Texas Hold'em is the most widely played form of poker, and its basic structure is simple once you see it laid out. This guide walks through a single hand from start to finish, so the vocabulary you hear at a table or in a poker film starts to make sense. It is written for adults who are curious about the game. Poker involves money and risk, so always follow the age and legal rules where you live.

The setup: the button and the blinds

A small disc called the dealer button marks the nominal dealer for each hand and moves one seat to the left after every hand. The two players to the left of the button post forced bets before any cards are seen. The first is the small blind and the next is the big blind, which is usually twice the size of the small blind. These forced bets create something to play for in every hand.

Hole cards and the first round of betting

Each player receives two private cards, called hole cards. Starting with the player to the left of the big blind, everyone in turn may fold (give up the hand), call (match the current bet) or raise (increase the bet). The round ends when everyone still in the hand has put the same amount into the pot, or has folded.

The flop, turn and river

The dealer then places shared cards face up in the middle of the table. These are called community cards, and every player can use them.

The flop: three cards are dealt at once, followed by a second round of betting.
The turn: a fourth card is added, followed by another round.
The river: the fifth and final card is added, followed by the last round of betting.

From the flop onward, the first player still in the hand to the left of the button acts first. Players may also check, meaning they pass the action without betting, if nobody has bet yet.

The showdown

If two or more players remain after the final round of betting, they reveal their cards in the showdown. Each player makes the best five-card hand using any combination of their two hole cards and the five community cards. The best hand wins the pot. If two hands are exactly equal, the pot is split. If everyone else folds before the showdown, the last remaining player wins the pot without showing a hand.

Betting structures in brief

The amount you can bet depends on the game's structure. In no-limit games a player can bet any amount up to their entire stack. In pot-limit games the maximum bet is the current size of the pot. In fixed-limit games bets and raises come in set sizes. Knowing which structure you are playing changes how a hand unfolds, so check before you sit down.

A note on playing responsibly

Learning the rules is a fine way to enjoy a game with friends. If you ever play for money, decide on a limit beforehand, treat the cost as entertainment spending, and never play with money you need for bills or savings. Poker is a game of skill and chance, so results can swing widely in the short term.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between the blinds and an ante? Blinds are posted by two specific players each hand, while an ante is a small forced bet posted by every player, used mostly in tournaments and some other games.

Do I have to use both of my hole cards? No. You can use both, one or none. The best five-card hand from all seven cards counts, and playing the board means using only the community cards.

What does it mean to go all in? A player who bets every chip they have in front of them is all in. They can only win the part of the pot they were able to match.

Steps

Post the blinds and deal: Two players post forced bets called blinds, and each player receives two private cards, known as hole cards.
Bet through four rounds: Betting happens before the flop, after the flop, after the turn and after the river, with players able to fold, call, or raise.
Reach the showdown: If two or more players remain after the final round, they reveal their cards and the best five-card hand takes the pot.