Texas Hold'em rules: Complete beginners guide
Texas Holdem is the most popular poker variant in the world. You see it on TV during the World Series of Poker, at your local card room, and in home games across the globe. The rules are simple enough to learn in an afternoon but take years to master.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know about playing Texas Holdem poker. By the end, youll understand the betting structure, hand rankings, and how each round works from the first deal to the final showdown.
The basic setup
Texas Holdem uses a standard 52-card deck. Between 2 and 10 players can play at a single table, though 6 to 9 players is most common in casinos and online rooms.
Before any cards are dealt, two players post forced bets called blinds. The player directly left of the dealer button posts the small blind. The next player posts the big blind, which is typically double the small blind. These forced bets create action and give players something to fight for in every hand.
How a hand is dealt
Each player receives two cards face down. These are your hole cards, and only you can see them. The goal of Texas Holdem is to make the best five-card poker hand using any combination of your two hole cards and the five community cards that get dealt throughout the hand.
After everyone receives their hole cards, the first betting round begins. This round is called preflop because the community cards havent been dealt yet. The action starts with the player left of the big blind, who can fold, call the big blind, or raise.
The four betting rounds
Texas Holdem has four betting rounds. Understanding how each one works is critical to playing the game correctly.
| Round | Cards dealt | Action starts |
|---|---|---|
| Preflop | 2 hole cards to each player | Player left of big blind |
| Flop | 3 community cards face up | Player left of button |
| Turn | 1 community card face up | Player left of button |
| River | 1 community card face up | Player left of button |
Preflop action
The first player to act can fold (throw away their hand), call (match the big blind), or raise (bet more than the big blind). Action continues clockwise around the table. Each player must match the current bet to stay in the hand or fold.
If someone raises, all players who want to continue must call the raise or make an even bigger raise. Once all players have acted and all bets are equal, the betting round ends and the dealer puts out the flop.
The flop
Three cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table. These are community cards that everyone can use to make their hand. Another betting round begins, starting with the first active player left of the dealer button.
On the flop and all subsequent rounds, the first player to act can check (pass the action without betting) or bet. Once someone bets, the next players must fold, call, or raise. You cant check once someone has bet.
The turn
After flop betting completes, a fourth community card is dealt face up. This card is called the turn or fourth street. Another betting round follows using the same rules as the flop.
The river
The fifth and final community card is dealt face up. This card is called the river or fifth street. A final round of betting takes place. If more than one player remains after this betting round, the hand goes to showdown.
The showdown
Players reveal their hole cards to determine who has the best five-card poker hand. You can use both hole cards, one hole card, or none of your hole cards. The best hand wins the entire pot.
If two players have identical hands, the pot is split evenly between them. This is called a chop.
Betting options explained
Understanding your betting options is fundamental to playing poker correctly. Here are the actions you can take during any betting round:
- Fold: Give up your hand and forfeit any chips youve already put in the pot
- Check: Pass the action to the next player without betting (only available if no one has bet yet)
- Call: Match the current bet to stay in the hand
- Bet: Put chips into the pot when no one else has bet this round
- Raise: Increase the size of the current bet, forcing others to match your raise or fold
- All-in: Bet all your remaining chips
No-Limit vs Limit vs Pot-Limit
Texas Holdem comes in three main betting structures. The structure changes how much you can bet on each round.
No-Limit Holdem is the most popular format. You can bet any amount up to all your chips at any time. This is what you see on TV and in most modern poker rooms.
Limit Holdem has fixed betting amounts. In a $2/$4 Limit game, all bets and raises on the preflop and flop are $2. On the turn and river, theyre $4. Each round allows a maximum of one bet and three raises.
Pot-Limit Holdem allows you to bet up to the size of the current pot. Its less common than the other two formats but offers a middle ground between Limit and No-Limit.
Hand rankings quick reference
You need to know which hands beat which. From strongest to weakest:
- Royal Flush: A, K, Q, J, 10 all the same suit
- Straight Flush: Five cards in sequence, all the same suit
- Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank
- Full House: Three of a kind plus a pair
- Flush: Five cards of the same suit
- Straight: Five cards in sequence
- Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank
- Two Pair: Two different pairs
- One Pair: Two cards of the same rank
- High Card: No combination, highest card plays
Common beginner mistakes
New players often make these errors. Avoid them and youll already be ahead of many opponents.
Playing too many hands is the biggest mistake. Just because you get dealt cards doesnt mean you should play them. Fold most hands and wait for good starting cards.
Not paying attention to position is another huge error. The later you act in a betting round, the more information you have. The dealer button and positions near it are the most profitable spots at the table.
Calling too much instead of raising or folding. If your hand is strong enough to play, it's often strong enough to raise. Calling is usually the weakest action in poker.
Next steps
Now you understand the basic rules of Texas Holdem. You know how the cards are dealt, the four betting rounds, and what happens at showdown.
The next step is learning which starting hands to play, how position affects strategy, and basic concepts like pot odds. These fundamentals will help you actually win money instead of just knowing how the game works.
Start by playing low-stakes games or free play money games online. Get comfortable with the mechanics before risking real money. Watch how experienced players bet and pay attention to what hands win at showdown.