Welcome to Texas Hold'em Poker
Ready to discover one of the world's most popular poker variants? Texas Hold'em is the perfect blend of simplicity and strategic depth. Whether you're new to poker or looking to sharpen your skills, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know: from the basic rules to hand selection.
At PokerStars on Betfair, we're committed to helping you play with confidence. That's why we've broken down Texas Hold'em into clear, straightforward sections. You'll learn the rules, understand hand rankings, explore different betting structures, and discover how to get started risk-free. Our platform offers various ways to enjoy Texas Hold'em, with options tailored to suit your experience level and playing style.
What makes Texas Hold'em so compelling? Despite its relative simplicity, the game offers seemingly infinite strategic possibilities. Every decision matters: from your opening hand selection to your positioning at the table. With seven cards available to make your best five-card hand, the potential for skilled play is just great. We believe in giving players the tools and knowledge to play their best game, responsibly.
The Rules of Texas Hold'em
To get started, here are the fundamental rules you need to understand:
The Blinds
Before each hand begins, two players post forced bets called blinds. The player immediately clockwise from the dealer button posts the "small blind," while the next player posts the "big blind" (typically double the small blind). This ensures there's always money in the pot to play for. In Pot Limit and No Limit, games are referred to by the size of their blinds, for example, a $1/$2 game has a small blind of $1 and a big blind of $2. In Limit games, blind sizes vary; for example, in a 2/4 game, the small blind is 1 and the big blind is 2. Some games may also require an "ante", a smaller forced bet from all players. Once blinds are posted, each player receives two private cards (hole cards) visible only to them.
Player Betting Options
During any betting round, you have five possible actions: fold (discard your hand), check (move the action on without betting if no one has bet), bet (place chips in the pot), call (match the previous bet), or raise (increase the bet amount). Your available options depend on what previous players have done. If no one has bet, you can check or bet. If someone has bet, you can fold, call, or raise. To raise, you must match the previous bet and increase it further. This gives you complete control over how much you're willing to invest in each hand.
Pre-Flop
After receiving your hole cards, the first betting round begins with the player immediately clockwise from the big blind (known as "under the gun"). This player can fold, call the big blind, or raise. Action proceeds clockwise around the table. If the big blind was 2, it costs 2 to call or at least $4 to raise. Betting continues until all active players have placed equal amounts in the pot or folded. This is your first opportunity to make a strategic decision about your hand's potential.
The Flop
Three community cards are dealt face-up on the board. These cards can be used by all remaining players to build their best five-card hand. The betting round begins with the active player immediately clockwise from the dealer button. Players can check (if no one has bet), bet, call, raise, or fold. This is where your hand either improves or requires tough decisions.
The Turn
A fourth community card is dealt face-up. Another complete betting round follows, starting with the active player clockwise from the button. The betting stakes typically increase at this stage (particularly in Limit Hold'em). You now have six cards to work with toward your final five-card hand.
The River
The fifth and final community card is dealt face-up on the board. This is your last chance to improve your hand or make strategic decisions. A final betting round occurs, following the same rules as previous rounds. After this round, if more than one player remains, it's time for the showdown.
Showdown
If two or more players remain after the final betting round, hands are revealed. The player who made the last bet or raise shows first (or if no one bet on the river, the player clockwise from the button shows first). The best five-card poker hand wins the pot. You can use any combination of your two hole cards and the five community cards to make your best hand, using both hole cards, one, or even none. In the rare event of identical hands, the pot is divided equally. All suits rank equally in Texas Hold'em.
Hand Combinations in Texas Hold'em
Understanding which starting hands to play is fundamental to your success. There are 1,326 possible combinations for your opening hand in Texas Hold'em. However, because suits have no value in this variant, many combinations share the same pre-flop value. When you eliminate these duplicates, there are 169 unique starting hands.
Before the flop, Pocket Aces (AA) is the strongest starting hand. However, even premium hands require careful play: if your aces don't improve on the board, you'll only have one pair, which may not hold up in multi-way pots.
Your position at the table and the number of opponents greatly influence which hands you should play. In heads-up games (against a single opponent), you can play a wider range of hands, especially when you're on the button. In multi-way games with several opponents, selectivity is crucial: consider your table position and opponents' actions before committing chips.
Hands with strong playability include:
Top Pairs
AA and KK are premium holdings; they can be played confidently and aggressively pre-flop. QQ and JJ are excellent as well, though proceed cautiously against significant pre-flop aggression or if higher cards appear on the flop.
Small Pairs
Pairs like 44 or 66 work well in late position when you can see the flop cheaply, hoping to hit a set. If you succeed, your hand remains well-disguised against opponents with bigger pairs. Folding is usually the play against heavy pre-flop aggression or if you miss the flop entirely.
Suited Connectors
Consecutive cards of the same suit (like J♥10♥) offer excellent post-flop playability, giving you chances to make straights or flushes. These hands can shine in multi-way pots or with a deep stack, where you can win large pots against inferior holdings like two pair or three of a kind.
Suited Aces
Hands like A♥4♥ provide potential for straights but, more importantly, the "nut flush" (the best possible flush). These are especially profitable against opponents who might also make lower-value flushes. They're also strong bluffing hands pre-flop since holding an ace blocks certain combinations your opponents might have.
Hand Rankings in Texas Hold'em
Mastering hand rankings is essential as you build your best five-card hand from seven available cards. Texas Hold'em uses traditional high poker hand rankings, listed from strongest to weakest:
• Royal Flush – 10, J, Q, K, A of the same suit • Straight Flush – Five consecutive cards of the same suit • Four of a Kind – Four cards of identical rank plus one side card • Full House – Three cards of one rank plus two cards of another rank • Flush – Five cards of the same suit (not in sequence) • Straight – Five consecutive cards (not of the same suit) • Three of a Kind – Three cards of identical rank plus two unrelated side cards • Two Pair – Two cards of one rank, two cards of another rank, plus one side card • One Pair – Two cards of identical rank plus three unrelated side cards • High Card – No matches or other hand combination
Betting Structures: Limit, No Limit, Pot Limit & Mixed Hold'em
Texas Hold'em rules remain consistent across different formats, with key differences in how betting works. Choose the structure that suits your playing style and bankroll:
Limit Texas Hold'em
Betting occurs in predetermined amounts. Pre-flop and on the flop, all bets and raises equal the big blind. On the turn and river, bet sizes double. You're limited to four bets per player per round: one bet, one raise, one re-raise, and one cap (final raise). This structure suits players who prefer controlled, predictable betting.
No Limit Texas Hold'em
The minimum bet equals the big blind, but you can bet any amount up to your entire stack. The minimum raise must equal or exceed the previous bet or raise. For example, if someone bets 5, your minimum raise is 5, (total bet of $10). There's no cap on the number of raises allowed. No Limit is the most popular format worldwide.
Pot Limit Texas Hold'em
The minimum bet equals the big blind, but your maximum bet cannot exceed the pot size. The minimum raise follows the same rules as No Limit. To calculate your maximum bet, add the active pot, all bets on the table, and the amount you must call - that's your maximum raise. For instance, with a 100 pot and no previous action, you can bet up to 100. The next player can raise up to 400 (calling 100 plus raising $300 more). Like No Limit, there's no cap on raises.
Mixed Texas Hold'em
The game alternates between rounds of Limit and No Limit Hold'em. Blinds typically increase when switching from No Limit to Limit, keeping average pot sizes consistent. Each round follows the rules for its specific format.
At PokerStars on Betfair, our software ensures you can only bet within the allowed limits for your chosen format: the bet slider will guide you every step of the way.
Play Texas Hold’em – Free Play and Real Money Play
Build an account with Betfair and start playing. Learn how to play Texas Hold’em for free by downloading the PokerStars software and joining free online poker games, where you can practice against other players and master the rules without risking real money.
Beyond Texas Hold'em, we offer numerous poker variants, each with its own strategic depth. Whatever your experience level, PokerStars on Betfair provides a secure, regulated environment where you can play responsibly and enjoy the game you love.
Remember: responsible gaming is central to everything we do. Set limits that work for you, take breaks when needed, and reach out to our support team if you need guidance.
As well as Texas Hold’em, we also offer many other poker variants. See our Poker Games page to learn more.