- Texas Hold'em Rules at a Glance
- What Is Texas Hold'em?
- No-Limit Texas Hold'em
- Where Can You Play Texas Hold'em Online?
- Texas Hold'em Rules FAQ
Texas Hold'em is the world's most widely played form of poker. The basic rules are easy to learn: every player receives two private cards, five community cards are dealt in the middle of the table, and players compete to make the best five-card poker hand.
There is much more to the game than simply having good cards, however. Texas Hold'em also involves betting, position, reading the board and deciding when to fold, call or raise.
This guide explains the complete Texas Hold'em rules step by step, including blinds, betting rounds, poker hand rankings and how a winning hand is determined.
If you are completely new to the game, you can also explore our Poker Rules hub to learn how Texas Hold'em compares with other poker variants.
Texas Hold'em Rules at a Glance
| Rule | Texas Hold'em |
|---|---|
| Players | Usually 2 to 10 |
| Hole cards | 2 cards per player |
| Community cards | 5 cards |
| Betting rounds | 4 |
| Main streets | Preflop, flop, turn and river |
| Hand size | Best 5-card poker hand |
| Most common format | No-Limit Texas Hold'em |
| Forced bets | Small blind and big blind |
| Objective | Win the pot with the best hand or make all opponents fold |
What Is Texas Hold'em?
Texas Hold'em is a community-card poker game.
Each player receives two cards face down. These are known as hole cards and belong only to that player.
Up to five additional cards are then dealt face up in the centre of the table. These are community cards that every remaining player can use.
Your goal is to make the strongest possible five-card poker hand using any combination of:
- your two hole cards
- one hole card and four community cards
- only the five community cards
Unlike Omaha, you are not required to use a specific number of hole cards.
A hand can also end without reaching the showdown. If every other player folds, the last remaining player wins the pot without having to reveal their cards.
The Dealer Button and Blinds
Before learning the betting rounds, it is important to understand the dealer button and blinds.
Dealer Button
A circular dealer button identifies the nominal dealer for the current hand.
After each hand, the button moves clockwise to the next player. This changes the order in which players act and determines which players must post the blinds.
Position is important in Texas Hold'em because players who act later have already seen what earlier players decided to do.
Small Blind and Big Blind
Texas Hold'em normally uses two forced bets:
- Small Blind (SB): posted by the first player to the left of the dealer button.
- Big Blind (BB): posted by the next player to the left.
- The big blind is normally larger than the small blind. For example, a $1/$2 cash game would usually have a $1 small blind and a $2 big blind.
Blinds ensure there are chips in the pot before the cards are dealt and encourage players to compete for each hand.
Texas Hold'em Positions
Poker positions are named according to where a player sits relative to the dealer button.
At a typical full table, you may hear positions such as:
| Position | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Small Blind (SB) | Player directly left of the button |
| Big Blind (BB) | Player directly left of the small blind |
| Under the Gun (UTG) | First player to act preflop |
| Middle Position (MP) | Seats between early and late position |
| Hijack (HJ) | Two seats before the button |
| Cutoff (CO) | Seat directly before the button |
| Button (BTN) | Dealer position and usually the strongest position post-flop |
The button is particularly valuable because the player on the button normally acts last after the flop, giving them more information before making a decision.
How to Play Texas Hold'em Step by Step
A complete Texas Hold'em hand can contain four betting rounds.
1. The Blinds Are Posted
The small blind and big blind place their forced bets into the pot before any cards are dealt.
2. Each Player Receives Two Hole Cards
Starting with the player to the left of the dealer button, each player receives two private cards face down.
Only the player who receives them should see these cards.
3. Preflop Betting
The first betting round is called preflop.
In a standard game, action begins with the player immediately to the left of the big blind.
Players can usually:
- fold
- call the big blind
- raise
Action continues around the table until all remaining players have matched the highest bet or are all-in.
4. The Flop
Three community cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table.
These three cards are known collectively as the flop.
For example:
A♠10♣6♥
Every remaining player can use these cards when building their final five-card hand.
A second betting round now takes place.
Post-flop action normally starts with the first active player clockwise from the dealer button.
5. The Turn
After flop betting is complete, a fourth community card is dealt.
This card is called the turn.
Another betting round takes place.
6. The River
The fifth and final community card is dealt face up.
This is called the river.
Players now know all five community cards, and the final betting round takes place.
7. The Showdown
If two or more players remain after the final betting round, the hand normally proceeds to a showdown.
The remaining hands are compared, and the player with the strongest five-card poker hand wins the pot.
If two or more players have identical best five-card hands, the pot is split between them.
Texas Hold'em Betting Rounds
There are four possible betting rounds in Texas Hold'em:
| Betting Round | When It Happens |
|---|---|
| Preflop | After players receive their 2 hole cards |
| Flop | After the first 3 community cards |
| Turn | After the 4th community card |
| River | After the 5th community card |
A hand does not have to reach every betting round. If all players except one fold at any point, the remaining player immediately wins the pot.
Texas Hold'em Betting Actions Explained
During a Texas Hold'em hand, you may have several possible actions.
Check
Checking means passing the action to the next player without placing a bet. You can normally only check when nobody has bet before you during the current betting round.
Bet
A bet is the first wager made during a betting round. Other players must then decide whether to call, raise or fold.
Call
To call means matching the current bet. If an opponent bets $20 and you want to continue without raising, you call by putting $20 into the pot.
Raise
A raise increases the size of an existing bet. For example, if an opponent bets $20 and you raise to $60, the other players must respond to the new $60 wager.
Fold
Folding means giving up your cards and surrendering any claim to the pot. Any chips you have already placed into the pot remain there.
All-In
Going all-in means wagering all the chips you currently have available.
A player who is all-in cannot bet any more chips during the hand but remains eligible to win the portion of the pot they have contributed to.
When players have different stack sizes, additional side pots may be created.
Texas Hold'em Hand Rankings
Texas Hold'em uses standard high poker hand rankings.
The hands are ranked from strongest to weakest as follows:
| Rank | Poker Hand | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Flush | A♠K♠Q♠J♠10♠ |
| 2 | Straight Flush | 9♥8♥7♥6♥5♥ |
| 3 | Four of a Kind | Q♦Q♥Q♣Q♠8♥ |
| 4 | Full House | J♥J♠J♣6♥6♣ |
| 5 | Flush | K♣9♣7♣6♣3♣ |
| 6 | Straight | 10♦9♣8♥7♥6♠ |
| 7 | Three of a Kind | 9♥9♣9♠K♣Q♥ |
| 8 | Two Pair | K♣K♠10♦10♥7♣ |
| 9 | One Pair | 10♥10♣A♠K♥6♠ |
| 10 | High Card | A♦K♦10♣9♠2♥ |
A royal flush is simply the highest possible straight flush.
How Do You Make a Hand in Texas Hold'em?
One of the most important Texas Hold'em rules for beginners is that you are looking for the best five-card combination available from seven possible cards.
Those seven cards are:
- your 2 hole cards
- the 5 community cards
You do not have to use both hole cards.
Example 1: Using Both Hole Cards
Your hand:
A♠K♠
Board:
Q♠J♠10♠6♥3♣
Your best five-card hand is:
A♠K♠Q♠J♠10♠
You have a royal flush.
Example 2: Using One Hole Card
Your hand:
A♣7♦
Board:
K♥Q♠J♥10♣7♣
Your best hand is the Broadway straight:
A♣K♥Q♠J♥10♣
Your seven does not play.
Example 3: Playing the Board
Your hand:
8♣7♣
Board:
A♥K♣Q♣J♥10♦
The board itself makes an ace-high straight.
If no player can make a better five-card hand, everyone still in the hand has the same straight and the pot is split.
This ability to use zero, one or two hole cards is one of the major differences between Texas Hold'em and games such as Pot-Limit Omaha.
What Happens If Two Players Have the Same Hand?
Texas Hold'em always compares the best five-card hand available to each player.
Suits do not break ties in standard Texas Hold'em.
If two players have exactly the same five-card hand, the pot is divided equally between them.
The Kicker
When players share the same main hand, an additional card called a kicker can sometimes determine the winner.
For example:
Player 1: A♠K♣
Player 2: A♦Q♣
Board:
A♥9♠7♦4♣2♠
Both players have a pair of aces, but Player 1 wins because the king is a higher kicker than the queen.
No-Limit Texas Hold'em
No-Limit Texas Hold'em is the best-known version of the game.
In No-Limit Hold'em, a player may wager up to their entire remaining stack when it is their turn to act, subject to the applicable minimum betting and raising rules.
This creates the possibility of going all-in at any stage of the hand.
Pot-Limit Texas Hold'em
Pot-Limit Texas Hold'em uses the same cards and hand rankings, but betting is restricted.
Players cannot make a bet or raise larger than the maximum permitted by the current size of the pot.
Pot-Limit Hold'em is much less common than No-Limit Hold'em.
Fixed-Limit Texas Hold'em
In Fixed-Limit Hold'em, bets and raises are made in predetermined increments.
Players therefore cannot simply wager their entire stack whenever they choose.
Although No-Limit Hold'em dominates modern poker, Fixed-Limit Hold'em is still played both online and live.
Cash Games vs Texas Hold'em Tournaments
The basic Texas Hold'em rules are the same whether you play a cash game or tournament, but the structure is different.
Cash Games
In a cash game:
- chips represent real monetary value
- blinds normally remain fixed
- players can usually join or leave between hands
- players can rebuy according to the table rules
- Tournaments
In a poker tournament:
- players pay a buy-in and receive tournament chips
- blinds increase as the tournament progresses
- players are eliminated when they lose all their chips unless re-entry or rebuy rules allow them to return
- play continues until the tournament reaches its conclusion
Texas Hold'em is the dominant format at many of the world's major poker tournaments.
Where Can You Play Texas Hold'em Online?
Texas Hold'em is available at most major online poker rooms, with cash games, sit and go tournaments and multi-table tournaments available across a wide range of stakes.
PokerWired compares Texas Hold'em poker sites based on factors such as game availability, software, player traffic and overall poker experience.
Players who have never played online before can also explore our guide to poker sites for beginners before choosing a room.
Always check whether real-money online poker is legal and available in your jurisdiction before registering or depositing.
Tips Before Playing Your First Texas Hold'em Game
Learning the rules is only the first step.
Before playing for meaningful stakes:
- Learn the poker hand rankings.
- Understand which player acts first on every street.
- Pay attention to the dealer button and your position.
- Start at stakes you are comfortable with.
- Do not feel obligated to play every hand.
- Remember that folding is a normal and essential part of poker.
Once you understand the basic game flow, our guide to common beginner mistakes in Hold'em can help you avoid some of the errors new players make most often.
Texas Hold'em Rules FAQ
- How many cards do you get in Texas Hold'em?
Each player receives two private hole cards. Five community cards can also be dealt, giving each player access to as many as seven cards from which to construct their best five-card hand.
- Do you have to use both hole cards in Texas Hold'em?
No. You can use both hole cards, one hole card or neither. Your final hand is simply the best five-card combination available.
- How many community cards are dealt?
A maximum of five community cards are dealt: three on the flop, one on the turn and one on the river.
- Who goes first in Texas Hold'em?
Preflop, the first player to act is normally the player immediately to the left of the big blind. After the flop, action begins with the first active player clockwise from the dealer button.
- What is the strongest hand in Texas Hold'em?
The strongest possible hand is a royal flush: A-K-Q-J-10, all of the same suit.
- Can an ace be low in Texas Hold'em?
Yes. An ace can act as the low card in an A-2-3-4-5 straight. It cannot wrap around, so Q-K-A-2-3 is not a straight.
- What happens when everyone folds?
If every player except one folds, the remaining player wins the pot immediately. They are normally not required to show their cards.
- Is Texas Hold'em the same as poker?
Texas Hold'em is a form of poker, but it is not the only poker game. Other variants include Omaha, Seven Card Stud, Razz, Short Deck and many draw and mixed games.
Learn More About Poker
Texas Hold'em is relatively easy to learn, but understanding the rules properly makes the game far more enjoyable.
Start by becoming comfortable with the order of play, poker hand rankings and the different betting actions. From there, concepts such as position, starting-hand selection, pot odds and tournament strategy become much easier to understand.
Explore the PokerWired Poker Rules library to learn the rules of more poker games and continue building your poker knowledge.