How to Play Texas Hold’em
Want to enjoy a game of Texas Hold’em poker? Here you will
find key details about💲 Texas Hold’em to help you learn the game including the rules,
hands, different variants of this game type and more.
What💲 is Texas Hold’em
Poker?
Texas Hold’em poker is one of the most popular poker variants in the world.
Despite its relative💲 simplicity, Texas Hold’em has the potential to be played with a
seemingly infinite variety of strategies and tactics.
The Rules of💲 Texas Hold’em
To
start playing Texas Hold’em games, it’s important to understand the basic rules: Every
player is dealt two cards💲 which only they will see (known as ‘hole cards’)
The dealer
spreads five cards (community cards) - three at once, then💲 another, then another -
these can be used by all players to make their best possible five-card hand
Before and
after💲 each card(s) is revealed, players take turns to bet. To stay in the hand and see
the next card, all💲 players must have put the same amount of chips in the pot as each
other (unless one player is already💲 all-in)
The best poker hand wins the pot. A player
may use any combination of the seven cards available to make💲 the best possible
five-card poker hand, using zero, one or two of their private hole cards
The Blinds
In
Hold'em, a marker💲 called ‘the button’ or ‘the dealer button’ indicates which player is
the dealer for the current game. Before the game💲 begins, the player immediately
clockwise from the button posts the "small blind", the first forced bet. The player
immediately clockwise💲 from the small blind posts the "big blind", which is typically
twice the size of the small blind (blinds can💲 vary depending on the stakes and betting
structure being played). In Limit games, the big blind is the same as💲 the small bet,
and the small blind is typically half the size of the big blind (but may be larger
💲 depending on the stakes). For example, in aR$2/$4 Limit game the small blind isR$1 and
the big blind isR$2. In💲 aR$15/$30 Limit game, the small blind isR$10 and the big blind
isR$15. In Pot Limit and No Limit games, the💲 games are referred to by the size of their
blinds (for example, aR$1/$2 Hold’em game has a small blind ofR$1💲 and a big blind
ofR$2). Depending on the exact structure of the game, each player may also be required
to💲 post an ‘ante’ (another type of forced bet, usually smaller than either blind,
posted by all players at the table)💲 into the pot. Now, each player receives their two
hole cards. Betting action proceeds clockwise around the table, starting with💲 the
player ‘under the gun’ (immediately clockwise from the big blind).
Player Betting
Options
In Hold'em, as with other forms of poker,💲 the available actions are ‘fold’,
‘check’, ‘bet’, ‘call’ or ‘raise’. Exactly which options are available depends on the
action taken💲 by the previous players. If nobody has made a bet, then a player may
either check (decline to bet, but💲 keep their cards) or bet. If a player has bet, then
subsequent players can fold, call or raise. To call💲 is to match the amount the previous
player has bet. To raise is to not only match the previous bet,💲 but to also increase
it.
Pre-Flop
After seeing their hole cards, each player now has the option to play his
or her💲 hand by calling or raising the big blind. The action begins to the left of the
big blind, which is💲 considered a ‘live’ bet on this round. That player has the option
to fold, call or raise. For example, if💲 the big blind wasR$2, it would costR$2 to call,
or at leastR$4 to raise. Action then proceeds clockwise around the💲 table. Note: The
betting structure varies with different variations of the game. Explanations of the
betting action in Limit Hold'em,💲 No Limit Hold'em, and Pot Limit Hold'em can be found
below. Betting continues on each betting round until all active💲 players (who have not
folded) have placed equal bets in the pot.
The Flop
Now, three cards are dealt face-up
on the💲 board. This is known as ‘the flop’. In Hold'em, the three cards on the flop are
community cards, available to💲 all players still in the hand. Betting on the flop begins
with the active player immediately clockwise from the button.💲 The betting options are
similar to pre-flop, however if nobody has previously bet, players may check, passing
the action to💲 the next active player clockwise.
The Turn
When the betting action is
completed for the flop round, the ‘turn’ is dealt face-up💲 on the board. The turn is the
fourth community card in Hold'em (and is sometimes also called ‘Fourth Street’).
Another💲 round of betting ensues, beginning with the active player immediately clockwise
from the button.
The River
When betting action is completed for💲 the turn round, the
‘river’ or ‘Fifth Street’ is dealt face-up on the board. The river is the fifth and
💲 final community card in a Hold'em game. Betting again begins with the active player
immediately clockwise from the button, and💲 the same betting rules apply as they do for
the flop and turn.
The Showdown
If there is more than one remaining💲 player when the
final betting round is complete, the last person to bet or raise shows their cards,
unless there💲 was no bet on the final round in which case the player immediately
clockwise from the button shows their cards💲 first. The player with the best five-card
poker hand wins the pot. In the event of identical hands, the pot💲 will be equally
divided between the players with the best hands. Hold'em rules state that all suits are
equal. After💲 the pot is awarded, a new hand of Hold'em is ready to be played. The
button now moves clockwise to💲 the next player, blinds and antes are once again posted,
and new hands are dealt to each player.
How many Hand💲 Combinations are there in Texas
Hold’em?
There are 1,326 possible combinations for your opening hand in Texas Hold’em
poker. However, because💲 suits have no value in this poker variant, a lot of these
combinations will have the same value before the💲 flop. When we eliminate identical
combinations, there are 169 starting hands in Texas Hold’em. Pre-flop, Pocket Aces is
the best💲 starting hand. However, if your hand doesn’t improve on the board, you will
only have one pair. Particularly in multi-way💲 pots, this may not be a strong enough
holding for you to continue in later betting rounds, or to win💲 the hand if it gets to
showdown. When playing heads up games (vs just one opponent), you typically need to
💲 play an extremely wide range of starting hands, especially when on the button. However,
in multi-way games (vs several opponents),💲 you need to be more selective with your
starting hands, taking table position and the actions of your opponents into💲 account.
Hands with generally strong playability include: Top pairs – AA and KK are the premium
starting hands in Texas💲 Hold’em. They can be played extremely confidently and
aggressively pre-flop, and you shouldn’t be deterred from getting your stack in💲 the
middle at this stage if you get the opportunity. QQ and JJ are the next best pairs
which can💲 also be played positively, though you need to proceed with caution if facing
a lot of pre-flop aggression, or if💲 over cards are dealt on the flop.
– AA and KK are
the premium starting hands in Texas Hold’em. They can💲 be played extremely confidently
and aggressively pre-flop, and you shouldn’t be deterred from getting your stack in the
middle at💲 this stage if you get the opportunity. QQ and JJ are the next best pairs
which can also be played💲 positively, though you need to proceed with caution if facing
a lot of pre-flop aggression, or if over cards are💲 dealt on the flop. Small pairs –
small to middle pairs like 44 or 66 are good to play in💲 late position if you can see a
flop relatively cheaply, to try and hit a set on the flop. If💲 you do, your hand will be
pretty well disguised against opponents playing bigger pairs or higher cards. Folding
is recommended💲 against a lot of pre-flop action, or if you face a bet after missing the
flop.
– small to middle pairs💲 like 44 or 66 are good to play in late position if you
can see a flop relatively cheaply, to💲 try and hit a set on the flop. If you do, your
hand will be pretty well disguised against opponents💲 playing bigger pairs or higher
cards. Folding is recommended against a lot of pre-flop action, or if you face a💲 bet
after missing the flop. Suited connectors – cards with consecutive numbers and the same
suit (e.g. JH, 10H). These💲 holdings have great playability post-flop and can give you
the chance to make straights or flushes. It’s recommended that you💲 play a lot of these
hands multi-way and/or when you have a deep stack, as you have the potential to💲 win
large pots against players with inferior holdings like two pair or three of a kind.
–
cards with consecutive numbers💲 and the same suit (e.g. JH, 10H). These holdings have
great playability post-flop and can give you the chance to💲 make straights or flushes.
It’s recommended that you play a lot of these hands multi-way and/or when you have a
💲 deep stack, as you have the potential to win large pots against players with inferior
holdings like two pair or💲 three of a kind. Suited aces – hands like AH, 4H give you the
potential to make straights, but more💲 importantly, the nut flush. Again, this can be
extremely profitable against players with inferior holdings – especially players who
may💲 also hit lower value flushes. In addition, suited aces are great bluffing hands
against pre-flop raises. Holding an ace means💲 you block the combinations of aces that
your opponent(s) can be holding. And if you’re called, your holding still has💲 decent
playability post-flop.
How are hands ranked in Texas Hold’em?
Understanding hand
rankings beyond your starting hands is important as you look💲 to play your best possible
five-card hand from the seven available cards. Texas Hold’em poker uses traditional
high poker hand💲 ranks: Royal Flush – 10-A of the same suit
Straight Flush – Five cards
of the same suit, in consecutive order💲 numerically
Four of a Kind – Four cards of the
same rank, and one side card/’kicker’
Full House – Three cards of💲 the same rank, and
two other cards which also match rank
Flush – Five cards of the same suit
Straight –
Five💲 cards in sequence numerically
Three of a Kind – Three cards of the same rank, and
two unrelated side cards
Two pair💲 – Two cards of matching ranks, another two cards of
matching rank, and one side card
One pair – Two cards💲 of matching rank, and three
unrelated side cards
High card – No matching cards and no other hand type More
information💲 on hand ranks, including examples of poker hands, is available in our How
to Play section.
Limit, No Limit, Pot Limit💲 and Mixed Texas Hold'em
Hold'em rules
remain the same for Limit, No Limit and Pot Limit poker games, with a few
💲 exceptions
Limit Texas Hold'em
Betting in Limit Hold'em is in pre-determined,
structured amounts. Pre-flop and on the flop, all bets and raises💲 are of the same
amount as the big blind. On the turn and the river, the size of all bets💲 and raises
doubles. In Limit Hold'em, up to four bets are allowed per player during each betting
round. This includes💲 a (1) bet, (2) raise, (3) re-raise, and (4) cap (final raise). No
Limit Texas Hold'em
The minimum bet in No💲 Limit Hold'em is the same as the size of the
big blind, but players can always bet as much more💲 as they want, up to all of their
chips.
Minimum raise: In No Limit Hold'em, the raise amount must be at💲 least as much as
the previous bet or raise in the same round. As an example, if the first player💲 to act
betsR$5 then the second player must raise a minimum ofR$5 (total bet ofR$10).
Maximum
raise: The size of your💲 stack (your chips on the table).
In No Limit Hold'em, there is
no ‘cap’ on the number of raises allowed. Pot💲 Limit Texas Hold'em
The minimum bet in
Pot Limit Hold'em is the same as the size of the big blind, but💲 players can always bet
up to the size of the pot.
Minimum raise: The raise amount must be at least as💲 much as
the previous bet or raise in the same round. As an example, if the first player to act
💲 betsR$5 then the second player must raise a minimum ofR$5 (total bet ofR$10).
Maximum
raise: The size of the pot, which💲 is defined as the total of the active pot plus all
bets on the table plus the amount the active💲 player must first call before
raising.
Example: If the size of the pot isR$100, and there is no previous action on💲 a
particular betting round, a player may bet a maximum ofR$100. After that bet, the
action moves to the next💲 player clockwise. That player can either fold, callR$100, or
raise any amount between the minimum ($100 more) and the maximum.💲 The maximum bet in
this case isR$400 - the raiser would first callR$100, bringing the pot size toR$300,
and then💲 raiseR$300 more, making a total bet ofR$400.
In Pot Limit Hold'em, there is no
‘cap’ on the number of raises allowed.💲 Mixed Texas Hold'em
In Mixed Hold'em, the game
switches between rounds of Limit Hold'em and No Limit Hold'em. The blinds are💲 typically
increased when the game switches from No Limit to Limit, to ensure some consistency in
the average pot size💲 in each game. The betting rules on each round follow the rules for
that game, as described above.
In the PokerStars💲 software, it’s not possible to bet
less than the minimum or more than the maximum. The bet slider and bet💲 window will only
allow you to bet amounts within the allowed thresholds.
Learn How to Play Texas Hold'em
for Free
If you💲 want to learn how to play Hold'em, then download the PokerStars
software and join any of the free poker games💲 where you can play online against other
players. Unlike our real money poker games, since there is nothing at stake,💲 you can be
comfortable learning the ropes of the game and all the rules of Hold'em. As well as
Texas💲 Hold’em, we also offer many other poker variants. See our Poker Games page to
learn more.
Additional information
