How to Play Texas Hold'em Poker: Rules and Hand Rankings

A hand of Hold'em proceeds in four betting rounds: preflop, flop, turn, and river. Two players post forced bets called the small blind and big blind to seed the pot; the dealer button rotates clockwise so everyone takes turns. The goal is to win chips by either having the best hand at showdown or by betting until everyone else folds.

Hole cards: each player is dealt two cards face down. Preflop: action starts left of the big blind; players may fold, call the big blind, or raise. The flop deals three community cards, then a second betting round. The turn adds one community card, then the river adds the fifth. A player may check (bet nothing) if no bet is pending, bet, call, raise, or fold. Hand rankings, high to low: royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair, high card. Suits never break ties. If two hands are identical in rank, the pot is split.

Myth: you must use both hole cards. Fact: you may use one, both, or neither of your hole cards - only the best five-card combination counts. Myth: a flush beats a full house. Fact: a full house ranks above a flush. Myth: the dealer decides who wins. Fact: the best five-card hand wins; the dealer only runs the cards.

1. Post the blinds; the button rotates each hand. 2. Receive two hole cards. 3. Act in order on the preflop (fold, call, or raise). 4. The flop: three community cards are dealt; bet again. 5. The turn: a fourth community card; bet. 6. The river: a fifth community card; final bet. 7. If two or more players remain, reveal hands at showdown. 8. The best five-card hand wins the pot; identical hands split it. In casual home games, agree on blind sizes and format before you start.