How to play Texas Hold'em: the rules
The rules of Texas Hold'em are quick to learn: you get two private cards and five shared ones, and the betting works across four rounds. Follow how a hand plays from the blinds to showdown in this Texas Hold'em course and you know the whole game.
The goal of the game
Every Hold'em hand is a race to build the strongest five-card combination out of seven cards you can reach: the two dealt only to you, face down, plus five turned face-up in the center for everyone to share. You never draw or swap cards. Instead you bet across four rounds, and you take the pot either by showing the best hand at the end or by making everyone else fold first.
The blinds and the button
A round disk called the button marks the dealer position and moves one seat clockwise each hand. The two players to the button's left post forced bets before any cards are dealt: the small blind (immediately left of the button) and the big blind (one seat further). These blinds seed the pot and force action. In a $1/$2 game, the small blind is $1 and the big blind is $2.
Four betting rounds
A hand unfolds across four streets. Preflop: everyone gets their two hole cards and bets, starting with the player left of the big blind. Flop: three community cards are dealt face-up and a second betting round begins. Turn: a fourth community card is dealt, then betting. River: the fifth and final community card is dealt, followed by the last round of betting. On each street you may check, bet, call, raise, or fold.
One hand, four streets
Every Texas Hold'em hand unfolds over four betting rounds. Deal through a real hand, watch the board build and see your best five cards light up — this is the rhythm of the game.
You're dealt two private hole cards. A♠ K♠ suited is a premium hand — raise to take the lead before the flop.
The flop brings top pair (kings) and the nut-flush draw at once. A monster combo — keep betting to build the pot and charge the draws.
The 2♠ completes the nut flush. Right now you hold the best possible hand on this board — bet for value and get paid.
The board didn't pair, so no full house is possible against you. Your ace-high flush is the nuts — bet big for maximum value.
Showdown
If two or more players remain after the river betting, they reveal their cards in a showdown and the best five-card hand wins the pot. If everyone else folds before showdown, the last remaining player wins immediately and never has to show their cards. Then the button moves one seat and a new hand begins.
- Each player gets 2 hole cards; 5 community cards are shared by everyone.
- The hand runs across four betting rounds: preflop, flop (3 cards), turn (1 card), river (1 card).
- Your final hand is the best five cards chosen from your seven available cards.
- Win at showdown with the best hand, or win any time everyone else folds.
Test yourself
Answer them all — 16/20 to pass. Every answer gets an explanation.
How many private hole cards is each player dealt in Texas Hold'em?
Every player receives exactly two private hole cards at the start of each hand.
How many community cards are shared in total by the end of a hand?
Five community cards are dealt: three on the flop, one on the turn, and one on the river.
How many cards make up a poker hand at showdown?
A poker hand is always exactly five cards, chosen as the best from your seven available cards.
What are the four betting rounds in order?
Betting proceeds preflop, then flop, then turn, then river.
How many community cards are dealt on the flop?
The flop is the first three community cards, dealt face-up together.
How many cards are dealt on the turn?
The turn is a single community card, the fourth on the board.
How many cards are dealt on the river?
The river is the fifth and final community card, dealt as one card.
What does the dealer button do between hands?
The button moves one seat clockwise each hand so positions and blinds rotate fairly.
Which two players must post forced bets before the cards are dealt?
The small blind and big blind, seated left of the button, post forced bets to seed the pot.
Where does the small blind sit relative to the button?
The small blind is the seat immediately to the left of the button.
Which is larger, the small blind or the big blind?
The big blind is the larger of the two forced bets, typically double the small blind.
In a $1/$2 game, what is the big blind?
In $1/$2, the small blind is $1 and the big blind is $2.
Who acts first in the preflop betting round?
Preflop, action begins with the player seated immediately left of the big blind.
You hold two hearts and the board shows three more hearts. How many of your hole cards must you use?
You simply make the best five-card hand; you may use both hole cards, one, or none of them.
What happens if every other player folds before showdown?
If all opponents fold, the last player standing wins the pot immediately without a showdown.
When does a showdown occur?
A showdown happens when two or more players are still in after the final river betting round.
Which action is NOT available on a betting round?
You may check, bet, call, raise, or fold, but you can never redraw or exchange cards in Hold'em.
You have K-Q and the five community cards are all spades that you don't hold. What is your hand?
You can play the five community cards as your hand, giving everyone the same board flush.
Winning a Texas Hold'em hand requires which of the following?
You win either by holding the best five-card hand at showdown or by making all opponents fold.
How many total cards can a player use to build their best hand?
Two hole cards plus five community cards give seven total cards to choose the best five from.
Review — all 20 questions & answers tap to expand
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How many private hole cards is each player dealt in Texas Hold'em?
Answer Two
Every player receives exactly two private hole cards at the start of each hand.
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How many community cards are shared in total by the end of a hand?
Answer Five
Five community cards are dealt: three on the flop, one on the turn, and one on the river.
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How many cards make up a poker hand at showdown?
Answer Exactly five
A poker hand is always exactly five cards, chosen as the best from your seven available cards.
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What are the four betting rounds in order?
Answer Preflop, flop, turn, river
Betting proceeds preflop, then flop, then turn, then river.
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How many community cards are dealt on the flop?
Answer Three
The flop is the first three community cards, dealt face-up together.
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How many cards are dealt on the turn?
Answer One
The turn is a single community card, the fourth on the board.
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How many cards are dealt on the river?
Answer One
The river is the fifth and final community card, dealt as one card.
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What does the dealer button do between hands?
Answer It moves one seat clockwise
The button moves one seat clockwise each hand so positions and blinds rotate fairly.
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Which two players must post forced bets before the cards are dealt?
Answer The small blind and the big blind
The small blind and big blind, seated left of the button, post forced bets to seed the pot.
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Where does the small blind sit relative to the button?
Answer Immediately to the button's left
The small blind is the seat immediately to the left of the button.
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Which is larger, the small blind or the big blind?
Answer The big blind
The big blind is the larger of the two forced bets, typically double the small blind.
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In a $1/$2 game, what is the big blind?
Answer $2
In $1/$2, the small blind is $1 and the big blind is $2.
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Who acts first in the preflop betting round?
Answer The player left of the big blind
Preflop, action begins with the player seated immediately left of the big blind.
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You hold two hearts and the board shows three more hearts. How many of your hole cards must you use?
Answer You may use both, one, or none
You simply make the best five-card hand; you may use both hole cards, one, or none of them.
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What happens if every other player folds before showdown?
Answer The last remaining player wins the pot
If all opponents fold, the last player standing wins the pot immediately without a showdown.
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When does a showdown occur?
Answer When two or more players remain after the river betting
A showdown happens when two or more players are still in after the final river betting round.
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Which action is NOT available on a betting round?
Answer Redraw a card
You may check, bet, call, raise, or fold, but you can never redraw or exchange cards in Hold'em.
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You have K-Q and the five community cards are all spades that you don't hold. What is your hand?
Answer A flush using the five board cards
You can play the five community cards as your hand, giving everyone the same board flush.
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Winning a Texas Hold'em hand requires which of the following?
Answer Best hand at showdown OR everyone else folding
You win either by holding the best five-card hand at showdown or by making all opponents fold.
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How many total cards can a player use to build their best hand?
Answer Seven available
Two hole cards plus five community cards give seven total cards to choose the best five from.