How to Play Texas Hold'em Poker: Holdem Rules & Hands
If you want to learn how to play
Texas hold'em games, 🌜 then you need to start from the basic rules and hands. That's
exactly what you'll find on this beginner's guide 🌜 to the game.
Texas holdem is a simple
poker game, but it can be daunting to get to grips with.
But don't 🌜 let that put you
off. By the time you are down with this beginner's guide to Texas hold'em poker, you
🌜 will know:
Here we go over the poker rules for Texas Hold'em.
1. What Is Texas Hold'em
Poker?
Texas Hold'em is the most 🌜 popular of all poker variations.
All of the marquee
tournaments around the world (including those played at the World Series of 🌜 Poker, the
World Poker Tour, the and the European Poker Tour) feature the no-limit variation of
this game.
Texas hold'em is 🌜 so popular that is the only poker game many players will
ever learn.
It takes a moment to learn, but a 🌜 lifetime to master.
Discovering how to
play Texas hold'em poker is not difficult and the simplicity of its rules, gameplay,
and 🌜 hand-ranking all contribute to the popularity of the game.
However, don't let the
simplicity of the game mislead you.
The number of 🌜 possible situations and combinations
is so vast that Texas hold'em can be an extremely complex game when you play at 🌜 the
highest levels.
If you are approaching the game of Texas hold'em for the first time,
starting from the basic rules 🌜 of the game is key. Not only these are the easiest ones
to learn, but they are also essential to 🌜 understand the gameplay and, later on, the
game's basic strategy.
2. Texas Hold'em Poker Rules
So how do you play Texas
hold'em?
The 🌜 goal of a Texas hold'em game is to use your hole cards in combination with
the community cards to make 🌜 the best possible five-card poker hand.
Hold'em is not
unlike other poker games like five-card draw.
However, the way players construct their
🌜 hands in Texas hold'em is a little different than in draw poker.
It's always possible a
player can "bluff" and get 🌜 others to fold better hands.
In a game of Texas hold'em,
each player is dealt two cards face down (the ' 🌜 hole cards ')
') Over several betting
rounds, five more cards are (eventually) dealt face up in the middle of the 🌜 table
These
face-up cards are called the 'community cards.' Each player is free to use the
community cards in combination with 🌜 their hole cards to build a five-card poker hand.
5
community cards
While we will see each betting round and different phase 🌜 that forms a
full hand of a Texas hold'em game, you should know that the five community cards are
dealt 🌜 in three stages:
The Flop: the first three community cards.
the first three
community cards. The Turn: the fourth community card.
the fourth 🌜 community card. The
River:The fifth and final community card.
Your mission is to construct your five-card
poker hands using the best 🌜 available five cards out of the seven total cards (your two
hole cards and the five community cards).
You can do 🌜 that by using both your hole cards
in combination with three community cards, one hole card in combination with four
🌜 community cards, or no hole cards.
If the cards on the table lead to a better
combination, you can also play 🌜 all five community cards and forget about yours.
In a
game of Texas hold'em you can do whatever works to make 🌜 the best five-card hand.
If the
betting causes all but one player to fold, the lone remaining player wins the pot
🌜 without having to show any cards.
For that reason, players don't always have to hold
the best hand to win the 🌜 pot. It's always possible a player can 'bluff' and get others
to fold better hands.
READ ALSO: Common Poker Tells: How 🌜 to Read People in Poker
If two
or more players make it all of the way to the showdown after the 🌜 last community card is
dealt and all betting is complete, the only way to win the pot is to have 🌜 the
highest-ranking five-card poker hand.
Now that you know the basics of Texas hold'em and
you start to begin gaining an 🌜 understanding of how the game works, it's time to get
into some specifics.
These include how to deal Texas hold'em and 🌜 how the betting
works.
Basic Rules Key Takeaways: A game of Texas hold'em feature several betting
rounds
Players get two private and 🌜 up to five community cards
Unless all players
abandon the game before the showdown, you need the highest poker hand to 🌜 win
Download
the PokerNews Quick Guide to Texas Hold’em Understand the Texas Holdem Poker Rules with
the 1-page handout and join 🌜 the other players and get involved in the game for your
chance to win. Download
Before you start learning the rules, 🌜 here's everything you need
to host your own poker game!
How to Play Texas Holdem Poker
Let's have a look at all
🌜 the different key aspects of a Texas hold'em game, including the different positions at
the table and the betting rounds 🌜 featured in the game.
The Button
The play moves
clockwise around the table, starting with action to the left of the dealer 🌜 button.
The
'button' is a round disc that sits in front of a player and is rotated one seat to the
🌜 left every hand.
When playing in casinos and poker rooms, the player with the dealer
button doesn't deal the cards (the 🌜 poker room hires someone to do that).
When you play
poker home games with friends the player with the button usually 🌜 deals the hands.
The
button determines which player at the table is the acting dealer.
The first two players
sitting to the 🌜 immediate left of the button are required to post a 'small blind' and a
'big blind' to initiate the betting.
From 🌜 there, the action occurs on multiple
streets:
Preflop
Flop
Turn
River
Each one of these moments (or 'streets' in the game's
lingo) is explained further 🌜 below.
The button determines which player at the table is
the acting dealer.
In Texas hold'em, the player on button, or last 🌜 active player
closest to the button receives the last action on all post-flop streets of play.
While
the dealer button dictates 🌜 which players have to post the small and big blinds, it also
determines where the dealing of the cards begins.
The 🌜 player to the immediate left of
the dealer button in the small blind receives the first card and then the 🌜 dealer
pitches cards around the table in a clockwise motion from player to player until each
has received two starting 🌜 cards.
READ ALSO: Poker Positions Explained: the Importance
of Position in Poker
The Blinds
Two “Hole Cards” are dealt face down and the 🌜 first
round of betting begins
Before every new hand begins, two players at the table are
obligated to post small and 🌜 big blinds.
The blinds are forced bets that begin the
wagering.
Without these blinds, the game would be very boring because no 🌜 one would be
required to put any money into the pot and players could just wait around until they
are 🌜 dealt pocket aces (AA) and only play then.
The blinds ensure there will be some
level of 'action' on every hand.
In 🌜 tournaments, the blinds are raised at regular
intervals. In cash games, the blinds always stay the same.
In tournaments, the blinds
🌜 are raised at regular intervals.
As the number of players keeps decreasing and the
stacks of the remaining players keep getting 🌜 bigger, it is a necessity that the blinds
keep increasing throughout a tournament.
throughout a tournament. In cash games, the
blinds 🌜 always stay the same.
The player directly to the left of the button posts the
small blind, and the player to 🌜 his or her direct left posts the big blind.
The small
blind is generally half the amount of the big blind, 🌜 although this stipulation varies
from room to room and can also be dependent on the game being played.
In a "$1/$2"
🌜 Texas hold'em game, the small blind isR$1 and the big blind isR$2.
First Betting Round:
Preflop
Two “Hole Cards” are dealt face 🌜 down and the first round of betting begins
The
first round of betting takes place right after each player has been 🌜 dealt two hole
cards.
The first player to act is the player to the left of the big blind.
This
position referred 🌜 to as 'under the gun' because the player has to act first. The first
player has three options:
Call: match the 🌜 amount of the big blind
match the amount of
the big blind Raise: increase the bet within the specific limits of 🌜 the game
increase
the bet within the specific limits of the game Fold: throw the hand away
If the player
chooses to 🌜 fold, he or she is out of the game and no longer eligible to win the current
hand.
Players can bet 🌜 anywhere from the amount of the big blind (the minimum bet
allowed) up to the total amount in the current 🌜 pot.
The amount a player can raise to
depends on the game that is being played.
In a game of no-limit Texas 🌜 hold'em, the
minimum opening raise must be at least twice the big blind, and the maximum raise can
be all 🌜 of the chips a player has in his or her stack (an "all-in" bet).
There are other
betting variations in hold'em 🌜 poker.
In fixed-limit hold'em (or just "limit hold'em), a
raise is always exactly twice the big blind.
In pot-limit hold'em (played much 🌜 less
often than the other variations), players can bet anywhere from the amount of the big
blind (the minimum bet 🌜 allowed) up to the total amount in the current pot.
After the
first player ('under the gun') acts, the play proceeds 🌜 in a clockwise fashion around
the table with each player also having the same three options — to call, to 🌜 raise, or
fold.
Once the last bet is called and the action is 'closed,' the preflop round is over
and play 🌜 moves on to the "flop."
Second Betting Round: The Flop
Three community cards
are dealt on the table and a new betting 🌜 round betting.
After the first preflop betting
round has been completed, the first three community cards are dealt and a second
🌜 betting round follows involving only the players who have not folded already.
A check
simply means to pass the action to 🌜 the next player in the hand.
In this betting round
(and subsequent ones), the action starts with the first active player 🌜 to the left of
the button.
Along with the options to bet, call, fold, or raise, a player now has the
🌜 option to 'check' if no betting action has occurred beforehand.
A check simply means to
pass the action to the next 🌜 player in the hand.
Again betting continues until the last
bet or raise has been called (which closes the action).
It also 🌜 can happen that every
player simply chooses not to be and checks around the table, which also ends the
betting 🌜 round.
Third Betting Round: The Turn
The fourth community card is called the
“Turn” and again a new round of betting starts.
Call 🌜 – match the amount of the big
blind
The fourth community card, called the turn, is dealt face-up following all
betting 🌜 action on the flop.
Once this has been completed, another round of betting
occurs, similar to that on the previous street 🌜 of play.
Again players have the option
to check, bet, call, fold, or raise.
Final Betting Round: The River
The last community
card 🌜 is called the “River”. This is followed by a last round of betting and finally the
“Showdown”
Fold – throw the 🌜 hand away
The fifth community card, called the river, is
dealt face-up following all betting action on the turn.
Once this has 🌜 been completed,
another round of betting occurs, similar to what took play on the previous street of
play.
Once more the 🌜 remaining players have the option to options to check, bet, call,
fold, or raise.
After all betting action has been completed, 🌜 the remaining players in
the hand with hole cards now expose their holdings to determine a winner. This is
called 🌜 the showdown.
The Showdown
The player with the best combination of five cards
wins
Players construct their hands by choosing the five best 🌜 cards from the seven
available
The remaining players show their hole cards, and with the assistance of the
dealer, a winning 🌜 hand is determined.
The player with the best combination of five
cards wins the pot according to the official poker hand 🌜 rankings.
3. The Hand Rankings
in Texas Hold'em Poker
These hand rankings aren't specifically part of Texas hold'em
rules, but apply to 🌜 many different poker games.
Royal Flush — five cards of the same
suit, ranked ace through ten; e.g., A ♥ K 🌜 ♥ Q ♥ J ♥ 10 ♥
— five cards of the same suit,
ranked ace through ten; e.g., Straight Flush 🌜 — five cards of the same suit and
consecutively ranked; e.g., 9 ♣ 8 ♣ 7 ♣ 6 ♣ 5 🌜 ♣
— five cards of the same suit and
consecutively ranked; e.g., Four of a Kind — four cards of the 🌜 same rank; e.g., Q ♣ Q ♥
Q ♦ Q ♠ 4 ♦
— four cards of the same rank; e.g., 🌜 Full House — three cards of the same
rank and two more cards of the same rank; e.g., J ♣ 🌜 J ♥ J ♠ 8 ♦ 8 ♥
— three cards of
the same rank and two more cards of the 🌜 same rank; e.g., Flush — any five cards of the
same suit; e.g., A ♠ J ♠ 8 ♠ 5 🌜 ♠ 2 ♠
— any five cards of the same suit; e.g., Straight
— any five cards consecutively ranked; e.g., Q 🌜 ♣ J ♦ 10 ♥ 9 ♠ 8 ♦
— any five cards
consecutively ranked; e.g., Three of a Kind — 🌜 three cards of the same rank; e.g., 8 ♣ 8
♠ 8 ♦ K ♣ 4 ♥
— three cards of 🌜 the same rank; e.g., Two Pair — two cards of the same
rank and two more cards of the same 🌜 rank; e.g., A ♠ A ♣ J ♦ J ♣ 7 ♠
— two cards of the
same rank and two 🌜 more cards of the same rank; e.g., One Pair — two cards of the same
rank; e.g., 10 ♥ 10 🌜 ♣ 9 ♥ 4 ♦ 2 ♦
— two cards of the same rank; e.g., High Card — five
unmatched cards; 🌜 e.g., A♣J♦10♠5♣2♥ would be called "ace-high"
Download the PokerNews
Ultimate Guide to Texas Hold’em An intro to Texas Holdem, strategy, rules 🌜 and styles of
play, all combined for you to understand Texas Holdem with this ultimate guide.
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Players construct their hands 🌜 by choosing the five best cards from the seven
available (their two hole cards and the five community cards).
If the 🌜 board is showing
9♣5♠K♦3♠A♥, a player with the two hole cards A♦9♠ would have two pair (aces and nines)
and 🌜 would lose to a player who has 9♦9♥ for three of a kind (three nines).
Learning
hold'em poker begins with understanding 🌜 how hands are dealt and the order of play as
described above.
Of course, learning Texas hold'em rules is just the 🌜 beginning, as the
next step is to learn strategy which involves understanding what constitutes good
starting hand selection, the odds 🌜 and probabilities associated with the game, the
significance of position and getting to act last during those post-flop betting rounds,
🌜 and many other aspects of the game. This is where the PokerNews Poker Odds Calculator
can help you.
Want to Find 🌜 Out the Odds? By using the PokerNews Texas Hold’em Poker
Odds Calculator you can calculate your chances on a given 🌜 hand, in any situation! Try
it now
4. How to Play Texas Hold'em Poker Games Online For Free or Real Money
Now 🌜 that
you know how Texas Hold'em works, it's time to put the theory into practice and play
your first games.
The 🌜 best way to start playing Texas Hold'em is to start from these
free online poker games and then move up 🌜 to the real money action only when you feel
comfortable enough to do so.
All the 'must-have poker rooms' below offer 🌜 free games to
practice online.
If you are completely new to the game, you should go for play money
options, first. 🌜 These risk-free games with fake money are an excellent way to
familiarise with the different moments of play and the 🌜 betting rounds.
The play money
games are a great way to learn more about the hand rankings and begin to read 🌜 the board
fast enough to take all the right decisions at the right time.
After that, you should
more to the 🌜 poker freerolls. These are free poker tournaments with actual prizes on tap
that range from free money to free entries 🌜 into more expensive real money poker
games.
How to Play Texas Hold'em Poker FAQs
What is Texas Hold'em Poker? Texas Hold'em
is 🌜 the most popular poker game variant, where players are dealt two private cards (hole
cards), and five community cards are 🌜 placed face-up in the center of the table. The aim
of the game is to make the best possible five-card 🌜 hand, according to the poker hand
rankings, using a combination of your hole cards and the community cards. How do 🌜 I win
at Texas Hold'em? To win a hand of Texas Hold'em, you need to have the best five-card
poker 🌜 hand. The possible hand rankings, from highest to lowest, are Royal Flush,
Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, 🌜 Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair,
One Pair and High Card. What happens if there's a tie in 🌜 Texas Hold'em? If multiple
players have the same hand ranking, the pot is split equally among the tying players.
What 🌜 is the dealer button, small blind, and big blind? In the game of Texas Hold'em,
players take turns being the 🌜 dealer. A dealer button is used and rotates clockwise
after each hand. The player to the left of the dealer 🌜 is the small blind, and the
player two seats to the left is the big blind. The 'Blinds' are forced 🌜 bets to start
the action and build the pot. How are cards dealt in Texas Hold'em? The Dealer in Texas
🌜 Hold'em will give each player two private hole cards, and then five community cards are
placed face-up in the center 🌜 of the table. The community cards are dealt in stages: the
flop (three cards), the turn (one card), and the 🌜 river (one card). What is the order of
play in Texas Hold'em? The order of play rotates clockwise. It starts 🌜 with the player
to the left of the dealer and moves around the table. The player to the left of 🌜 the
dealer posts the small blind, and the next player posts the big blind to start the
action. How many 🌜 players can play Texas Hold'em? Texas Hold'em can be played with as
few as two players or as many as 🌜 ten (in the online casino world some variations of
Texas Holdem can be played solo against the dealer). However, it's 🌜 commonly played with
2 to 9 players at a table. What is a betting round in Texas Hold'em poker? Texas
🌜 Hold'em has several betting rounds. After the hole cards are dealt, there is a round of
betting. Then, the flop 🌜 is revealed, followed by another betting round. The turn and
river cards are revealed with a betting round after each. 🌜 Players can check, bet, fold,
call, or raise during these rounds. What are the hand rankings in Texas Hold'em poker?
🌜 The strength of your hand is determined by its rank among all possible hands and the
community cards. It's essential 🌜 to understand hand rankings and how they apply to your
specific hand in the context of the community cards. The 🌜 possible hand rankings, from
highest to lowest, are Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush,
Straight, 🌜 Three of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair and High Card. Can players use all, some,
or none of their 🌜 hole cards to form their hand? Players can use any combination of
their two hole cards and the five community 🌜 cards to make the best hand. It's possible
to use both hole cards, only one, or none at all, depending 🌜 on what gives the best
hand. When should I fold my hand? There are no hard and fast rules for 🌜 when you should
fold your hand, as it can depend on a number of factors, such as table position, the
🌜 strength or style of your opponent, and which round of betting you are in. However,
knowing when to fold is 🌜 crucial for preserving your chips and making profitable
decisions, so we recommend heading over to the poker strategy section right 🌜 here on
PokerNews to read more. How do I calculate pot odds and implied odds in Texas Hold'em
poker? Pot 🌜 odds involves comparing the current size of the pot to the cost of your next
bet. Implied odds consider the 🌜 potential future bets in addition to the current pot
size. Understanding these odds can help you make informed decisions. Is 🌜 bluffing
important in Texas Hold'em? Bluffing is a strategic element of the game. When used
wisely, it can help you 🌜 win pots with weaker hands. However, it's crucial to be
selective and consider your opponents and the table dynamics. Can 🌜 you show your cards
to other players during the game? In most poker games, including Texas Hold'em, you can
choose 🌜 to show your hand at the end of the hand if you wish. However, you are not
required to reveal 🌜 your hand if you win a pot. What are the basic strategies for Texas
Hold'em? Basic strategies include starting hand 🌜 selection, position awareness, and
understanding betting and odds. Learning when to be aggressive, when to fold, and how
to read 🌜 your opponents are also essential skills. What are the different variations of
Texas Hold'em? There are variations of Texas Hold'em, 🌜 including No-Limit Texas Hold'em,
Limit Texas Hold'em, and Pot-Limit Texas Hold'em. Each has slightly different rules
regarding betting. Where can 🌜 I play Texas Hold'em poker online? There are many online
poker sites or mobile poker apps where you can play 🌜 Texas Hold'em. Some popular options
include PokerStars, 888poker, partypoker, and many others. Can I play Texas Hold'em
poker online for 🌜 real money or just for fun? Many online poker sites offer both real
money and play money (for fun) games. 🌜 You can choose the type of games that suit your
preferences and skill level. However, whether you can play for 🌜 real money will depend
on the gambling laws in your location. Are there different types of online poker games
available? 🌜 Yes, online poker platforms often offer a variety of poker games beyond
Texas Hold'em, including Omaha, Seven Card Stud, and 🌜 more. Is online poker fair, or can
it be rigged? Regulated and reputable online poker sites use Random Number Generators
🌜 (RNGs) to ensure fair and random card distribution. These sites are regularly audited
to maintain fairness and integrity. Are there 🌜 age restrictions for playing online
poker? Yes, you typically need to be at least 18 years old (or the legal 🌜 gambling age
in your jurisdiction) to play poker online for real money. Please check your
eligibility to play before signing 🌜 up snd placing a bet. Can I play online poker in the
United States? Online poker regulations vary by state 🌜 in the United States. Some states
have legalized and regulated online poker, while others have not. It's important to
check 🌜 the specific laws in your state to see if online poker is legal and available. If
real money gaming is 🌜 not available, then you might like to look at one of these sites
that offer free online poker games. We 🌜 offer a handy guide to the online poker
regulations in the USA.
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