In Texas Hold’em, you try to win the pot either by making the strongest five-card hand at showdown or by getting every other player to fold. You receive two private cards, share up to five community cards, and use the best five-card combination available from those seven cards.
How a Texas Hold’em hand works
A hand has up to four betting rounds: preflop, flop, turn, and river. It can end earlier if everyone but one player folds. The button marks the nominal dealer position and rotates around the table; it determines who posts the blinds and where action begins after the flop.
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1. Post the blinds and deal the hole cards
Before cards are dealt, the player immediately left of the button posts the small blind, and the next player posts the big blind. The big blind is often twice the small blind, but the posted stakes and table structure determine the amounts. Each player then receives two face-down hole cards. The 2026 Caesars Entertainment WSOP Live-Action Rules describe the two hole cards as each participant’s personal hand.
2. Preflop betting
The first action is taken by the player to the left of the big blind, and action moves clockwise. Players choose whether to fold, call the current amount, or raise it. If nobody raises and action returns to the big blind, that player may check or raise.
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3. The flop and its betting round
Once preflop action is complete, three community cards are dealt face up. The first active player to the left of the button acts first. If no one has bet in this round, a player may check or bet. If facing a bet, a player may fold, call, or raise.
4. The turn
After flop betting ends, a fourth community card—the turn—is dealt face up. Another betting round follows, starting with the first active player to the left of the button.
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5. The river
The fifth and final community card—the river—is dealt face up, followed by the last betting round. A hand does not have to reach this stage: if everyone but one player folds during any round, the remaining player wins the pot.
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6. Showdown, if needed
If at least two players remain after the final betting round, they compare hands. Each player makes their best five-card hand from their two hole cards and the five community cards, using zero, one, or both hole cards. The strongest five-card hand wins. If a player wins because everyone else folded, a showdown is not needed.
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What each betting action means
- Check: Pass without adding chips when no bet is outstanding. You remain in the hand.
- Bet: Put chips in when no one has bet yet during that round.
- Call: Match the current bet to continue.
- Raise: Increase the amount other players must match to continue. Minimum-raise rules depend on the game’s betting structure.
- Fold: Give up your hand and any claim to the pot, including chips you have already put in.
- All-in: Bet all the chips you have available at the table. Rules for all-in contributions and side pots depend on the game; a player who cannot match another player’s full contribution may not be eligible to win that unmatched portion.
A betting round ends when the remaining players have folded or matched the amount they must call, subject to all-in situations and the table’s rules.
Texas Hold’em hand rankings, strongest to weakest
Use the best five-card hand you can make. These standard rankings are listed from strongest to weakest, following the PokerStars Texas Hold’em guide.
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- Royal flush: A-K-Q-J-10, all in the same suit.
- Straight flush: Five consecutive ranks, all in the same suit.
- Four of a kind: Four cards of the same rank.
- Full house: Three of a kind plus a pair.
- Flush: Five cards of the same suit, not consecutive.
- Straight: Five consecutive ranks; suits may differ.
- Three of a kind: Three cards of the same rank.
- Two pair: Two different pairs.
- One pair: Two cards of the same rank.
- High card: None of the combinations above; compare the ranks in each player’s best five-card hand.
For example, three of a kind beats two pair. When hands share a category, compare the relevant ranks and then any remaining cards in the five-card hand, as applicable, to determine which is higher.
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Hold’em’s hand sequence is the same across common betting formats, but the amount a player may wager changes. Follow the stakes and rules posted for the specific table.
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| Format | How betting is constrained |
|---|---|
| No-limit | A player may bet or raise up to the chips they have available at the table. |
| Fixed-limit | Bet sizes are fixed or capped according to the game’s rules and betting round. |
| Pot-limit | The maximum bet is restricted by the size of the pot. |
Two blinds are usual, but they are not the only possible forced-bet arrangement. The 2026 WSOP live-action rules also allow structures with one blind, multiple blinds, an ante, or combinations of these. In tournaments, additional procedures may apply; the Poker Tournament Directors Association’s 2026 rules advise clear action declarations and official betting terms when facing action.
Quick Recap
A quick first-hand checklist
- Identify the button, small blind, and big blind.
- Keep your two hole cards private and follow the action in turn.
- On each round, decide whether to check, bet, call, raise, or fold, as the situation allows.
- At showdown, build the best five-card hand from the available seven; you do not have to use a hole card.
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