Master the Rules of Texas Hold’em – From Beginners to Tournaments

Your ultimate guide to understanding the rules of Texas Hold’em poker, whether you’re playing for fun, competing in tournaments, or aiming for WSOP glory.

Texas Hold’em Rules for Beginners

New to poker? Start here! Texas Hold’em is simple to learn but takes time to master. Each player is dealt two private cards (hole cards), and five community cards are dealt face-up. Your goal? Build the best 5-card hand.

We break it down step by step:

  • Hand rankings (including flush rules in Texas Hold’em)

  • Betting structure (pre-flop, flop, turn, river)

  • How to act in turn: fold, call, raise

  • Understanding position at the table

  • Beginner mistakes to avoid

rules to texas hold em

Rules of Texas Hold'em Betting & Betting Rounds

Texas Hold’em is structured around four betting rounds:

  1. Pre-Flop – after the hole cards are dealt

  2. Flop – after the first 3 community cards

  3. Turn – after the fourth card

  4. River – after the fifth and final card

Betting types depend on the game format:

  • Limit Hold’em: Fixed bet sizes

  • No-Limit Hold’em: Bet any amount

  • Pot-Limit Hold’em: Bet up to the pot size

Get the full breakdown on betting structures, raises, and strategies to avoid common errors.

Latest Blogs

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

In Texas Hold’em, each player receives two private cards, known as hole cards, dealt face down. Five community cards are placed face up in the center of the table. Players combine their hole cards with the community cards to form the best possible five-card poker hand. The strongest hand wins.

Texas Hold’em features four betting rounds: pre-flop, flop, turn, and river. Each round allows players to check, bet, raise, or fold. The betting structure depends on the game format—Limit (fixed bets), No-Limit (any amount up to all chips), or Pot-Limit (up to the current pot size).

In traditional Texas Hold’em, players compete against each other using strategy and bluffing. In Ultimate Texas Hold’em, the game is played against the dealer, not other players, and includes unique betting options like Ante, Blind, and Play bets, changing the pace and structure of the game significantly.

A flush in poker consists of five cards of the same suit, such as all hearts or all spades, in any order. It ranks higher than a straight, which is five consecutive cards of mixed suits. Among flushes, the one with the highest top card wins if multiple players have one.

WSOP and similar tournaments follow strict guidelines: blinds increase at set intervals, players are eliminated until one remains, and specific rules cover chip stacks, time violations, and betting behavior. Always check the official WSOP rulebook before entering a tournament.