The Ultimate Guide to Texas Hold’em Poker Rules
Welcome to the only guide you’ll ever need to master the world’s most popular poker game. From friendly home games to the high-stakes tables of the World Series of Poker (WSOP), Texas Hold’em is a game of skill, strategy, and nerve. This guide will teach you everything from the basic setup to advanced strategy, giving you the confidence to play your first hand and win.
Ready to play? We’ve created a comprehensive, one-page rules sheet perfect for your next poker night. Download our free printable guide now!
Download Your Free Texas Hold’em Rules PDF! Click here for a printable, one-page guide to poker hand rankings and rules.
Texas Hold’em at a Glance: Quick Facts Table
Get a quick overview of the game with these essential facts. This is perfect for understanding the game’s core components before diving into the detailed rules.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Game Type | Community Card Poker |
| Players | 2-10 |
| Deck | Standard 52-card deck |
| Objective | Win the pot by making the best 5-card hand or by being the last player remaining. |
| House Edge | N/A (Player vs. Player). The house takes a ‘rake’ (typically 2.5-10% of the pot). |
| Casino Variations | Ultimate Texas Hold’em (~2.18% house edge), Texas Hold’em Bonus (~2.04% house edge) |
| Typical Buy-in | Cash Games: 20-100 Big Blinds |
How to Play a Hand of Texas Hold’em: A Step-by-Step Guide
A single hand of Texas Hold’em follows a set sequence of events. Here is the chronological flow from the deal to the showdown. Understanding this order is the first step to learning how to play Texas Hold’em.
- The Setup: The dealer button is assigned to one player. This button rotates one spot to the left after each hand.
- Post the Blinds: The player to the left of the button posts the “Small Blind,” and the player two seats to the left posts the “Big Blind.” These are forced bets that start the pot.
- The Deal (Hole Cards): Starting with the Small Blind, each player is dealt two private cards face down. These are your “hole cards.”
- Pre-Flop: The first round of betting begins with the player to the left of the Big Blind.
- The Flop: The dealer places three community cards face up in the middle of the table.
- Post-Flop: The second round of betting begins, starting with the first active player to the left of the dealer button.
- The Turn: A fourth community card is dealt face up.
- Post-Turn: The third round of betting occurs, following the same pattern.
- The River: The fifth and final community card is dealt face up.
- Final Betting Round: The last round of betting takes place.
- The Showdown: If two or more players remain, they reveal their hole cards. The player who can make the best five-card hand using any combination of their two hole cards and the five community cards wins the pot.
The Core Texas Hold’em Rules Explained
Now that you know the flow of a hand, let’s break down the most important concepts you’ll need to understand to play correctly.
Poker Hand Rankings (From Best to Worst)
The goal is to make the best five-card hand. Memorizing the poker hand rankings is absolutely essential. The hand at the top of this list always beats any hand below it.
| Hand | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | A♦ K♦ Q♦ J♦ 10♦ | Ace-high straight, all of the same suit. The best possible hand in poker. |
| Straight Flush | 9♣ 8♣ 7♣ 6♣ 5♣ | Five cards in sequence, all of the same suit. |
| Four of a Kind | K♠ K♥ K♣ K♦ 5♦ | Four cards of the same rank (e.g., four Kings). |
| Full House | J♠ J♥ J♣ 8♦ 8♣ | Three of a kind combined with a pair. |
| Flush | A♥ Q♥ 9♥ 6♥ 2♥ | Any five cards of the same suit, not in sequence. |
| Straight | 7♦ 6♠ 5♥ 4♣ 3♦ | Five cards in numerical sequence, but of different suits. |
| Three of a Kind | 5♣ 5♦ 5♠ K♥ 9♣ | Three cards of the same rank. Also known as a “set” or “trips.” |
| Two Pair | A♦ A♣ 7♠ 7♥ 3♣ | Two different pairs in the same hand. |
| One Pair | 10♥ 10♠ Q♦ 8♣ 4♠ | Two cards of the same rank. |
| High Card | A♥ K♣ 9♠ 7♦ 4♦ | If no one has a pair or better, the highest single card wins. |
The Button and The Blinds
The action in Texas Hold’em revolves around the button and the blinds. These elements ensure that there is money in every pot and that the betting order is fair.
- The Dealer Button: A round disc that indicates the nominal “dealer” for the hand. It moves one position clockwise after every hand. The betting action always starts to the left of the button.
- The Small Blind (SB): A forced bet made by the player immediately to the left of the dealer button before any cards are dealt.
- The Big Blind (BB): A forced bet made by the player to the left of the Small Blind. It is typically double the amount of the Small Blind.
Player Actions: Your Betting Options
During your turn in a betting round, you have several options. Choosing the right one is the essence of poker strategy.
- Check: If no bet has been made in the current round, you can pass the action to the next player without betting.
- Bet: To make the first wager in a betting round. Other players must at least match your bet to stay in the hand.
- Call: To match the amount of the current bet or raise.
- Raise: To increase the amount of the current bet, forcing others to put more money in the pot to continue.
- Fold: To forfeit your hand and any money you’ve already put into the pot. You are out of the action until the next hand begins.
Betting Structures: No-Limit, Pot-Limit, and Fixed-Limit
Texas Hold’em can be played with different betting rules. No-Limit is by far the most popular, but it’s good to know the others.
| Betting Structure | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| No-Limit (NLHE) | The most popular format. You can bet any amount of your chips, up to your entire stack (“all-in”), at any time. | In a $1/$2 game, you can bet $5, $50, or your whole $200 stack. |
| Pot-Limit (PLH) | You can bet any amount up to the current size of the total pot. Calculating the max bet can be tricky. | If the pot is $50 and a player bets $20, the pot is now $70. You can call the $20, making the pot $90, and then raise up to $90 more. |
| Fixed-Limit (LHE) | Bets and raises are in fixed, pre-determined increments. This structure limits potential losses but also caps aggression. | In a $2/$4 game, bets on the pre-flop/flop are $2; on the turn/river they are $4. |
Top Online Casinos for Texas Hold’em in 2025
Ready to put your knowledge to the test? Here are some of the best online casinos to play Texas Hold’em, offering both cash games and tournaments.
| Casino Site | Welcome Bonus | Key Features | Play Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackpot City | 100% Match up to $1,600 | Excellent for tournaments, wide range of stakes, mobile-friendly platform. | Visit Site |
| Spin Casino | $1,000 Deposit Bonus | Great for cash games, fast payouts, VIP rewards program. | Visit Site |
| LeoVegas | 200 Free Spins + $1,000 | Award-winning mobile app, fast-fold poker variants, beginner-friendly tables. | Visit Site |
Essential Texas Hold’em Strategies and Tips for Beginners
Knowing the rules is one thing; knowing how to win is another. Here are five foundational strategy tips to get you started.
- Position is Power: Your position relative to the dealer button is crucial. Acting last (being “in position”) allows you to see how everyone else acts before you have to make a decision, which is a massive advantage.
- Be Selective with Starting Hands: Don’t feel obligated to play every hand you’re dealt. Be patient and wait for strong starting hands like big pairs (AA, KK, QQ) or high-value connectors (AK, AQ). This is the easiest way to avoid difficult situations post-flop.
- Play Aggressively: When you do decide to play a hand, enter the pot with a raise, not just a call. Betting and raising (aggression) gives you two ways to win: by having the best hand at showdown or by making your opponents fold.
- Don’t Be Afraid to Fold: This is a key part of our simple Texas Hold’em poker rules for beginners. Sinking more money into a pot with a weak hand is a common and costly mistake. If you think you’re beaten, folding is often the most profitable long-term play.
- Understand Basic Odds: You don’t need to be a math genius, but learn to count your “outs” (the cards left in the deck that can improve your hand). This helps you decide if it’s profitable to call a bet to try and hit your hand.
Game Variations: Cash Games vs. Tournaments
The rules of Hold’em are the same, but the structure and strategy change dramatically between cash games and tournaments. This is especially important for understanding Texas Hold’em tournament rules.
Cash Game Rules
- The blinds are fixed and do not increase.
- You can buy in for a range of chip amounts (e.g., $50 minimum, $200 maximum).
- Chips have a direct real-money value.
- You can get up, cash out your chips, and leave at any time. You can also “top up” your stack if it falls below the maximum.
Tournament Rules
- The blinds increase at scheduled intervals, forcing action.
- All players start with the same number of chips for a fixed entry fee (buy-in).
- Chips have no direct cash value; their goal is to help you survive.
- Play continues until one player has accumulated all the chips. Payouts are based on your finishing position (e.g., the top 15% of players get paid).
Casino Table Game Variations (vs. The House)
Be aware of casino games that use the Hold’em name but are played against the dealer, not other players. These are not traditional poker.
- Ultimate Texas Hold’em: You place Ante and Blind bets. After seeing your hole cards, you can check or bet 3x-4x your Ante. If you check, you can then bet 2x on the flop or 1x on the river. You win if your hand beats the dealer’s. It has a house edge of around 2.18%.
- Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker: A simpler version where you place an Ante bet. You can fold or bet 2x your Ante after seeing your hole cards. The flop, turn, and river are then revealed with no further betting rounds. It carries a house edge of about 2.04%.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Playing Too Many Hands: The most common beginner mistake. Folding is not a sign of weakness; it’s a sign of discipline.
- Getting Emotionally Invested (“Going on Tilt”): Letting a bad beat or a frustrating opponent affect your decision-making is a fast way to lose your bankroll.
- Not Paying Attention: Always watch your opponents. How much do they bet? What kind of hands do they show down? This information is free and invaluable.
- Miscalculating Pot Size: The size of the pot should always influence your decision. Don’t risk a large portion of your stack to win a tiny pot.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the basic rules of Texas Hold’em?
The goal is to create the best five-card poker hand using your two private “hole cards” and five shared “community cards.” The game is played in four betting rounds: Pre-Flop, The Flop, The Turn, and The River. The player with the best hand at the end, or the last player who hasn’t folded, wins the pot.
How many poker chips do you start with in Texas Hold’em?
In a tournament, every player starts with the same amount (e.g., 10,000 chips). In a cash game, you can choose how much to buy in for within a set range, typically between 20 and 100 big blinds. For example, in a $1/$2 game, a common buy-in is $100 (50 big blinds).
What does $1/$2 mean in poker?
This notation refers to the size of the blinds. “$1/$2” means the Small Blind is $1 and the Big Blind is $2. This also dictates the minimum bet size in the game.
Is ace 1 or 11 in Texas Hold’em?
In Texas Hold’em, the Ace can be both high or low, which makes it a very powerful card. It can be used as the highest card to complete a Royal Flush (A-K-Q-J-10) or as the lowest card to complete a “wheel” straight (A-2-3-4-5).
What is the difference between Poker and Texas Hold’em?
“Poker” is a broad category of card games involving betting and hand rankings. Texas Hold’em is the most popular specific variant of poker. Other variants include Omaha, Seven-Card Stud, and Five-Card Draw.
What is a “rake” in a casino poker game?
Since players compete against each other, the casino doesn’t have a built-in house edge. To make a profit, the house takes a small percentage of the pot from most hands. This commission is called the “rake” and is typically 5-10% of the pot, capped at a few dollars.
Don’t Forget Your Cheat Sheet! Download our free, printable PDF guide to Texas Hold’em rules to keep at the table. It has all the hand rankings and key rules in one place!
Responsible Gambling: Poker is a game of skill, but you should always play within your limits. Set a budget for your poker sessions, never chase losses, and remember that the primary goal is to have fun. If you feel you might have a gambling problem, please seek help from professional organizations.
