From Blinds to Showdown: My Friendly Guide to Texas Hold’em Rules
Hey everyone! If you’ve ever been curious about the poker game you see in movies, on TV, or at your friend’s kitchen table, chances are it was Texas Hold’em. It’s the king of poker games for a reason: the rules are simple to learn, but the strategy is deep enough to keep you hooked for a lifetime.
I remember sitting down for my first game, feeling a mix of excitement and utter confusion. What are these blinds? What does “the turn” mean? If that sounds like you, don’t worry! I’ve been there. This guide will walk you through the basics of Texas Hold’em, from the first bet to the final reveal. Let’s break it down together.
The Absolute Basics: The Goal of the Game
In a nutshell, your goal is to win the pot—the collection of all chips bet during a hand. You can do this in one of two ways:
Have the best five-card hand when all the cards are revealed at the “showdown.”
Make all other players fold their hands (quit the round) by betting aggressively, so you win by default.
Each player is dealt two private cards (“hole cards”) that belong only to them. Five community cards are then dealt face-up in the middle of the table. Your mission is to make the best possible five-card hand using any combination of your two hole cards and the five community cards. You can even use just the five community cards and ignore your own (this is called “playing the board”), though that usually means you’ll be splitting the pot!
The Flow of a Hand: A Step-by-Step Journey
A single hand of Texas Hold’em moves through four betting rounds. Let’s follow the journey of a single hand together.
1. The Pre-Flop Round (The Deal and First Bets)
The two players to the left of the dealer button (a marker that rotates clockwise each hand) must post the blinds. These are forced bets that create initial action.
The Small Blind: Posted by the player immediately to the dealer’s left.
The Big Blind: Posted by the next player. This is usually double the small blind and is the minimum bet for this round.
Every player is then dealt two face-down cards—their hole cards.
Betting begins with the player to the left of the big blind. They can call (match the big blind), raise (increase the bet), or fold (throw their cards away and sit out the hand).
2. The Flop (The First Three Community Cards)
After the first betting round concludes, the dealer “burns” (discards) the top card and then deals three community cards face-up in the middle of the table. This is called the flop.
A second round of betting begins, starting with the first active player to the left of the dealer. In this and all subsequent rounds, players can check (pass the action to the next player without betting) if no bet has been made yet.
3. The Turn (The Fourth Community Card)
The dealer burns another card and deals a fourth community card face-up. This card is called the turn (or sometimes “fourth street”).
A third round of betting follows. Here’s a key point I learned the hard way: the minimum bet usually doubles on the turn and river. If the big blind was $5, bets are now in increments of $10.
4. The River (The Final Community Card)
The dealer burns one last card and deals the fifth and final community card face-up. This is the river (or “fifth street”).
The final round of betting takes place, with the same betting structure as the turn.
5. The Showdown (Time to Reveal!)
If more than one player remains after the final betting round, it’s time for the showdown. Players reveal their hole cards, and the best five-card hand wins the pot.
The player who made the last aggressive action (like a bet or raise) during the final round shows their hand first. If there was no bet, the player to the left of the dealer shows first.
Hand Rankings: What Beats What?
This is the most crucial table to know. Hands are ranked from highest to lowest as follows:
Hand Rank Description Example
1. Royal Flush A, K, Q, J, 10 of the same suit. A♥ K♥ Q♥ J♥ 10♥
2. Straight Flush Any five consecutive cards of the same suit. 8♠ 9♠ 10♠ J♠ Q♠
3. Four of a Kind Four cards of the same rank. Q♥ Q♦ Q♠ Q♣ 4♦
4. Full House Three of a kind + a pair. J♥ J♦ J♠ 7♣ 7♥
5. Flush Any five cards of the same suit (not in sequence). A♣ 10♣ 7♣ 4♣ 2♣
6. Straight Any five consecutive cards of mixed suits. 9♥ 10♦ J♣ Q♠ K♥
7. Three of a Kind Three cards of the same rank. 8♥ 8♦ 8♣ K♠ 2♦
8. Two Pair Two different pairs. A♥ A♦ 9♣ 9♥ 5♠
9. One Pair Two cards of the same rank. 10♥ 10♦ J♣ 4♠ 2♥
10. High Card If no one has any of the above, the highest card wins. A♥ J♦ 9♣ 5♠ 3♥ (Ace high)
A quote I live by at the poker table comes from the legendary player Doyle Brunson: “Poker is a game of people… It’s not the hand I hold, it’s the people that I play with.” This reminds me that knowing the rules is only half the battle; understanding your opponents is what truly makes the game exciting.
Key Poker Actions: Your Vocabulary List
When it’s your turn to act, you have a few options:
Check: Decline to bet, but keep your cards. You can only do this if no one has bet yet in that round.
Bet: Place a wager, forcing others to respond.
Call: Match the current bet to stay in the hand.
Raise: Increase the size of the current bet.
Fold: Throw your cards away and forfeit the hand and any chips you’ve already bet.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Do I have to use both of my hole cards to make my best hand? A: No! You can use one hole card and four community cards, or even just the five community cards (“play the board”). You must use exactly five cards to make your hand, though.
Q: What if two players have the same hand? A: The pot is split equally between them. For example, if two players both have a flush, the player with the highest card in their flush wins. If all five cards are the same (which can happen if the best hand is entirely on the board), the pot is split.
Q: I’m new. What are some good starting hands to play? A: This is a great question! While it depends on position and opponents, strong starting hands include:
High pairs (Ace-Ace, King-King, Queen-Queen).
High suited cards (Ace-King of the same suit, Ace-Queen suited).
Connecting cards (Jack-10 suited, Queen-Jack suited).
Q: What’s the difference between a cash game and a tournament? A: In a cash game, you buy-in for a certain amount and can leave at any time, cashing out your chips for their real value. In a tournament, you buy a ticket for a set amount, receive a stack of chips, and play until you lose them all or win everyone else’s. The prize pool is divided among the last players standing.
So, that’s the groundwork! The best way to learn is to grab some chips and play a low-stakes game with friends. Remember, every pro started as a beginner. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, ask questions, and most importantly, have fun at the table.
See you at the felt