Texas Hold'em

In Texas Hold'em, players combine two hole cards with five community cards to make the best possible five-card poker hand. Players can use both, one, or neither of their hole cards, with the best five-card hand winning the pot.

hole cards	community cards

This is a basic description of Texas Hold'em. For more general poker rules, read Robert's Rules of Poker, which also includes more specific Hold'em rules.

Game Progression

1. Post Blinds - Forced bets from the two players to the left of the dealer


2. Deal - Two cards face down to each player
   


3. First Betting Round


4. Flop - Three Community Cards Revealed
   


5. Second Betting Round


6. Turn - Fourth Community Card Revealed
    
   
    turn card


7. Third Betting Round


8. River - Final Community Card Revealed
    
   
    river card


9. Final Betting Round


10. Showdown - Players reveal cards to determine which hand wins

Posting Blinds

Before each hand is dealt, the two players to the left of the dealer will post the blinds. The player immediately to the left of the dealer will post the small blind, which is typically, but not always, half the size of the big blind.

Deal

Each player is dealt two cards face down. These cards are not revealed to other players until the showdown.

hole cards	community cards	burn cards

First Betting Round (Pre-Flop)

After blinds are posted and cards are dealt, the player to the left of the big blind may choose to call, fold or raise. Each player follows in turn moving clockwise around the table until all players have folded or have called the last bet.

The Flop

After the first betting round is complete, the dealer will burn a card and reveal three community cards, known as the flop.

hole cards	community cards	burn cards

Second Betting Round (Post Flop)

The second betting round begins with the first player to the immediate left of the dealer, who may choose to bet, check or fold. The betting round continues until all players in the hand have either checked, folded, or called the last bet.

The Turn

After the second betting round is complete, the dealer burns a card and reveals the turn, the fourth board card.

hole cards	community cards	burn cards

Third Betting Round (Post Turn)

The third betting round proceeds in exactly the same fashion as the previous round, except the betting increment is doubled on the turn in limit games, and the minimum bet doubles in pot- and no-limit games. (For more information on the differences between limit, pot-limit and no-limit games, please read Robert's Rules of Poker.)

The River

After the third betting round is complete, the dealer once again burns a card and reveals the river, the fifth and final board card.

hole cards	community cards	burn cards

Final Betting Round (Post River)

The final betting round proceeds in the same fashion as the previous round.

Showdown

Once the board is complete and all bets have been settled, the last player to make a bet must show his or her hand. Players who called must show their hand if it beats the final bettor, but if they do not hold a winning hand, they have the option of mucking without showing.