How many cards do you get in Texas Hold'em?

Each player is dealt two private hole cards. Five community cards can be dealt face up: three on the flop, one on the turn, one on the river. You make the best five-card hand from those seven cards.

What is the order of betting rounds?

Preflop after hole cards, then flop, turn, then river. If two or more players remain after the river, hands are compared at showdown.

What beats what in poker?

From strongest to weakest: royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair, high card. Suit does not outrank suit; kickers break ties.

Who acts first in Texas Hold'em?

Preflop, the player left of the big blind acts first. After the flop, the first remaining player left of the dealer button acts first.

Can you win a hand without showing your cards?

Yes. If every other player folds before showdown, you win the pot without revealing your hole cards.

BEGINNER PILLAR · UPDATED 6 SEPTEMBER 2026

How to Play Texas Hold’em

Q: Do you have to use both hole cards?

No. You may use both hole cards, one hole card, or neither if the five community cards already make your best hand (playing the board).

Texas Hold’em is a community-card game. You get two private cards. Five public cards can come out. You make the best five-card poker hand — or you win earlier if everyone else folds.

Quick answer

A hand runs preflop, flop, turn, river. Forced bets (blinds) start the pot. You can fold, check, call, bet, or raise on each street. Showdown only happens if two or more players are still in after the river.

Hold'em felt showing Ace-King hole cards and a Queen-Jack-Eight flop — Worked example on this page: you hold A of spades and K of hearts. The flop is Q of spades, J of hearts, 8 of clubs.

What beats what

Memorize this order before you worry about strategy. A longer ranking guide lives at poker hand rankings. Suit does not beat suit.

1Royal flushA-K-Q-J-10, same suit

2Straight flushFive in a row, same suit

3Four of a kindFour cards of one rank

4Full houseThree of a kind plus a pair

5FlushFive cards, same suit, not a straight

6StraightFive ranks in a row, mixed suits

7Three of a kindThree cards of one rank

8Two pairTwo different pairs

9One pairTwo cards of one rank

10High cardNothing pairs or connects

Table setup

Dealer button marks who is last to act after the flop.
Small blind and big blind post forced bets before cards are dealt. In a $1/$2 game those are $1 and $2.
Action moves clockwise.

Blinds in more detail: blinds and antes. Who acts when: positions.

Worked hand: Ace-King on Queen-Jack-Eight

Six-handed cash table. Blinds $1/$2. You are on the button with Ace of spades and King of hearts. Everyone has $200.

Preflop

You are dealt two hole cards face down. Nobody else sees them. Fold, call $2, or raise.

Under-the-gun folds. Hijack folds. Cutoff raises to $6. You are on the button. Ace-King is a raising hand, not a calling hand, in this spot. You make it $18. Small blind folds. Big blind folds. Cutoff calls. Pot is $39.

That decision is preflop basics and starting hands, not magic.

Flop — Queen of spades, Jack of hearts, Eight of clubs

Three community cards come at once. You missed a pair. You do have two overcards (Ace and King beat Queen) and a gutshot to a Broadway straight if a Ten comes.

Cutoff checks. You can check and see a cheap turn, or bet. A small bet here also charges draws. You bet $20. Cutoff calls. Pot $79.

Turn — Four of diamonds

The Four of diamonds changes almost nothing. No flush completed. Your straight still needs a Ten. Cutoff checks. You check back. Pot stays $79. Checking is allowed when nobody has bet yet this street. See betting actions.

River — Ten of clubs

Ten of clubs. You made Ace-King-Queen-Jack-Ten — a Broadway straight. That beats a pair of Queens and two pair. It loses only to hands that are not possible on this board texture.

Cutoff bets $40. You raise to $110. Cutoff calls. Showdown.

Showdown

You table Ace-King. Five-card hand: A-K-Q-J-T. Cutoff tables Queen-Jack of diamonds — two pair, Queens and Jacks. Your straight wins. You do not need both hole cards as a rule; you need the best five. You may use one hole card, both, or the board alone. That is in the showdown rules.

The four streets, without the story

Preflop — two hole cards. First betting round. Player left of the big blind acts first.
Flop — three community cards. First remaining player left of the button acts first.
Turn — fourth community card. Same action order as the flop.
River — fifth community card. If two or more players remain, hands are compared.

A player who bets or raises can win earlier if everyone folds. You do not always reach showdown.

The five things you can do

Fold — give up the pot.
Check — pass the action when there is no bet to you.
Call — match the current bet.
Bet — put the first money in on a street.
Raise — increase a bet that is already there.

Going all-in is betting or raising your remaining chips. Definition: all-in.

When the math starts

On the flop in the worked hand you had a gutshot plus overcards. You do not need the exact percentage on day one. You do need the idea: the price of a call versus the chance you improve. That is pot odds. Check a number with the pot odds calculator.

Mistakes that show up in the first hour

Playing every Ace. Ace-rag offsuit is not Ace-King.
Thinking you must use both hole cards.
Acting out of turn, or showing a winner before the bet is settled.
Calling a river bet “to see” with no pair and no draw that got there.
Judging the game off one pot.

More of that list: common beginner mistakes.

Beginner questions

How many cards do you get?

Two private, up to five public. Best five-card hand wins at showdown.

Do you have to use both hole cards?

No. One, both, or the board alone.

Who acts first?

Preflop: left of the big blind. Later streets: left of the button, among players still in.

Can you win without showing?

Yes. If everyone else folds, the pot is yours.

What beats a flush?

Full house, four of a kind, straight flush, royal flush.

Is this the same as a Double Up Sit and Go?

Same rules for how a hand is played. Different prize pool. Format guide: Double Up Sit and Go.

Last updated: 6 September 2026 · Editor: Greg Parsons · Educational only. No strategy guarantees profit.