Welcome back to the Master Poker blog! So, you’ve downloaded the app, and you’re ready to jump into the action, but maybe you’re new to the world of poker. Don’t worry—we’ve all been there.
While it has strategic depth that takes a lifetime to master, the basic rules of Texas Hold’em are surprisingly simple. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to play your first hand with confidence.
The Goal of the Game
The objective in Texas Hold’em is straightforward: make the best possible five-card poker hand using a combination of your own two private cards and five shared community cards. You win a pot by having the best hand after all the betting rounds are complete, or by making all other players fold their hands before the end.
The Key Players and The Button
Before a hand starts, two players must post “blinds,” which are forced bets to ensure there’s money in the pot to play for.
- The Dealer Button: A marker (usually a flat disc) indicates the dealer for the current hand. This button moves one position to the left after each hand.
- Small Blind (SB): The player immediately to the left of the dealer button posts the small blind.
- Big Blind (BB): The player to the left of the small blind posts the big blind (usually double the small blind).
The Four Stages of a Hand
A single hand of Texas Hold’em is broken down into four key stages, or “streets.” Each stage has a round of betting.
1. The Pre-Flop This is where it all begins. Every player is dealt two private cards, face down. These are your “hole cards.”
Starting with the player to the left of the big blind, each person has a choice:
- Fold: Give up your hand and wait for the next one.
- Call: Match the amount of the big blind.
- Raise: Increase the bet amount.
This continues around the table until everyone has either folded or put the same amount of money into the pot.
2. The Flop After the first round of betting, three community cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table. This is “the flop.”
Now, using your two hole cards and these three community cards, you can start to see how strong your hand might be. Another round of betting begins, starting with the player to the left of the dealer button.
3. The Turn A fourth community card is dealt face up next to the flop. This is “the turn.” You now have six cards to choose from to make your best five-card hand.
Another round of betting occurs, following the same pattern as the flop.
4. The River The fifth and final community card is dealt face up. This is “the river.” All the cards are now on the table. You know exactly what your best possible five-card hand is.
This triggers the final round of betting.
5. The Showdown If two or more players are still in the hand after the final betting round, it’s time for the “showdown.” The remaining players reveal their hole cards, and the player with the best five-card poker hand wins the entire pot.
(Infographic Suggestion: A visual flow-chart graphic showing the 4 stages: Pre-Flop (2 cards) -> Flop (3 cards) -> Turn (1 card) -> River (1 card) -> Showdown.)
Basic Hand Rankings
Of course, to know who wins, you need to know what makes a good hand! Here are the basic hand rankings from best to worst.
- Royal Flush: A, K, Q, J, 10, all of the same suit. (The best possible hand).
- Straight Flush: Five cards in sequence, all of the same suit.
- Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank (e.g., four Queens).
- Full House: Three cards of one rank and two cards of another (e.g., three Jacks and two 5s).
- Flush: Any five cards of the same suit, not in sequence.
- Straight: Five cards in sequence, but not of the same suit.
- Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank.
- Two Pair: Two cards of one rank, and two cards of a different rank.
- One Pair: Two cards of the same rank.
- High Card: If no one has any of the above, the player with the highest single card wins.
Now you know the rules! The best way to learn is by doing, so open up Master Poker, join a low-stakes table, and put your new knowledge to the test. Good luck!