Poker (Texas Hold'em)

1 Game Overview

Texas Hold'em is the most popular form of poker in the world - the game you see in casinos, on TV, and at home game nights everywhere. Each player gets 2 private cards and shares 5 community cards. Make the best 5-card hand using any combination of your 2 hole cards and the 5 community cards.

The goal is to win chips (or money) by either having the best hand at showdown or by convincing everyone else to fold.

2 What You Need

• 1 standard deck of 52 cards (no jokers)
• Poker chips or cash for betting
• A dealer button ("button")

3 Setup

1. Choose a dealer. Place the dealer button in front of that player.
2. The player to the dealer's left posts the small blind (forced bet, e.g. $1).
3. The next player posts the big blind (usually 2x small blind, e.g. $2).
4. Deal 2 cards face-down to each player (hole cards).

4 How to Play

Each hand has up to 4 betting rounds:

Pre-Flop

After hole cards are dealt, betting starts left of the big blind. Each player can: Call (match the big blind), Raise (increase the bet), or Fold (give up their cards). The big blind can raise if no one else did ("option").

The Flop

Dealer burns one card, then deals 3 community cards face-up. Betting starts left of the dealer. Players can Check (pass, if no bet yet), Bet, Call, Raise, or Fold.

The Turn

One more community card is dealt face-up (4 total). Another betting round.

The River

The 5th and final community card is dealt. Final betting round.

Showdown

Remaining players reveal their hole cards. Best 5-card hand wins.

Hand Rankings (high to low)

1. Royal Flush - A K Q J 10 of the same suit
2. Straight Flush - 5 consecutive cards, same suit
3. Four of a Kind - Four cards of the same rank
4. Full House - Three of a kind + a pair
5. Flush - Five cards of the same suit
6. Straight - Five consecutive cards, any suit
7. Three of a Kind - Three cards of the same rank
8. Two Pair - Two different pairs
9. One Pair - Two cards of the same rank
10. High Card - Highest card in hand if nothing else applies

5 Winning

Win the pot by having the best hand at showdown, or by being the last player remaining (everyone else folded). The dealer button moves left after each hand. Play continues until one player has all the chips (tournament) or until players decide to stop (cash game).

6 Tips

• Position is everything. Acting last in a betting round (being "on the button") is a massive advantage. You see what everyone does before you act.
• Starting hand selection. Beginners play too many hands. Strong starters: pairs, suited connectors, Ace with any face card. Fold most junk.
• Don't bluff beginners. New players call too much. Bluffs waste chips. Value bet your good hands instead.
• Pay attention to the board. What hands does the community card spread make possible? Could your opponent have a flush? A straight?
• Pot odds. If the pot has $100 and it costs you $10 to call, you're getting 10:1 odds. You only need to win 10% of the time to break even.
• Be unpredictable. If you only raise with big hands, good players will fold to your raises. Mix it up.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions