Texas Hold'em Poker Rules

Your 2 Hole Cards (Private)

Only you can see these cards. Nobody else knows what you have unless you choose to show them. These 2 cards are the foundation of your hand strategy.

The 5 Community Cards (Shared)

These cards are revealed gradually during the hand: 3 cards on the Flop, 1 on the Turn, and 1 on the River. All players can use these cards to make their hand. Everyone has equal access to them.

Your Complete Hand (7 Cards Total)

You have access to 7 cards total: your 2 hole cards + 5 community cards. From these 7 cards, you make your best possible 5-card hand.

🏆 Royal Flush - Best Hand

The highest possible hand. Five cards of the same suit in sequence, starting with the ace. Example: Ace-high straight flush.

Straight Flush

Five cards in sequence of the same suit. Lower than a Royal Flush but unbeatable if you hit it on the flop. Example:

Four of a Kind (Quads)

Four cards of the same rank plus any other card. Very powerful hand that's rarely beaten. Example:

Full House

Three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank. Strong hand that wins frequently. Example:

Flush

Five cards of the same suit in any order. All hearts, diamonds, clubs, or spades. Example:

Straight

Five cards in sequence of different suits. Ace can be high or low (A-K-Q-J-10 or 5-4-3-2-A). Example:

Three of a Kind (Trips)

Three cards of the same rank and two other cards of different ranks. Example:

Two Pair

Two cards of one rank, two cards of another rank, and one other card. Beating one pair is important. Example:

One Pair

Two cards of the same rank and three other cards of different ranks. Most common winning hand. Example:

High Card (Ace High)

When you don't have any of the above hands, your highest card plays. Example:

1. Pre-Flop

Each player receives two private cards. A round of betting follows, starting with the player to the left of the big blind. Players can fold, call, or raise.

• Small Blind posts half the minimum bet
• Big Blind posts the full minimum bet
• First to act is the player left of the big blind (UTG)

2. The Flop

Three community cards are revealed. Players now have 5 cards total to work with. Another betting round occurs, starting with the small blind.

3. The Turn

A fourth community card is revealed. You now have 6 cards to make the best 5-card hand. Betting continues. This is often where stakes increase if betting limits are used.

4. The River

The final (fifth) community card is revealed. All players now have seven cards total to make their best 5-card hand. The final betting round occurs.

5. Showdown

All remaining players reveal their hole cards. The player with the strongest five-card hand wins the pot. If only one player remains after all betting, they win without showing.

• Best hand takes the entire pot
• In case of a tie, the pot is split equally
• You don't have to show your cards if everyone else folds

Early Position (EP)

UTG, UTG+1, UTG+2. You act early with little information. Play only strong hands from these positions.

Middle Position (MP)

Middle-ground positions. You can play a wider range of hands but still be somewhat cautious.

Late Position (LP)

Hijack (HJ), Cutoff (CO). Better position to play more hands and steal blinds. You have good information.

Dealer (BTN)

Button. Best position at the table. Act last pre-flop (except small blind). Can play widest range of hands.

Small Blind (SB)

Posts half the blind and acts second to last pre-flop. First to act post-flop. Weak position.

Big Blind (BB)

Posts full blind, acts last pre-flop. Second to act post-flop. Defend with wider range against steals.

✓ Check

Pass without betting. Only possible if no one has bet in the current round. Maintains your position without adding money to the pot.

✕ Fold

Discard your hand and exit the hand. You forfeit any chips you've already put in. You don't have to put any more money in but also can't win the pot.

= Call

Match the current bet. Put in enough chips to equal what the previous player bet. Keeps you in the hand for the next round.

↑ Raise

Increase the bet amount. Put in more chips than required to call. Forces other players to either fold, call your raise, or re-raise.

⬆ All-In

Bet all remaining chips. Commits your entire stack to the pot. Other players can still bet more into a side pot.

Pot Odds

The ratio of the current pot size to the bet you need to call. If the pot is $100 and you need to call $20, your pot odds are 5:1. You should call if your odds of winning are better than the pot odds.

Refer to our comprehensive Pot Odds guide for detailed calculations, examples, and step-by-step explanations on how to master this critical poker concept.

Outs

Cards that improve your hand to a winning hand. With 4 to a flush, you have 9 outs (13 total flush cards - 4 you can see). Calculate your outs to determine if a call is profitable.

Refer to our comprehensive Outs guide for detailed explanations, examples, and practical ways to count outs in real hands.

Position Play

Your table position is critical. Play tighter (fewer hands) in early position and looser (more hands) in late position. Information is power in poker - acting last is always advantageous.