The 60-Second Beginner Guide
Welcome to Texas Hold'em! This is the most famous poker game in the world. Don't be intimidated! Here is the secret: you get 2 private cards that only you can see, and the dealer will slowly reveal 5 shared cards in the middle of the table. Your ONLY job is to look at your 2 cards, look at the middle cards, and see if you can make a good 5-card combination (like a pair, or three of a kind). If your hand looks strong, you put money (chips) into the pot. If your cards look like garbage, just "Fold" and wait for the next round. It is totally okay to fold a lot; patience is how you win!
1. Setup
- 1Before the cards are even dealt, two players must post "Blinds" (forced bets) to ensure there is always money to win in the pot. The player immediately left of the dealer posts the Small Blind, and the next player to their left posts the Big Blind (usually double the Small Blind).
- 2Once the blinds are posted, the dealer shuffles a standard 52-card deck and gives every player exactly 2 cards face-down. These are your "Hole Cards," and ONLY you can look at them.
- 3The remaining deck is placed face-down in the center of the table.
2. How to Play
Pre-Flop (First Betting Round): Look at your 2 secret hole cards. If you think they are good, you can "Call" (match the Big Blind), or "Raise" (put in more money). If your cards are terrible, you should "Fold" (throw them away and wait for the next hand).
The Flop (Second Betting Round): The dealer burns (discards) the top card of the deck, then deals 3 community cards face-up in the middle of the table. Everyone can use these cards to help make their hand. Another round of betting occurs starting with the first active player left of the dealer.
The Turn (Third Betting Round): The dealer burns another card and deals 1 more community card face-up. You now have 6 cards total to choose from (2 in your hand, 4 on the table). Another betting round happens.
The River (Final Betting Round): The dealer burns a final card and deals the 5th and final community card face-up. You now have all the information you will ever get. One last round of betting takes place.
Scoring
- •To figure out your score, you must combine your 2 hole cards with the 5 community cards on the table to make the strongest possible 5-card poker hand.
- •You can use both of your hole cards, just one of them, or even none of them (if the 5 cards on the table happen to be an unbeatable hand)!
- •Hand rankings from weakest to strongest: High Card, One Pair, Two Pair, Three of a Kind (Set/Trips), Straight (5 cards in sequential order), Flush (5 cards of the same suit), Full House (A Pair + Three of a Kind), Four of a Kind, Straight Flush, Royal Flush.
Winning Conditions
- ✓If you bet aggressively and everyone else is too scared to match your bet and they all Fold, you win the entire pot instantly without having to show your cards! This is how bluffing works.
- ✓If two or more players are still in the hand after the final betting round on the River, it goes to a "Showdown." Everyone reveals their hole cards, and the absolute best 5-card poker hand scoops the pot.