Texas Hold'em is the most popular form of poker. Each player gets two private cards and shares five community cards. The goal: make the best five-card hand — or get everyone else to fold.
The objective
You win a pot in one of two ways: by having the best five-card hand at the showdown, or by betting in a way that makes every other player fold before then. Your five-card hand is built from any combination of your two hole cards and the five community cards. See the full hand rankings.
The table & the blinds
A round disc called the button marks the dealer and moves one seat clockwise each hand. The two players left of the button post forced bets: the small blind and the big blind. Blinds rise over time — that's what the tournament clock keeps track of.
The deal & betting rounds
Every player is dealt two face-down hole cards, then the action moves through four betting rounds:
- Preflop — betting starts after the hole cards are dealt, beginning left of the big blind.
- The flop — three community cards are dealt face up; another round of betting follows.
- The turn — a fourth community card, then betting.
- The river — the fifth and final community card, then the last round of betting.
Your options on each turn
- Check — pass the action with no bet (only if no one has bet).
- Bet / Raise — put chips in, or increase a bet already made.
- Call — match the current bet to stay in the hand.
- Fold — give up your hand and any chips already in the pot.
- All-in — bet every chip you have left.
The showdown
If two or more players remain after the river, cards are revealed and the best five-card hand wins the pot. Tied hands split the pot. When hands are otherwise equal, the highest side card — the kicker — decides it.
Quick etiquette
- Act in turn — don't fold or bet out of order.
- Make your bet in one motion; reaching back for more chips (a “string bet”) isn't allowed.
- Keep your cards on the table and protect them.
- Keep phones and side conversations away from live hands.
Common questions
- How do you play Texas Hold'em?
- Each player gets two private hole cards and shares five community cards. After the two blinds are posted, betting moves through four rounds — preflop, flop, turn and river. The best five-card hand at showdown wins the pot, or you win by betting so everyone else folds.
- What are the four betting rounds in poker?
- Preflop (right after the hole cards are dealt), the flop (three community cards dealt face up), the turn (a fourth community card) and the river (the fifth and final card). Each round is followed by betting.
- What is the flop, turn and river?
- The flop is the first three community cards dealt face up; the turn is the fourth card; the river is the fifth and final card. All of them are shared by every player to build a hand.
- When can you go all-in in poker?
- Any time it is your turn to act — you simply bet all of your remaining chips. If opponents have more chips than you, the surplus goes into a side pot that you cannot win.