Texas Hold’em: a hand from blinds to showdown
Learn the sequence and how the best five-card hand is formed.
Original editorial illustration; not a screenshot of the game.
Two private cards, five shared cards
Each player receives two private cards. The board is revealed as a three-card flop, one turn card and one river card, with betting rounds between them. Make the best five-card hand using any combination of private and board cards.
Actions and position
Depending on the action, a player may check, bet, call, raise or fold. Acting later provides information about earlier actions; it does not reveal hidden cards. In no-limit play, the permitted maximum can be the player’s remaining stack.
A common misunderstanding
You do not have to use both private cards in Hold’em. A strong board may be shared by several players, and kickers can decide otherwise equal-looking hands. Read the game and tournament rules for all-in procedures and side pots.