Texas Hold’em is one of the most popular poker games, known for its blend of strategy, skill, and luck. All you have to do is to create the best 5-card hand using your two private cards (= hole cards) and five cards on the table (= community cards). In this quick guide, you’ll learn the basics to get you started at the table.
Easy, right? There are 10 hand ranks and 6 actions you can take! Now let’s see how each step (also known as a ‘street’) works during the game.
1. Game start
The player in the Small Blind (SB) position, immediately to the left of the dealer, posts the small blind, a mandatory bet to start the action. The player in the Big Blind (BB) position, next to the SB player, posts the big blind, which is typically double the size of the small blind.
In poker, play proceeds in a clockwise sequence. This means that after each hand, the dealer button moves one position to the left, ensuring that every player gets a turn in each position. Betting and actions also move clockwise around the table, starting with the player to the left of the dealer and continuing in order.
2. Pre-Flop
This stage is called the pre-flop. Players look at their hole cards and decide whether to fold (discard their hand), call (match the big blind), or raise (increase the bet). Betting starts with the player to the left of the big blind and continues clockwise. To remain in the game, each player must at least call the current highest bet.
3. Flop
The dealer places the first three out of five community cards face-up on the table. This stage is known as the flop.
After the flop, players have another opportunity to bet, starting with the player to the left of the dealer button and continuing clockwise around the table.
4. Turn
The dealer adds another card to the community cards, placing it face-up on the table. This card is called the turn or fourth street.
After the turn is dealt, there is another round of betting. The betting options remain the same as in previous rounds: players can fold, check, bet, call, or raise.
5. River
The “river” is the final community card dealt face-up. Players now have a complete picture of their potential hand, using their two hole cards and the five community cards on the table.
After the River is dealt, there is another round of betting. The betting options remain the same as in previous rounds: players can fold, check, bet, call, or raise. If more than one player remains after this final round of betting, a showdown occurs.
6. Showdown
During the showdown, the remaining active players reveal their hole cards (the two cards dealt to them face down at the beginning of the hand). The goal is to make the best possible five-card hand using any combination of their hole cards and the community cards. The player with the highest-ranking hand wins the pot. If multiple players have hands of the same rank, the pot is split evenly among them.
Mastering the fundamentals of Texas Hold’em opens the door to a thrilling blend of strategy and luck. Whether you’re playing casually with friends or aiming for competitive play, understanding these basics is key. Ready to start your journey? Visit basepoker.com to join a community of poker enthusiasts, hone your skills, and enjoy the excitement of Hold’em!
