The Basics of Texas Hold'em
Texas Hold'em is a community card poker game where each player receives two private cards (hole cards) and shares five community cards with all other players. The goal is to make the best possible 5-card poker hand using any combination of your two hole cards and the five community cards.
Key Objective: Win chips by either having the best hand at showdown or by making all other players fold before showdown.
What You Need to Play
- 2-10 players (optimal: 6-9 players)
- A standard 52-card deck
- Poker chips for each player
- A dealer button to track position
- Our free poker tracker to manage chip stacks
Game Setup & Player Positions
The Dealer Button
The dealer button (BTN) is a marker that rotates clockwise after each hand. This determines the order of play and who posts the blinds.
Player Positions (9-handed table)
- Small Blind (SB): One seat left of the button, posts small blind
- Big Blind (BB): Two seats left of button, posts big blind
- Under the Gun (UTG): First to act pre-flop, left of big blind
- Middle Position (MP): Players between early and late position
- Cutoff (CO): One seat right of the button
- Button (BTN): Best position, acts last on all post-flop streets
Why Position Matters: Acting last gives you more information about opponents' actions, making it the most advantageous position in poker.
Betting Rounds Explained
Every Texas Hold'em hand has up to four betting rounds:
- Pre-flop: After players receive their two hole cards
- Flop: After the first three community cards are dealt
- Turn: After the fourth community card is dealt
- River: After the fifth and final community card is dealt
Betting starts with the player left of the big blind pre-flop, and with the small blind on all subsequent streets.
Player Actions & Betting Options
When it's your turn to act, you have several options:
Fold
Give up your hand and forfeit any chips already in the pot. You take no further part in the hand.
Check
Pass the action to the next player without betting. Only available when there's no bet to call (or you're in the big blind pre-flop with no raise).
Call
Match the current bet amount to stay in the hand. For example, if someone bets $20, you put in $20 to call.
Bet
Be the first to put chips into the pot on a betting round. The minimum bet is typically the size of the big blind.
Raise
Increase the current bet. In no-limit, you can raise any amount up to all your chips. In limit games, raises are fixed amounts.
Minimum Raise Rule: You must raise by at least the size of the previous bet or raise. If someone bets $10 and you want to raise, the minimum raise is to $20 ($10 call + $10 raise).
All-In
Bet all your remaining chips. You can win only up to the amount you contributed to the pot from each player (creating side pots if necessary).
Showdown & Determining the Winner
If more than one player remains after the river betting round, there's a showdown:
- The last player to bet or raise shows their cards first
- If there was no betting on the river, the player closest to the left of the button shows first
- Other players can "muck" (fold) their hands without showing if they know they're beaten
- The best 5-card hand wins the entire pot
Making Your Best Hand
You can use:
- Both your hole cards + 3 community cards
- One hole card + 4 community cards
- Zero hole cards + all 5 community cards ("playing the board")
Example: Your cards: A♠ K♠
Board: 10♠ J♠ Q♠ 2♥ 5♦
Your hand: Royal Flush (A-K-Q-J-10 of spades) - the best possible hand!
Understanding Blinds
Blinds are forced bets that create action and ensure there's always something to play for.
Small Blind
Posted by the player immediately left of the dealer button. Usually half the big blind (e.g., $5 if BB is $10).
Big Blind
Posted by the player two seats left of the dealer button. This sets the minimum bet for the hand (e.g., $10).
Why Blinds Exist
- Create initial pot value worth fighting for
- Prevent players from folding every hand waiting for premium cards
- In tournaments, blinds increase over time to force action
Heads-Up Exception: In two-player games, the button posts the small blind and acts first pre-flop, but last on all post-flop streets.
Tournament vs Cash Game
Cash Games
- Buy in for any amount within the table limits
- Blinds stay the same throughout
- Chips have real money value (e.g., $1 chip = $1)
- Can leave and cash out at any time
- Can rebuy chips if you lose your stack
Tournaments
- Fixed buy-in (e.g., $50 entry)
- Blinds increase at set intervals (e.g., every 15 minutes)
- Chips have no cash value, used only for tournament standing
- Play until one player has all chips or time limit reached
- Prize pool distributed to top finishers (e.g., top 10-20%)
- Eliminated players cannot rebuy (except in rebuy tournaments)
Which Should You Play?
Play cash games if: You want flexibility to leave anytime, prefer consistent blind levels, and want direct chip-to-money value.
Play tournaments if: You enjoy the excitement of competing for a big prize, like the structure of increasing pressure, and want a defined end time.