Texas Hold'em is the most played poker variant in the world — both live and online. If you're just getting started, don't worry. In this guide you'll learn all the rules from scratch: from betting rounds and hand rankings to positions at the table and basic strategies that will help you feel confident at the table.
The basics of the game
In Texas Hold'em, each player gets two face-down cards (hole cards) that only they can see. During the hand, five shared cards (community cards) are turned face up on the table, and all the players use them. The goal is to make the best possible five-card hand using any combination of your own cards and the community cards.
A game can have anywhere from 2 to 10 players at one table. The winner is the player who makes the strongest hand or who is the last one left after all the other players have folded.
Hand rankings — from strongest to weakest
Before you get into the betting rules, you need to know which card combinations win. Here's the complete ranking from strongest to weakest:
- Royal Flush — A, K, Q, J, 10 of the same suit. The strongest possible hand in poker.
- Straight Flush — Five consecutive cards of the same suit (e.g. 5-6-7-8-9, all hearts).
- Four of a Kind (Quads) — Four cards of the same rank (e.g. four kings).
- Full House — Three cards of the same rank + a pair (e.g. three sevens and two aces).
- Flush — Five cards of the same suit, in any order.
- Straight — Five consecutive cards of mixed suits (e.g. 4-5-6-7-8).
- Three of a Kind (Trips) — Three cards of the same rank.
- Two Pair — Two different pairs (e.g. two kings and two eights).
- Pair — Two cards of the same rank.
- High Card — When you don't have any combination, your highest card decides.
A perfect way to memorize the hand rankings is to write them down and keep them next to you while you play your first games. After a few sessions, you'll know them by heart.
Betting rounds
Every hand of Texas Hold'em is played through four betting rounds. Understanding these rounds is the key to understanding the whole game.
Preflop — before the first community cards
Before the cards are dealt, the two players to the left of the dealer post forced bets — the small blind and the big blind. The big blind is usually twice the size of the small blind. These bets exist so there's always something in the pot to play for.
Then each player gets two face-down cards. The action starts with the player to the left of the big blind. Each player can:
- Fold — you throw away your cards and are out of that hand
- Call — you put in the amount of the big blind to stay in the game
- Raise — you increase the bet, forcing the others to pay more or fold
The flop — three community cards
Once the preflop betting is over, the dealer turns three community cards face up on the table. This is the flop. You now have five cards to evaluate your hand with — your two and the three on the table.
A new betting round starts with the first active player to the left of the dealer. Besides fold, call and raise, you now also have the option to check — meaning you don't bet anything but stay in the game (only possible if nobody before you has bet in that round).
The turn — the fourth community card
The dealer turns over one more card on the table — now there are four. Another betting round follows, with the same rules as on the flop. Bets usually get bigger on the turn because players have a clearer picture of how strong their hand is.
The river — the fifth and final community card
The dealer turns over the fifth and final community card. The last betting round. After that, if two or more players are left, it comes to the showdown — when the cards are revealed. The player with the best five-card hand (any combination of hole cards and community cards) wins the pot.
Positions at the table
Your position at the table is one of the most important concepts in poker. Players who act later in a betting round have an advantage because they see what their opponents did before them.
- Early Position — the players who act first. They have to be more careful because they have no information about the others' intentions.
- Middle Position — the players in the middle. They have some information, but not the full picture.
- Late Position — the players who act last, including the Button (dealer). The strongest position, because you have the most information.
- The Blinds — the small and big blind act last before the flop, but first after the flop. The toughest position to play from.
The golden rule for beginners: play more hands from late position and fewer from early position. Position is your best friend in poker.
Basic strategies for beginners
Now that you know the rules, here are a few strategies that will help you avoid the usual beginner mistakes:
Be selective with your starting hands
Don't play every hand. The biggest beginner mistake is playing too many hands. Focus on strong starting hands: pairs (especially high ones), hands with an ace and suited connected cards. For a more detailed guide to starting hands, check out our Poker from Scratch page.
Respect position
From early position, play only the strongest hands. From late position you can afford a wider range of cards. This simple adjustment will dramatically improve your results.
Don't bluff too much
Bluffing is part of poker, but beginners usually bluff too much and in the wrong situations. To start with, focus on playing solid hands and bluff rarely — only when you really believe your opponent is weak.
Control the size of the pot
When you have a medium-strength hand, don't build a huge pot. Big pots are for strong hands. With a pair or a weaker hand, keep the pot small and don't let your opponent lure you into a bet that's too big.
Watch your opponents
Even in online poker, you can spot patterns in your opponents' play. Is someone playing too many hands? Does someone always raise before the flop? Use that information to your advantage.
Where to practice
Join the club: message the agent on Telegram, they send you the club app and get you to a table. Details are in the guide. See you at the table!
Poker is a game you keep learning your whole life, but with these basics you're ready for your first steps. See you at the table!