How to play Texas Hold'em

Texas Hold'em is by far the most popular variant of poker in the world. It is the game you see on televised tournaments, the game most online cash tables spread, and the game you should learn first if you are new to poker. This guide assumes nothing and will get you to "comfortable sitting down at a real table" by the end.

The objective

The goal in Texas Hold'em is to win chips. You win chips one of two ways: either you have the best five-card hand at showdown, or you bet in such a way that every other player folds before showdown. Beginners often think the game is mostly about (1), but the truth is that the majority of pots are decided by (2) — by who bets when, not by who has what cards.

The setup

Texas Hold'em is played with a standard 52-card deck. Each player is dealt two private cards (called "hole cards"), and over the course of the hand, five community cards are revealed in the middle of the table. Each player makes the best five-card hand they can using any combination of their two hole cards and the five community cards.

Each hand begins with two forced bets called the blinds. The player immediately to the dealer's left posts the small blind; the next player posts the big blind, which is double the small blind. The blinds rotate clockwise after every hand. Blinds exist so that there is always something in the pot to play for — without them, optimal play would be to fold every hand and never bet anything.

The four betting rounds

Texas Hold'em has four betting rounds. Each round gives every active player a chance to fold, call, raise, or check (if no bet has been made).

1. Preflop

Each player is dealt two hole cards face down. Action starts with the player to the left of the big blind ("under the gun") and proceeds clockwise. Each player can fold, call the big blind, or raise. The big blind has the option to "check" if no one has raised — they have already put in a full big blind, so a call costs them nothing.

2. The flop

Three community cards are revealed in the middle of the table. A new betting round begins, this time starting with the first active player to the left of the dealer. Players can check or bet; if a bet is made, the next player can fold, call, or raise.

3. The turn

A fourth community card is added. Another betting round, same structure as the flop. By now, four of the five community cards are out, and the hand each player is trying to make is much clearer.

4. The river

The fifth and final community card is revealed. One final betting round. If two or more players remain after the river betting, the hand goes to showdown.

Showdown

At showdown, the remaining players reveal their cards. Each player makes the best five-card hand they can from the seven available cards (two hole cards + five community cards). The best hand wins the pot. If multiple players have hands of equal rank, the pot is split equally.

Hand rankings

From strongest to weakest:

1. Royal flush: A, K, Q, J, 10, all of the same suit.
2. Straight flush: Five cards in sequence, all of the same suit (e.g. 9-8-7-6-5 of hearts).
3. Four of a kind: Four cards of the same rank (e.g. four jacks).
4. Full house: Three of a kind plus a pair (e.g. three 7s and two 4s).
5. Flush: Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence.
6. Straight: Five cards in sequence, mixed suits (ace can play high or low).
7. Three of a kind: Three cards of the same rank.
8. Two pair: Two cards of one rank plus two of another.
9. One pair: Two cards of the same rank.
10. High card: No combination — the highest single card plays.

When two hands have the same category (e.g. both have a pair), the higher-ranked pair wins. When the ranks tie too, the "kicker" — the highest non-pair card — decides.

Position

Position is one of the most important concepts in Hold'em. Your position is your seat relative to the dealer button, and it determines when you act in each round of betting.

• Early position (under the gun, UTG+1): acts first. You have very little information when you act.
• Middle position: acts in the middle. Some information.
• Late position (cutoff, button): acts last. You've seen what everyone else does before you decide.
• Blinds: act first postflop but last preflop. The blinds are difficult to play well.

Acting last is a huge advantage — you get to see what your opponents do before you decide. This is why "position" is so often emphasized in poker strategy. The button (the latest position) is the most profitable seat at the table over a large sample of hands.

Betting actions

• Check: pass the action without betting (only allowed if no one has bet yet this round).
• Bet: put chips into the pot. The minimum bet is one big blind.
• Call: match the current bet to stay in the hand.
• Raise: increase the current bet. The minimum raise is the size of the previous bet or raise.
• Fold: throw your cards away and forfeit the hand. You lose any chips you've already put in the pot.
• All-in: bet all your remaining chips. If you don't have enough to call a bet, you can go all-in for what you have and a "side pot" is created for any additional chips other players put in.

No-Limit vs Limit vs Pot-Limit

Hold'em is most commonly played in No-Limit form, where you can bet any amount up to your full stack at any time. This is the game with the most strategic depth and the most action — a single all-in can swing huge pots.

Limit Hold'em caps bets at a fixed size per round (often double on the turn and river). The strategic depth is different — less about bet sizing, more about pure card-reading. Limit is much rarer online now than it was 20 years ago.

Pot-Limit Hold'em caps each bet at the current size of the pot. It's an interesting middle ground but very rarely spread.

Variants we spread at The Ultimate Poker

• NL Hold'em cash: stakes from $0.02/$0.05 up to $25/$50, 6-max and 9-max.
• Heads-up NL: on-demand 1v1 tables at most stakes.
• NL Hold'em tournaments: daily MTTs at multiple buy-in levels, plus Sunday majors.
• Sit & Gos: 6-max, 9-max, and heads-up SNGs from $1 buy-ins up.
• Short-deck (six-plus) Hold'em: ace-to-six removed, modified hand rankings — coming Q3.

A starter strategy

Strategy is a topic for many books, not one section of a how-to-play guide, but here is a minimum viable strategy that will let you sit at a $0.02/$0.05 table tonight and not lose money fast:

1. Play tight preflop. Only enter pots with strong hands. From early position, that means premium pairs (TT+), AK, AQ. From late position, you can widen out to include suited connectors, small pairs, and broadway combinations.
2. Be aggressive when you do play. Raise rather than call. Bet rather than check-call. Passive play is the most common losing pattern at low stakes.
3. Fold to aggression you can't beat. If a tight opponent raises you on the river, they usually have it. Don't make hero calls until you have a clear read.
4. Play in position. Open more hands on the button than from under the gun. It is much easier to play with information than without.
5. Stop when you're tilted. If you just lost a big pot and feel angry, log off. The game will be here tomorrow.

FAQ

How many players can play Texas Hold'em?

Two to ten at a single table. Most online tables are 6-max (six seats).

What's the difference between No-Limit and Limit Hold'em?

No-Limit lets you bet any amount up to your stack. Limit caps bets at fixed sizes per round. No-Limit is far more common online.

What is the small blind and big blind?

Forced bets posted by the two players to the left of the dealer button. The big blind equals the table's minimum bet; the small blind is half.

What beats what?

From best to worst: royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair, high card.

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