round 4: The River
The dealer burns one final card, then places the fifth and last community card face-up. There are now five cards in the center. The final round of betting happens.
The Showdown
If two or more players are still in after the River betting ends, everyone shows their hole cards. Each player looks at all seven cards available to them — their two hole cards plus the five community cards — and selects the best five-card combination. You can use both hole cards, one hole card, or even none at all if the five community cards form your best hand. The player with the best five-card hand wins the entire pot.
Winning
In a casual game, the player who wins the most chips wins. In a tournament, play continues until one player has all the chips — that player wins. After each hand, the dealer button moves one player to the left, the new player to the left posts the small blind, and the game continues.
Tips for New Players
- Be patient and picky. You don’t have to play every hand. Folding early with weak cards is smart, not cowardly. Wait for strong starting hands like pairs (especially Aces, Kings, Queens), or high cards of the same suit.
- Pay attention to the five community cards. Ask yourself what the best possible hand is given those cards — and consider whether your opponents might have it.
- Don’t be afraid to fold even after betting money. Chasing a bad hand costs more chips than folding early.