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Beginner guide
How to play Texas Hold'em
The rules, the hand rankings, how betting works, what to expect in a live poker room, and the odds every player should know.
In 30 seconds: each player gets 2 private cards. Five shared cards come out in three stages: the flop (3), the turn (1) and the river (1). There's a round of betting before the flop and after each stage. The best five-card hand wins, or the last player left when everyone else folds.
How a hand works
- Blinds: the two players to the left of the dealer button post forced bets, the small blind and big blind, so there's something to play for.
- Preflop: everyone gets two hole cards. Starting left of the big blind, each player folds, calls or raises.
- The flop: three community cards are dealt face up, followed by a betting round.
- The turn: a fourth community card, then another betting round.
- The river: the fifth and last card, then the final betting round.
- Showdown: remaining players show their cards. The best five-card hand, using any mix of hole and community cards, wins the pot.
The dealer button moves one seat to the left after every hand, so everyone takes turns posting the blinds.
Your options when it's your turn
- Fold: give up your cards and anything you've put in the pot.
- Check: pass the action without betting, only if nobody has bet yet in that round.
- Call: match the current bet.
- Bet / Raise: put in chips, or increase the current bet.
Most live cash games are No-Limit: you can bet any amount up to all the chips in front of you. In Limit games, bets come in fixed sizes.
Poker hand rankings
| Hand | What it is |
|---|---|
| 1. Royal flush | A-K-Q-J-10, all the same suit. |
| 2. Straight flush | Five cards in a row, same suit. |
| 3. Four of a kind | Four cards of the same rank. |
| 4. Full house | Three of a kind plus a pair. |
| 5. Flush | Five cards of the same suit, not in order. |
| 6. Straight | Five cards in a row, mixed suits. A can be high or low. |
| 7. Three of a kind | Three cards of the same rank. |
| 8. Two pair | Two different pairs. |
| 9. One pair | Two cards of the same rank. |
| 10. High card | None of the above: the highest card plays. |
Suits don't rank in Hold'em: two equal hands split the pot.
Playing in a live poker room
- Get on the list: tell the front desk (or use the room's app) which game and stakes you want. They'll call your name when a seat opens.
- Buy-in: each game has a minimum and maximum buy-in. Ask the floor before you sit.
- Act in turn: wait until it's your turn, and announce your action out loud ("call", "raise to 50").
- One motion: put a bet in with a single motion. Going back to your stack for more can be ruled a "string bet".
- Don't splash the pot: place chips in front of you, the dealer pulls them in.
- Protect your cards: keep a hand or a card protector on them. If the dealer mucks them, they're gone.
- One player to a hand: no advice to other players, and don't talk about a hand that's still being played.
- Phones: many rooms don't allow phone use while you're in a hand. Check the house rules.
- Tipping: in US rooms it's customary to tip the dealer when you win a pot.
Planning a trip? Read our Las Vegas poker guide.
Poker odds cheat sheet
Outs are the unseen cards that improve your hand to the likely winner. A quick way to estimate your chance to hit is the rule of 4 and 2: multiply your outs by 4 on the flop (with two cards to come) or by 2 on the turn (one card to come).
| Draw | Outs | Flop → river | Turn → river |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flush draw | 9 | 35% | 19.6% |
| Open-ended straight draw | 8 | 31.5% | 17.4% |
| Two overcards | 6 | 24.1% | 13% |
| Gutshot straight draw | 4 | 16.5% | 8.7% |
| Pocket pair to a set | 2 | 8.4% | 4.3% |
Percentages are the standard chances to improve by the river (two cards) or on the river (one card).
Bankroll basics
- Only play with money you can afford to lose. Your poker bankroll should be separate from rent and bills.
- Play stakes that fit your bankroll. A common rule of thumb is to keep 20–30 buy-ins for the cash game you play, so a bad run doesn't wipe you out.
- Track your results. Write down every session: stakes, hours, win or loss.
- Move down when needed. Dropping a level after losses is how players stay in the game.
Keep learning
Ready to go deeper? See the best poker books, from the classics to modern theory.
FAQ
What beats what in poker?
From strongest to weakest: royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair, high card.
How many cards do you get in Texas Hold'em?
Two private cards (hole cards). Five community cards are dealt face up, and you make the best five-card hand from all seven.
Do I need to tip the dealer?
In US poker rooms it's customary to tip the dealer when you win a pot. It isn't required, but it's standard practice.
What is the rule of 2 and 4?
Multiply your outs by 4 on the flop (two cards to come) or by 2 on the turn (one card to come) to estimate your chance of hitting.