Texas Hold'em Rules: How to Play Step by Step
In Texas Hold'em, each player receives two private hole cards. Five community cards are then dealt face up across the flop, turn and river. Players may win by making every opponent fold or by showing the best five-card hand at showdown.
This guide follows the exact flow of one Hold'em hand. For mechanics shared across poker variants, including all-ins, side pots and minimum raises, see the complete poker rules.
1. Set the button and post the blinds
A marker called the dealer button identifies the nominal dealer position. It moves one seat clockwise after each hand, causing the blinds and action order to rotate.
The two players immediately to the button's left post forced bets:
- Small blind: posted by the first player to the left of the button.
- Big blind: posted by the next player to the left, usually for twice the small blind.
The blinds create a pot before any cards are dealt. Position names can vary with table size; the poker positions guide explains the seats in more detail.
2. Deal two hole cards to each player
Each player receives two cards face down, dealt one at a time. These are the player's hole cards and remain private while the hand is active.
Hold'em eventually gives each player access to seven cards: two hole cards plus five community cards. Only five of those cards count toward the final hand.
3. Play the four betting streets
| Street | Cards available | First player to act |
|---|---|---|
| Preflop | Two private cards per player | First active player left of the big blind |
| Flop | Three community cards | First active player left of the button |
| Turn | Four community cards | First active player left of the button |
| River | Five community cards | First active player left of the button |
Preflop
After the hole cards are dealt, action starts with the player immediately to the left of the big blind and continues clockwise. That first player may fold, call the big blind or raise.
If nobody raises, the big blind has the final preflop option and may check to continue without adding chips. If someone raises, action continues until the remaining players have folded, called or made another legal raise.
Flop
Three community cards are dealt face up together. A new betting round starts with the first active player to the left of the button.
This is the main action-order change in Hold'em: preflop action begins to the left of the big blind, while every postflop street begins to the left of the button.
Turn
One additional community card is dealt face up, bringing the board to four cards. Another betting round follows in the same postflop order.
River
The fifth and final community card is dealt face up. Players complete one last betting round. If at least two players remain afterward, the hand proceeds to showdown.
How action works between cards
If no wager is facing a player, that player may normally check or bet. When facing a wager, the player may fold, call or raise. Action travels clockwise, skipping players who have folded and players who are all-in.
A betting round must finish before the next community card is dealt. Detailed rules for closing the action, legal raises and side pots belong to the broader poker rules reference.
Heads-up Hold'em action order
With only two players, the button posts the small blind and acts first preflop. The big blind acts first on the flop, turn and river. This preserves the rule that the button acts last after the flop.
Make the best five-card hand
By the river, each player can see seven available cards: two hole cards and five community cards. The player's hand is the strongest five-card combination that can be made from those seven.
A player may use:
- both hole cards and three community cards;
- one hole card and four community cards; or
- no hole cards, using all five community cards.
You are not required to use both hole cards. If the board itself is the best possible five-card hand for every remaining player, those players tie. Use the poker hand rankings when comparing hand categories and kickers.
Showdown and awarding the pot
If every opponent folds, the last remaining player wins without needing to reveal a hand. If multiple players remain after the river betting round, their best five-card hands are compared at showdown.
The strongest hand wins the pot. Equally ranked hands with identical relevant kickers split the pot; suits do not break ties in standard Texas Hold'em.
Complete example of a Texas Hold'em hand
Assume a six-player no-limit cash game with blinds of 1/2. Maya is on the button with A♠ Q♠. Nina is in the big blind with Q♣ J♣. The example ignores any rake.
Blinds and preflop action
- Leo posts the 1-chip small blind.
- Nina posts the 2-chip big blind.
- Omar, first to act left of the big blind, folds.
- Priya calls 2.
- Quinn folds.
- Maya raises to 8 from the button.
- Leo folds, leaving his small blind in the pot.
- Nina calls 6 more.
- Priya calls 6 more.
The pot is 25 chips. Because the preflop action is complete, the dealer proceeds to the flop.
Flop: Q♥ 7♠ 2♣
Postflop action starts with the first active player to the left of the button. Leo has folded, so Nina acts first. Nina checks, Priya checks and Maya bets 10. Nina calls and Priya folds.
The pot becomes 45 chips.
Turn: 9♠
The fourth community card is dealt. Nina again acts first and checks. Maya bets 25, and Nina calls.
The pot becomes 95 chips.
River: 3♦
The fifth community card is dealt. Nina checks, and Maya checks behind. Because both players remain, the hand reaches showdown.
- Maya: Q♠ Q♥ A♠ 9♠ 7♠ — one pair, queens, with an ace kicker.
- Nina: Q♣ Q♥ J♣ 9♠ 7♠ — one pair, queens, with a jack kicker.
Maya wins the 95-chip pot because her ace kicker beats Nina's jack kicker. Had Nina folded to Maya's turn bet, Maya would have won immediately without a showdown.
Starting the next hand
After the pot is awarded, the dealer button moves one seat clockwise. The new small blind and big blind post, every player receives two new hole cards, and the sequence begins again with preflop action.