TEXAS HOLD’EM LEARNING PATH
Learn how to play Texas Hold’em from blinds and hole cards through the flop, turn, river and showdown, with a simple first-hand walkthrough.
Quick answer
Two players post the blinds, every player receives two private hole cards, and five community cards are dealt in stages. Players can check, bet, call, raise or fold across four betting rounds. The hand ends when everyone but one player folds or the remaining players reach showdown and the best five-card hand wins.
The dealer button marks the nominal dealer position and moves clockwise after each hand. The player immediately left of the button posts the small blind, and the next player posts the big blind. These forced bets create a pot before any cards are dealt.
In a home game, one player may physically deal the cards. In a card room, a professional dealer handles the cards while the button still determines position.
Each active player receives two private cards face down. These are your hole cards. Only you can use them, but Texas Hold’em does not require you to use either one: your final five-card hand can use zero, one or both hole cards.
Action begins with the player to the left of the big blind in a normal multiway hand. Players may fold, call the current bet or raise. The big blind acts later and may check if nobody has raised and the action returns with no additional amount to call.
The dealer reveals three community cards together on the flop, then one card on the turn, then one card on the river. A betting round follows each street. Postflop action normally starts with the first active player to the left of the button.
| Stage | Board cards | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Preflop | 0 | Players act using two hole cards. |
| Flop | 3 | First community cards appear. |
| Turn | 4 total | Fourth community card. |
| River | 5 total | Final community card. |
| Showdown | 5 | Remaining players compare hands. |
You do not need the best cards to win every pot. If all opponents fold, the last remaining player wins immediately. If two or more players remain after the final betting round, they reveal their hands and the best five-card poker hand wins the pot.
Next, study Texas Hold’em game flow and betting rules.
Each player receives two private hole cards.
There can be five community cards: three on the flop, one on the turn and one on the river.
No. Your best five-card hand may use zero, one or both hole cards.
You win when every opponent folds or when you have the best five-card hand at showdown.