Texas Hold’em is the most popular and widely played version of poker in the world. Whether you’re watching high-stakes tournaments on TV or joining a casual game with friends, chances are you’re playing Hold’em. Its rules are simple enough for beginners to learn in minutes, but the strategy can take a lifetime to master, making it both accessible and endlessly exciting.
In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know to start playing confidently, from the basic setup to the final showdown.
What Do You Need to Play Texas Hold’em?
To play Texas Hold’em, you’ll need a standard 52-card deck, poker chips, poker markers (to indicate the dealer, small blind, and big blind), and a timer. The timer helps keep the game moving by limiting decision times, which is especially helpful in casual home games. All of these items can be easily purchased online.
You’ll also need a table that can seat up to nine players. For serious games or tournaments, investing in a proper poker table is recommended. However, for home games, a large dining table or any flat surface will work just fine.
The Stages of a Texas Hold’em Hand
A full hand of Texas Hold’em is divided into eight stages. Let’s walk through each one clearly and simply.
1. Shuffle and Setup
The dealer begins by shuffling the deck. If you’re not experienced in shuffling, you can find plenty of tutorials on YouTube. Alternatively, automatic card shufflers are a great tool for home games, as they speed up play and reduce the chances of cheating.
Next comes the setup. Players exchange real money for chips before sitting at the table. The minimum buy-in depends on the blinds. For example, if you’re playing a $1/$2 game, you should bring at least $200 to the table (100 times the big blind). While you can buy in for less, this is generally discouraged by experienced players.
One player takes on the role of the dealer and uses the dealer marker. The player to their immediate left becomes the small blind, and the next player is the big blind.
2. Blinds and Antes
Before any cards are dealt, the small blind and big blind must place forced bets to build the pot. In a $1/$2 game, the small blind puts in $1, and the big blind puts in $2. Some games may also include a small ante, where every player contributes a set amount, but this depends on the house rules.
3. The Deal and Pre-Flop
Each player receives two private cards, known as hole cards, which are dealt face down. These cards should not be revealed to anyone until the final stage of the hand.
After everyone has their cards, a round of betting begins. Players can fold (discard their hand and exit the round), call (match the current bet), or raise (increase the size of the bet). For instance, if the big blind is $2, a standard raise might be to $6.
4. The Flop
Once the first betting round ends, the dealer burns one card (places it face down in the muck pile) and deals three community cards face up in the center of the table. This set of three cards is called the flop. These are shared by all players and are used in combination with their hole cards to form the best possible five-card hand.
Another round of betting follows. Players can check (pass the action without betting), bet, call, raise, or fold.
5. The Turn
After the flop round, the dealer burns another card and then deals the fourth community card face up. This card is called the turn. A new round of betting begins, giving players another opportunity to assess their hand strength and make strategic decisions.
6. The River
The dealer burns one final card and places the fifth and final community card face up on the table. This card is called the river. One last round of betting takes place. By now, each player has access to seven cards (two hole cards and five community cards) to make their best five-card hand.
7. The Showdown
If two or more players remain after the river betting round, they reveal their hole cards in what’s called the showdown. The player with the best five-card poker hand wins the pot. If a player knows they’ve lost or doesn’t want to show their hand, they may simply muck their cards (fold silently without revealing them).
8. Preparing for the Next Hand
To begin a new hand, collect all the cards and reshuffle. Rotate the dealer marker one position to the left so that the previous small blind becomes the new dealer. Always remember to remove the top one card face down before dealing the turn and river, and place folded hands and those removed cards in the muck pile.
There is more to Poker, so be sure to read other Poker learning articles from PokerProNews to excel your game.
