The goal
Win chips. You do that two ways: by having the best five-card hand at the end (the showdown), or by betting in a way that makes everyone else fold before then. You don't need the best hand to win a pot — you just need everyone else to give up, or to have the best hand when the cards are shown.
Hand rankings
Every hand is five cards, ranked best to worst: royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair, high card. When it's time to show down, the higher-ranked hand wins.
New to these? See the full hand-rankings guide with card examples, or grab the printable cheat sheet.
How a hand plays out
A single Texas Hold'em hand goes in six steps:
- 1
Post the blinds
Two players put in forced bets called the small blind and big blind so there's always something to play for. The blinds move one seat clockwise each hand.
- 2
Deal the hole cards
Everyone gets two private cards (your 'hole cards'). Only you can see them. This is the pre-flop betting round.
- 3
The flop
Three shared 'community' cards are dealt face-up in the middle. Everyone uses them. A second round of betting follows.
- 4
The turn
A fourth community card is dealt, followed by another betting round.
- 5
The river
The fifth and final community card is dealt, with one last betting round.
- 6
Showdown
If two or more players remain, everyone reveals their cards. The best five-card hand — made from any of your two cards plus the five on the board — wins the pot.
The five actions
When it's your turn, you can:
- Check
- Pass the action to the next player without betting (only allowed when no one has bet yet this round).
- Bet
- Put chips in when no one else has this round, making others pay to continue.
- Call
- Match the current bet to stay in the hand.
- Raise
- Increase the current bet, putting pressure on your opponents.
- Fold
- Give up your hand and any chips you've already put in. You can't win this pot, but you risk no more.
Three tips to start winning
- Play fewer hands. Fold weak starting hands. Strong, patient players win — see which hands to play in our starting-hands chart.
- Position matters. Acting last is a big advantage — you see what everyone does before you decide.
- Know your odds. Before you call, ask whether the pot is worth it. Our odds calculator shows your real chance of winning any hand.
Frequently asked questions
- How do you play poker for beginners?
- Start with Texas Hold'em. You're dealt two private cards, then five shared cards come out in stages. You bet across four rounds and make the best five-card hand. Learn the hand rankings first, play tight (only strong starting hands), and don't be afraid to fold — folding is most of poker.
- What beats what in poker?
- From best to worst: royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair, high card. See our full hand-rankings guide for examples.
- How many cards do you get in Texas Hold'em?
- Two private hole cards each, plus five shared community cards on the table — you make your best five-card hand from any combination of the seven.
- What's the easiest way to learn poker?
- Play hands and get feedback on each decision. At Wit's Games you play free against friendly bots while Wit, an owl coach, explains every move in plain English and grades your decisions — so you actually improve while you play.