Educational guide - Texas Hold'em rules - Responsible play
Texas Hold'em Rules: Cards, Betting Rounds, Showdown and Hand Use
Texas Hold'em is a community-card poker game where each player receives two private cards and shares five community cards. This guide explains table flow, hand construction, betting rounds and showdown rules without promising real-money results.
Educational and rules-review disclosure
Written by Michael Johnson. Rules reviewed by Sarah Roberts. This page explains Texas Hold'em rules and beginner rule mistakes. It does not rank poker rooms, recommend gambling as a way to make money or promise outcomes.
Legal, tax and responsible gambling notice
Educational scope: This page explains poker rules and hand-construction concepts. It does not recommend gambling as a way to make money and does not promise outcomes.
Skill and variance: Poker decisions can affect outcomes over time, but short-term variance, rake, tournament fees, table selection and bankroll limits still matter.
Market scope: Real-money online poker availability depends on your state, operator and market type. Offshore poker rooms are not the same as state-regulated US online poker rooms.
Tax note: Gambling winnings may be taxable in the United States. Keep records and verify current IRS guidance or consult a qualified tax professional.
Responsible gambling: Stop if strategy, bonuses, tournaments, losses or skill-edge language make you feel pressure to continue. For confidential help, call or text 1-800-MY-RESET.
Quick answer
In Texas Hold'em, each player receives two hole cards. Five community cards are dealt in stages: flop, turn and river. Players make the best five-card poker hand using both hole cards, one hole card or no hole cards.
A hand can end before showdown if all but one player folds. If more than one player remains after the river betting round, the best five-card hand wins or the pot is split when players have the same final hand.
What Texas Hold'em is
Texas Hold'em is a community-card poker variant. Every player receives two private hole cards, then the table shares five community cards. The five community cards are dealt as the flop, turn and river.
The word "community" matters because every remaining player can use those board cards. Your final hand is not simply your two hole cards; it is the best five-card combination available from seven total cards. You can use both private cards, one private card or none.
Objective: win the pot or make the best five-card hand
A Texas Hold'em hand can end in two main ways. First, one player can win the pot when every other player folds. Second, two or more players can reach showdown and compare the best five-card poker hand available from their hole cards and the board.
Rules knowledge does not make a hand profitable by itself. It simply tells you what actions are legal, how the board is dealt and how the winner is determined.
Button, small blind and big blind
The button marks the dealer position for the hand and moves around the table after each hand. The two players to the left of the button usually post the small blind and big blind before cards are dealt.
In many games, the small blind is half the big blind, but exact blind sizes depend on the table structure. Some games also use antes. Always check the posted structure before assuming the forced-bet amounts.
Texas Hold'em betting rounds
| Round | Cards visible | What players decide | Beginner caveat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-flop | Each player has two private hole cards. | Fold, call or raise after blinds are posted. | A strong starting hand can still lose after the board runs out. |
| Flop | Three community cards are dealt face up. | Re-evaluate made hands, draws and position. | Two suited hole cards are not a flush by themselves. |
| Turn | A fourth community card is added. | Recalculate likely strength and cost to continue. | One card can change possible straights and flushes. |
| River | The fifth community card is added. | Final betting round before showdown. | No more cards remain after river action. |
| Showdown | Remaining players reveal hands. | Best five-card hand wins or the pot is split. | Only five cards count, even when seven are available. |
Betting actions
- Check: pass the action when no bet is pending.
- Bet: place the first wager in a betting round.
- Call: match an existing bet.
- Raise: increase an existing bet.
- Fold: give up the hand and stop contesting the pot.
Betting options depend on the action before you. You cannot check when facing a bet, and raise sizes depend on the betting format and table rules.
Hand rankings used in Texas Hold'em
| Rank | Hand | Example | How it is evaluated |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal flush | A-K-Q-J-10, all same suit | Ace-high straight flush. |
| 2 | Straight flush | 9-8-7-6-5, all same suit | Five consecutive cards of the same suit. |
| 3 | Four of a kind | J-J-J-J-2 | Four cards of the same rank plus one kicker. |
| 4 | Full house | K-K-K-8-8 | Three of a kind plus a pair. |
| 5 | Flush | A-9-7-4-2, all same suit | Five cards of the same suit, not consecutive. |
| 6 | Straight | 10-9-8-7-6 | Five consecutive cards of mixed suits. |
| 7 | Three of a kind | Q-Q-Q-5-2 | Three cards of the same rank. |
| 8 | Two pair | J-J-8-8-3 | Two separate pairs. |
| 9 | One pair | 10-10-9-7-2 | Two cards of the same rank. |
| 10 | High card | A-10-8-6-2 | No pair or better; highest card breaks ties. |
For probability context and deeper examples, use the poker hand rankings guide.
Showdown and playing the board
At showdown, each remaining player makes the best five-card hand from seven available cards: two hole cards plus five community cards. You may use both hole cards, one hole card or no hole cards.
Playing the board
If your best hand uses only the five community cards, that is called playing the board. For example, if the board itself is A-K-Q-J-10 and no player can make a better hand using hole cards, players may share the same board hand.
Common beginner mistakes
| Mistake | Correction | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Thinking both hole cards must play | You can use both, one or none. | Playing the board uses zero hole cards. |
| Counting all seven cards | Only the best five-card hand counts. | Extra cards only matter as kickers if they are part of the best five. |
| Misreading kickers | Compare matched ranks first, then kickers. | Shared board cards can reduce kicker differences. |
| Confusing blinds and antes | Blinds are posted by specific seats; antes may be posted by multiple players. | Forced-bet structure changes table cost. |
| Treating practice as readiness | Practice teaches rules, not real-money outcomes. | Variance and risk remain. |
Printable-style Texas Hold'em rules chart
This compact chart is for scanning the rule flow before the detailed examples. It is not a strategy chart and does not say whether a hand should be played for real money.
| Rule area | Texas Hold'em rule | Beginner check |
|---|---|---|
| Private cards | Each player receives two hole cards. | They are private until showdown unless a player folds. |
| Community cards | Five board cards can be dealt: flop, turn and river. | Every remaining player may use the same board cards. |
| Final hand | Best five-card hand from seven available cards. | Use two, one or zero hole cards. |
| Betting rounds | Pre-flop, flop, turn and river. | Action can end early if all but one player folds. |
| Showdown | Remaining players compare hands after river action. | Only the best five cards count. |
Seat-by-seat action map
Texas Hold'em action depends on the button and blinds. The exact number of seats can change, but the button/blind relationship is the first thing to understand before reading betting rounds.
| Seat or position | Before the flop | After the flop | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Button | Acts later pre-flop than most seats. | Usually acts last after the flop if still in the hand. | The button often has the most information before acting. |
| Small blind | Posts a forced bet before cards are dealt. | Usually acts first after the flop if still active. | Already has chips in, but still faces positional disadvantage. |
| Big blind | Posts the larger forced blind and acts last pre-flop if no raise changes action. | Usually acts early after the flop. | Can check pre-flop only if no one raises. |
| Under the gun | First player to act pre-flop in many full-ring structures. | Post-flop action depends on relation to the button. | Several players can still act behind this seat. |
| Cutoff | Seat to the right of the button. | Often acts late post-flop. | Late position gives more information, not certain results. |
Position and table-flow diagram
Text table diagram
Button -> Small Blind -> Big Blind -> Under the Gun -> Middle Position -> Cutoff -> Button. Pre-flop action usually starts left of the big blind. After the flop, action usually starts with the first active player left of the button.
The practical lesson is simple: position changes information. A player acting later has seen more actions before choosing. That can help decision quality, but it does not make any hand risk-free or control the outcome of a board runout.
Pre-flop, flop, turn and river examples
| Street | Example situation | Rules lesson | Risk caveat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-flop | You receive A-K before any community cards. | You have two private hole cards, not a made five-card hand. | Strong starting cards can still miss the board. |
| Flop | Board comes A-9-4. | Three community cards are now shared by all active players. | Other players may also use the ace. |
| Turn | Board becomes A-9-4-9. | The fourth card can pair the board and change full-house possibilities. | Do not evaluate only your hole cards. |
| River | Board finishes A-9-4-9-2. | No more community cards remain; final betting can occur. | A final hand still uses only five cards. |
Showdown examples
Showdown examples help separate the seven cards you can see from the five cards that actually count. The final hand is always the best five-card hand available under standard high-hand rules.
| Board | Hole cards | Best five-card hand | Rule lesson |
|---|---|---|---|
| A-K-8-8-2 | A-Q | A-A-8-8-K. | The board king can outrank the queen kicker. |
| 10-9-8-7-2 | 6-3 | 10-9-8-7-6 straight. | One hole card can complete the best hand. |
| A-K-Q-J-10 | 7-7 | Board straight. | The pocket pair does not play if the board is stronger. |
| K-K-K-5-5 | A-2 | K-K-K-5-5. | The board alone can create the best available hand. |
Kicker examples
Kickers decide many beginner disputes. If two players have the same pair, two pair or trips, compare the unused side cards that are part of the best five-card hand.
| Situation | Player A final hand | Player B final hand | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Same pair | A-A-K-9-4 | A-A-Q-9-4 | Player A wins with king kicker. |
| Same two pair | K-K-8-8-A | K-K-8-8-Q | Player A wins with ace kicker. |
| Same straight | 10-9-8-7-6 | 10-9-8-7-6 | Tie; same five-card hand. |
| Board full house | K-K-K-5-5 | K-K-K-5-5 | Tie unless a hole card can make a stronger valid hand. |
Playing-the-board examples
Playing the board means your best hand uses zero hole cards. This is allowed in Texas Hold'em and is a major difference from Omaha.
Example
If the board is A-K-Q-J-10 with no flush possible from hole cards, every active player can use the board straight. A player holding 2-2 does not have a better hand than a player holding 7-6 unless the hole cards change the best five-card combination.
Playing the board can create split pots. It can also make a strong-looking private hand irrelevant if the board itself is already stronger.
Home game vs online table rules
| Rule area | Home game | Online or cardroom table | Why to verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dealer role | A player may physically deal. | Software or a professional dealer handles cards. | Button position still controls action order. |
| Blind structure | House rules may vary. | Displayed in lobby or table rules. | Costs and minimum raises depend on structure. |
| Misdeals | Resolved by agreed house rule. | Handled by platform or room procedure. | Do not assume informal rules apply everywhere. |
| Responsible tools | Personal limits and social setting. | May include deposit limits, cool-offs and self-exclusion. | Use tools before pressure builds. |
Limit, no-limit and pot-limit differences
Texas Hold'em can be played under different betting structures. Rules for cards and hand construction remain similar, but bet sizing changes the risk profile of each hand.
| Format | Basic idea | Beginner caveat |
|---|---|---|
| Limit Hold'em | Bets and raises use fixed sizes by street. | Fixed size does not remove variance or rake. |
| No-Limit Hold'em | A player can often wager up to their available stack. | Stack decisions can escalate quickly. |
| Pot-Limit Hold'em | Maximum bet or raise is tied to the pot size. | Pot calculations can be misunderstood by beginners. |
Beginner rules quiz and checklist
If the board is A-K-Q-J-10, must your pocket pair play?
No. Your best hand can use the board only. In Texas Hold'em, using zero hole cards is allowed.
Can you check when another player has already bet?
No. If a bet is facing you, your usual choices are call, raise or fold, depending on the table rules.
How many cards count at showdown?
Five cards count. You may see seven available cards, but the final hand is the best five-card combination.
- Identify the button and blinds before the hand starts.
- Track which betting round you are in.
- Build the best five-card hand, not the best seven-card collection.
- Check whether a kicker actually plays.
- Stop if practice or near-misses create pressure to continue.
Use the right poker reference next
Use the hub for a full learning path, the hand-ranking page for final-hand comparisons, the glossary for terms and the odds page for probability context. Rules pages should answer how the game works, not where to play for money.
Practice mode is for rules, not real-money readiness
Practice tools can help you learn table flow, betting rounds and hand construction. They cannot prove a strategy, predict outcomes, simulate real-money pressure or make real-money poker risk-free.
Common questions
Can you use both hole cards in Texas Hold'em?
Yes. You can use both hole cards, one hole card or no hole cards. Using no hole cards is called playing the board.
How many betting rounds are there?
There are four main betting rounds: pre-flop, flop, turn and river. Showdown happens only if two or more players remain after river action.
Are blinds always the same size?
No. In many games the small blind is half the big blind, but exact blind sizes depend on the table structure.
Does learning the rules mean I am ready for real-money poker?
No. Rules knowledge does not remove variance, rake, fees, legal restrictions or gambling risk.