How to play Texas Hold'em

Hold'em gives every player two private cards and five shared community cards. The best five-card hand wins the pot — or the best bettor takes it without a showdown.

The four betting rounds

Pre-flop with your two cards, then the flop (three community cards), the turn and the river. On each round you may check, bet, call, raise or fold.

Hand rankings

From the top: royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair, high card.

Position

Acting last is a real advantage because you see what everyone else does first. Play more hands in late position and far fewer from the blinds.

Pot odds

Compare the price of a call to the size of the pot. If you must call $10 to win $50, you need to be right about one time in six.

Tips from the table

Fold most hands before the flop — tight, aggressive play beats loose calling.
Raise your good hands and your bluffs from the same positions so you're hard to read.
Watch each opponent's pattern; the calling station and the maniac need opposite treatment.
Bet sizing tells a story — keep it consistent whether you're strong or bluffing.

More free card games

Same table, no loading screens — pick your next hand.