Texas Hold'em

Texas Hold'em is the most popular variety of poker, as well as the easiest to learn.

Players receive two 'hole' cards that only they can see and use. Then, five 'community' cards are dealt that everyone can see and use. Players can make their five-card hand from both, one or none of their hole cards in combination with the community cards.

The game is divided into four rounds of betting, and the betting moves clockwise around the table. Betting starts from the position next to the dealer button, which moves one place to the left after each hand. In online games, the dealer button replaces the 'real' dealer.

The Blinds

Before a game starts, the two players to the left of the dealer post 'blind' bets, so-called because they are made before the players have seen any cards. The blinds ensure that there is some money in the pot to play for at the very start of the game. The player to the left of the dealer posts the 'small blind', and the player to his left posts the 'big blind'.

Pre-Flop

Now the game starts to heat up! Each player receives two cards that only they can see, called 'hole' cards. After this, the first round of betting is started by the first player to the left of the big blind. This player, who is known as 'under the gun', can:

Call: match the amount bet in the big blind,
Raise: increase the amount bet, or
Fold: surrender his cards and stake in the game.

When the betting returns to the player who made the big blind (the first full bet), that player can 'check' or opt to stay in the game without adding anything to the pot. However, if an opponent has raised, the big blind has three options: he must fold, call, or re-raise.

The Flop

Three 'community' cards, which all players can use to make their five-card hand, are dealt face up on the table. A second round of betting follows.

The Turn

A fourth community card is dealt face up on the table. The third round of betting follows.

The River

The fifth and final community card is dealt, followed by the final round of betting.

The Showdown

If there is more than one player left in the game, there is a showdown in which the players reveal their cards and the highest hand wins (see Rank of Hands). If two players share an identical hand, the pot is split.

For a more detailed explanation of how to play Texas Hold'em, download our PDF guide

Texas Hold'em (316k)