Loading
0
Royal flush
Straight flush
Four of a kind
Full house
Flush
Straight
Three of a kind
Two pairs
Pair
High card
X
Texas Holdem
Texas Holdem Deal
Intro
Once all players are seated at the table with their relevant chip stacks, there are a few more steps before the game can start.
Firstly, a player indicated by ‘the dealer’ button (‘D') is named as the dealer for the current hand. Secondly, two mandatory bets are placed. The player to the left of the dealer button posts the first forced bet, called ‘the small blind’. The player to the left of the small blind posts the second forced bet, called ‘the big blind’. The big blind is twice the amount of the small blind.
Finally, each player is dealt two face-down hole cards.
Dealer
The Dealer is a table position assigned to the player who acts last in all betting rounds except pre-flop – as long as they choose to play the hand. It is also known as the ‘dealer button’ or simply the ‘button’ and is indicated by a ‘D’ marker. The dealer position is important because it determines the order in which players can act.
The dealer is known to be the best table position. The player in the dealer position can observe the actions of their opponents before it's their turn to act. It allows the player to analyse their opponents and make decisions based on their previous actions.
No need to worry if you are not chosen as the dealer at the beginning of a game. The dealer button rotates clockwise one position around the table after each hand. At the end of a hand, the player to the left of the current dealer button becomes the dealer for the next round.
Small Blind
The small blind, marked as SB, is the first of the two initial forced bets in a game of Texas Hold'em. It is placed by the player immediately to the left of the dealer, and rotates after each hand to the next player, in a clockwise fashion. In a $10/$20 No Limit (NLHE) game, the small blind is equal to $10. However, in a Fixed Limit NLHE game, the SB is equal to one-half of the selected table’s lower betting limit. For example, if a table’s betting stake is $10/$20, the small blind would be $5.
Big Blind
The big blind, marked as BB, is the second of the two initial mandatory bets. It is placed by the player immediately to the left of the small blind, and rotates after each hand to the next player, in a clockwise fashion. In a $10/$20 No Limit (NLHE) game, the big blind is equal to $20. However, in a Fixed Limit NLHE game, the BB is equal to the selected table’s lower betting limit. For example, if a table’s betting stake is $10/$20, the small blind would be $10. In NLHE games, the amount of the big blind is also the minimum bet in the current betting round. The small and big blinds are important because they incite the action and get the game going, since there's already money to vie for in the pot.
Hole cards
After the small and big blinds are posted, each player gets two face-down cards. These are the players’ individual cards, also known as hole cards.
Texas Holdem Pre-Flop
Intro
Once the small and big blinds have been posted, and all the players have two hole cards, the first betting round begins. This stage is called, pre-flop. The player to the left of the big blind acts first, and only one player can act at a time. The betting action moves clockwise around the table. Each player has the following four options: call, raise, fold or move all-in. With no prior raise, the big blind can also check.
First player to act
The betting action starts with the player to the left of the big blind. The position of the player who acts first in the pre-flop round is known as ‘under the gun’ (UTG). It is considered to be the weakest table position, because the UTG player has to make decisions with no prior information about their opponents' play.
Call
To call is to match the bet made by the previous player. The first bet after the big blind needs to match the big blind, or raise it.
Fold
To fold is to not play a hand. If you decide to fold you are no longer eligible to take part in any more betting until a new round starts.
Raise
To raise is to increase the bet amount made by the previous player. If the current bet has already been raised, all the subsequent bets have to at least equal this raise amount.
End of betting
The betting round continues until all active players have each contributed equal amounts to the pot.
Texas Holdem Flop
Intro
After the pre-flop round has concluded and the pot is right, three face-up community cards are dealt on the poker table. This is called the flop. Now, the second round of betting begins.
The first player to act is the active player sat nearest to the left of the dealer. The action moves clockwise around the table. The first player has two options: check or bet. If the first player checks, the next player has the same two options. If a decides to make an initial bet, the other players can call, raise, fold or move all-in.
Flop
Three face-up community cards are dealt on the table.
First player’s actions
The first person to act is the first active player seated to the left of the dealer. They have two options: check or place a bet.
Check
To check means to bet nothing. If the first player decides to check, the action passes, clockwise, to the next player.
Initial bet amount
The initial bet amount should equal or exceed the minimum bet amount, which is equal to the big blind. All subsequent bets must equal or exceed that initial bet.
Other players’ actions
After the initial bet is placed, all remaining players have four options: call, raise, fold or all-in.
End of betting
The betting round ends when all players, who have not folded, have bet equal amounts in the pot. If all players decide to check in the current betting round, meaning there are no new bets, the pot remains the same as in the pre-flop round. If all players, except one, decide to fold in the current round, the player who has not folded wins the pot, and the betting round ends.
Texas Holdem Turn
Intro
When the betting action is completed in the flop round, a fourth face-up community card is dealt on the table. This is called the turn: A third round of betting begins.
The first player to act is the first player still in the game, seated to the left of the dealer. The action moves clockwise around the table. The first player has two options: check or place a bet. Once an initial bet is placed, the other players can also call, raise, fold or move all-in.
Turn
The fourth face-up community card is dealt on the table.
First player’s actions
The first person to act is the first active player to the left of the dealer. They have two options: check or bet. If the first player decides to check (bets nothing), the action passes clockwise to the next player.
Other players’ actions
After the initial bet is placed, the players have the same options as in the previous rounds: call, raise, fold or go all-in.
End of betting
The betting round ends when all players, who have not folded, have placed equal amounts in the pot. If all players decide to check in the current betting round, meaning there are no new bets, the amount in the pot remains the same as after the flop betting round. If all players, except one, decide to fold in the current round, the player who has not folded wins the pot, and the betting round ends.
Texas Holdem River
Intro
After the turn round has finished, the fifth and last face-up community card is placed on the table. This card is called the river. The fourth and last betting round begins.
As in the previous three rounds, the betting starts with the first player to the left of the dealer, who is still active in the hand. This player has two options: to check or bet. Once an initial bet is placed, other players can call, raise, fold or move all-in. Action then moves clockwise around the table.
River
The fifth and final face-up community card is dealt on the table.
First player’s actions
The first person to act is the first player, with two hole cards, to the left of the dealer. They have two options: check or bet. If the first player decides to check (bets nothing), the action passes clockwise to the next player.
Other players’ actions
Once an initial bet is placed, the players have the same options as in the previous rounds. Players can call, raise, fold or go all-in.
All-in
All-in is a bet that places all of a player’s chips in the pot. Usually, if a player wants to continue in a hand but does not have enough money to call the current bet, they can go an all-in for whatever amount they have left in their stack.
However, if the all-in player wins the hand, they may not necessarily win all the money in the pot.
For example, one player bets $10; the second player has only $2. The second player moves all-in. The total pot is now $12. The second player wins the hand, but they can only claim the amount of their own bet plus the same amount from their opponent’s bet. In this example, the all-in player won $4 ($2 + $2). The remaining $8 was returned to the first player.
End of betting
A betting round ends when all players, who have not folded, have bet equal amounts in the pot. If all players decide to check in the current betting round, meaning there are no new bets, the amount in the pot remains the same as after the turn betting round. If all players, except one, decide to fold in the current round, the player who has not folded wins the pot, and the betting round ends.
Texas Holdem Showdown
Intro
After the final betting round ends and all the money is in the pot, it is time for the players who are still in the hand to reveal their cards. The winner is the player with the best five-card combination, also known as the hand. Showdown only occurs if more than one player is active in a hand. If only one player makes it to this stage, they will win all the money in the pot.
The hand
To form the best five-card combination, players have the following options:
- use both of their hole cards and three community cards;
- use one of their hole cards and four community cards;
- use none of their hole cards and all five community cards. The last option is called ‘playing the board’.
The order at showdown
The first player to show their cards is the player closest to the SB. Players go clockwise around the table, showing their cards. However, in live games it is common for the player, who bets or raises last – and gets called - to show first. The aim is to form the best five-card combination by using any of your two hole cards along with the five community cards on the table.
Next player
The next player to the left of the previous player turns up their two hole cards to form the best five-card combination, using any combination of their two hole cards and five community cards.
Playing the board
If a player's two hole cards don't allow for a better combination than the five community cards available on the table, the player has the option of playing ‘the board’. The player can use all five community cards on the table to form their best poker hand combination.
The winner
At showdown, the winner is the player with the best five-card combination, also known as the hand. Showdown happens only if there is more than one player left in the game. If only one player makes it to the showdown stage, they win all the money in the pot.
Texas Holdem Tips
Tip 1
A player's position at a poker table is very important in Texas Hold’em. Before playing a hand, always be aware of your table position in relation to the dealer button. The closer you are to the button, the more information you can learn about your opponent’s play. You will also have fewer players left to act after you.
Tip 2
There are 169 possible starting hands in Texas Hold’em. Out of those only five are regarded as premium hands combinations: A-A, K-K, Q-Q, A-K suited and J-J. So, one of the smartest poker tips is to fold more hands than you play.
Tip 3
It is vital that you keep your concentration levels high at the poker table to achieve better results. If you lose control and allow your emotions influence your decisions, you are no longer playing effectively. Losing control of your emotions is known as ‘tilting’ in poker.
Texas Holdem Play
Ready to Start Putting all You've Learned into Action?
At 888poker, you will find a wide range of Texas Hold'em games – from Multi-Table Tournaments to Cash Games.
And, it's as easy as 1-2-3 to download the state-of-the-art poker software and start crushing the tables.
Start with our Beginner Play Money tables and put into practice what you've learned here. You can also play at the Cash Money Tables for nothing, with our No Deposit Bonuses. Or get free entry to events, like the monthly Twitter and Facebook Free Tournaments.
Isn't it time you started playing at 888poker?
Royal flush
Royal flush is the absolute best possible card combination in poker. It contains five cards of the same suit, in sequence from 10 to Ace. It is an unbeatable hand and you can be sure you win the pot or at least some part of it.
Remember, that all suits are equal in poker games. It may be a situation when two or more players hold a royal flush but is highly unlikely. In this case the pot is split between those two players.
Royal flush is a kind of straight flush and is considered the most rare poker hand combination. There are only four possible royal flush hands, one for each suit. The chances of you being dealt a royal flush are very minimal, only 0.00015%. However, if you are lucky you can confidently place an all-in with a royal flush.
Straight flush
Straight flush is the highest of all poker hands. It consists of five cards in sequence, all of the same suit. If there are more than one straight flush at showdown, the one containing the highest top card wins the pot Bearing in mind that all suits in poker are equal, in an event of multiple players reviling a straight flush with the same cards value the pot is split between them. The ace (A) can be used as both the highest (A - K - Q - J - 10) and the lowest card (5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - A). In the first example, the hand is a royal flush - the best possible five-card combination. The second example shows the lowest possible straight flush.
There are 40 possible straight flushes, including four royal flushes in poker. The chances of you being dealt a straight flush are pretty slim at just 0.00139%.
Four of a kind
Four-of-a-kind or also known as quads is the next highest ranking hand after the starting flush. It consists of any four cards with the same rank and any other card. If there are more than one player with a quads at showdown, the player with the highest four cards wins the pot.
In poker games with community cards, if two or more players share the same four-of-a-kind, the winner is decided by the bigger fifth card, also known as the ‘kicker’.
There are 624 possible four-of-a-kind hands. The best one contains four aces, the lowest is made up of 2 - 2 - 2 - 2. The chances of being dealt a quads are also very rare at 0.024%.
Full house
Full house is the next highest ranking hand after four-of-a-kind. It has three matching cards of one rank and two matching cards of a different rank. If there are more that one full houses at the showdown, the player with highest rank of the three cards wins the pot. In poker games with community cards, it is possible that several players share three matching cards from the board. In this case, the player with the higher pair wins the pot.
There are 3.744 possible combinations of a full house. The highest possible is three aces and two kings (A - A - A - K - K) and the lowest is 2 - 2 - 2 - 3 - 3. The probability of being dealt a full house is 0.1441%.
Flush
Flush is rather strong poker hand. It consists of any five cards of the same suit, but not in sequence. If there are more than one flushes at showdown, the player with the highest top card wins the pot. If both players have the same highest card in a hand, the second highest card is compared, and so on, until a difference is found. If there is no difference between the two hands, the players split the pot. Remember, the suits are equal in poker, so it makes no odds which suit you use to form a hand.
There are 5.108 possible combinations and chances of being dealt a flush are 0.1965%.
Straight
Straight is a poker hand that contains any five connected cards in sequence with at least two different suits. If there are two or more straight hands at showdown, the player with the highest top card wins the pot. If the highest card in all the straights is of the same rank, the pot is split among the players. All suits are equal in poker, they can not be used to determine a winner.
The ace in a straight may be used as both a high (A - K - Q - J - 10) and low (5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - A) card. The first example, known as ‘Broadway’’, shows the highest ranking straight. In contract to the second example called the ‘wheel’ in poker terms, which is the lowest possible straight.
There are 10.240 possible straight combinations, making it a 0.39% chance of being dealt one.
Three of a kind
Three-of-a-kind is the next ranking hand after staring. It consists of any three cards of the same rank and any two other cards. If there are two or more players with a three-of-a-kind at showdown, the highest fourth card, also known as the ‘kicker’, decided who the winner is. If the fourth card did not determine the winner, the fifth card is considered. In a situation where all revealed three-of-a-kind hands are equal, the pot is split divided among the winning players.
In Texas Hold’em and other flop games, three-of-a-kind is called a ‘set’. It is when a player has a pair on his private (hole) cards and one card of a matching rank on the board, for example, 5 - 5 on your hole cards and 5 on the board. Another possible type of three-of-a-kind is ‘trips’. it is made up of a matching pair on the board and one hole card, for example, 5 - 5 - 4 on the board and 5 on your hole cards.
There are 54.912 possible three-of-a-kind hands. The likelihood of being dealt such a combination is 2.1128%.
Two pairs
Two pair speaks for itself. It is basically a poker hand made up of two pairs of a different rank and any other card. If there are several players with a two pair, they are compared by the highest pair in each hand. The best two pair wins the pot. If the highest pairs are equal, the second pair determine the winner. If none of the pairs can be used to determine the winner, the player with the highest fifth card, also called the ‘kicker’, gets all the money from the pot. It is also possible that two players have absolutely equal two pairs, in that case the pot is split between them.
There are 123.552 possible two pair hands, making it one of the most winning hands. This is 4.7539% chances of being dealt one.
Pair
One pair is a poker hand rank that consists of two cards of the same rank and any three other cards. If there are two or more players with one pair, a player with the highest card value pair wins the pot. If a few players have the same pair, other three cards, or the ‘kickers’, are used to determine the winner. The player with the highest non-pair card wins all the money in the pot. In a situation when several players have the pair and three cards of the same value, the pot is split among them.
There are 1.098.240 possible one pair hands. That makes the chances of being dealt one very high at 42.2569%.
High card
No pair is the lowest possible hand that contains any cards. If a few players play no pair at showdown, the highest top card determines the winner. If all top cards are equal in value, the next highest ranking card from each hand is compared, and so on until a difference is found. If players have absolutely the same no pairs, the pot is split among them. It is not the end of the world if you get a no pair, as here is still a chance to win money form the pot if all the other players fold or have the same ranking hand at showdown.
There are 2.598.960 possible five card combinations. The chances of being dealt a no pair 50.1177%.
- Intro
- Rules
- Tips
- Play
Game
About The Game
The Game is your ultimate interactive guide to poker. Learn all about the five varieties of poker that 888poker(TM) has to offer with this guide including facts, rules and tips.
This step-by-step guide will give you a solid introduction to a range of poker games and you’ll playing your first hand in no time.
Close