The Rules of Texas Hold’em

Donny

Poker might look like chaos—chips flying, people raising eyebrows, someone in sunglasses calling a $50 bet with nothing but a 7 and a 2—but underneath it all is a very clear structure. Let’s break it down so you can walk into your first game knowing what’s going on (and maybe even win a hand).

The Setup

  • Players: Typically 2–9 people at a table.
  • Cards: A standard 52-card deck, no jokers.
  • Chips: Used for betting. If you’re playing at home, jelly beans and broken dreams are acceptable substitutes (temporarily).

Blinds and the Button

Texas Hold’em uses something called blinds to force action. No, not window blinds—forced bets that keep the game moving.

  • Dealer Button: A little disc that moves clockwise around the table after each hand. It determines the order of play.
  • Small Blind: The player immediately left of the button. They put in a small forced bet before the cards are dealt.
  • Big Blind: The player left of the small blind. They put in a larger forced bet. This is the minimum bet for the first round.

The Deal

  1. Each player gets two private cards (called hole cards), dealt face-down.
  2. Then five community cards are dealt face-up in stages:
    • The Flop: 3 cards
    • The Turn: 1 card
    • The River: 1 card

Players use the best five-card combination from their two hole cards plus the community cards.

The Betting Rounds

There are four betting rounds:

  1. Pre-Flop – After hole cards are dealt
  2. Flop – After the first 3 community cards
  3. Turn – After the 4th card
  4. River – After the 5th and final card

In each round, you can:

  • Fold – Throw your cards away and surrender the hand
  • Call – Match the current bet
  • Raise – Increase the bet
  • Check – If no one’s bet yet, you can pass the action

The Showdown

If two or more players are still in after the final round of betting, it’s time for the showdown. Players reveal their hands, and the best one wins the pot.

Hand Rankings (From Best to Worst)

  1. Royal Flush
  2. Straight Flush
  3. Four of a Kind
  4. Full House
  5. Flush
  6. Straight
  7. Three of a Kind
  8. Two Pair
  9. One Pair
  10. High Card

Quick Tips for Beginners

  • Flush beats a straight. Always. Memorize that.
  • If the best hand is on the board and no one beats it with hole cards, the pot is split.
  • Kickers matter. That random 5 might win you the hand.

Next Up: Poker Hand Ratings

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