Texas Hold Em Poker Rules And Hands

Official Texas Holdem Rules

If you’re just getting started learning Texas Holdem, keep this guide handy for quick reference. If you ever get confused by the action, read below for some guidance. Each topic contains links to more in-depth articles on that specific aspect of Texas Holdem rules. When you feel you’ve got the hang of it and are ready to play some real money online poker, check out our Texas Hold’em poker site rankings for the best places to get right into a Texas Holdem game online.

Before we get into describing the full rules and game play, here’s a quick glossary of terms you’ll encounter:

• Blinds: Short for “blind bets,” these are the forced bets made before the cards are dealt. In Hold’em, blinds take the place of the classic “ante.”
• Button: Nickname for the player acting as the dealer in current hand.
• Check: Similar to a call but no money is bet. If there is no raise preflop, the big blind may check.
• Flop: The first three community cards dealt.
• Fourth Street: See Turn.
• Fifth Street: See River.
• All-In: A player puts all of his or her remaining chips into the pot
• Preflop: Anything that occurs before the flop is dealt is preflop.
• River: The final (5th) community card dealt; also known as fifth street.
• Showdown: When players reveal their hands to discover the pot’s winner.
• Turn: The fourth community card dealt; also known as fourth street

How to Play Texas Hold’em

Watch our How to Play Texas Hold’em introductory video below. Then read on underneath for a more detailed look at all of Texas Hold’em’s unique rules. Texas Hold’em is a community card poker game with game play focused as much on the betting as on the cards being played. Although the rules and game play are the same the end goal is slightly different depending on if you’re playing a Texas Holdem cash game or a Texas Holdem tournament.

A Texas Hold’em tournament is the same as any other game of Hold’em with a few added rules and twists. Learn more about the unique rules of Texas Holdem poker tournaments. Meanwhile, a Texas Holdem cash game is played on a single table with 2 to 10 players. The goal is simple: win as many chips as you can, one pot at a time. You win a pot by having the best hand or by having all other players fold before the showdown.

A Texas Hold’em game can be broken up into three main parts:

• Setup
• Betting Rounds
• Showdown