Texas Hold’em Beginner’s Guide

How to Play Texas Hold’em

Texas Hold’em is a community card poker game. This is the basic format:

• Each player is dealt two private cards at the start of the round. These are known as your hole cards. Your rival players can’t see them.
• Five community cards are placed face-up on the table.
• Your goal is simply to build the best five-card hand, using any combination of your two-hole cards and the five community cards.

A round of Texas Hold’em can be divided into six steps: blinds, pre-flop, the flop, the turn, the river, and the final showdown. Here’s how a round unfolds:

Step 1: Blinds

Most Texas Hold’em games use blinds to stimulate the action. Blinds are forced bets, which you’re required to place when it’s your turn. At the start of each hand:

• The player sitting immediately to the left of the dealer places a small blind.
• Whoever is sitting to the left of that player then places a large blind.

The big blind is usually double the size of the small blind. For example, the player to the left of the dealer might be required to lay a $5 chip on the table. The player sitting to the left of that player would then place a $10 chip on the table.

Step 2: Pre-Flop

When the blinds have been posted, each player will be dealt two-hole cards face down. You can examine your cards to gauge the strength of your hand.

The players then take it in turns to make their plays. You have three options at the pre-flop stage:

• Call: match the big blind.
• Raise: increase the bet.
• Fold: discard your hand and forfeit the round.

The player sitting to the left of the big blind begins. Betting continues in a clockwise pattern until all players have either folded or called the highest bet.

Step 3: The Flop

Three community cards are then dealt face up in the middle of the table. They are known as community cards, as each player can use them in conjunction with his or her unique hole cards to create a five-card poker hand.

Another round of betting then unfolds, starting with the player directly to the left of the dealer (small blind). You have five options:

The flop ends when all players have either folded or called the highest bet.

Step 4: The Turn

After the flop, one more community card is dealt face up on the table. This card is known as the turn, or the fourth street. Another round of betting then takes place.

Step 5: The River

When the turn has concluded, a fifth community card is dealt face up on the table. A final round of betting then takes place, giving each remaining player the chance to raise, call, or fold.

Step 6: Showdown

A showdown will occur if at least two players are still vying for the pot after the final round of betting. The players reveal their hole cards, and whoever has the best five-card hand wins the pot.

If two or more players have the same strength hand, the pot is split evenly among them. We’ve highlighted the Texas Hold’em hands below, ranked from high to low.

Texas Hold’em Formats

You can play Texas Hold’em at all the leading poker rooms. The Texas Hold’em rules will be the same, but there are various formats to consider:

• Tournaments: Each player pays an entry fee and receives an identical stack of chips. The house takes a cut and then distributes the remaining funds to players in the form of prize money. Your goal is simply to earn as many chips as possible throughout the tournament. The winner takes home the top prize, and there are normally additional prizes for other players that perform well.
• Cash games: You can win or lose real money on each hand. Just buy chips, take a seat at the table, and play for as long as you like. At any point, you can leave the table and exchange your chips for cash. There are no eliminations, and you can buy more chips if you like.

We’ve already explained the Texas Hold’em rules, but you also need to understand the different betting structures. There are three main formats:

• No Limit Hold’em: This is the most popular way to play Texas Hold’em, especially in tournaments. There are no limits on the amount you can bet or raise. This format allows for the greatest level of strategic depth, as you can exert pressure on your opponents by placing large wagers or going all-in.
• Limit Hold’em: There are fixed bet and raise sizes for each round. For example, in a $1/$2 limit game, bets and raises are typically $1 in the early rounds and $2 in later rounds. This is a more structured option, with lower variance, and it may be better suited to beginners. It’s harder to bluff, and easier to control losses.
• Pot Limit Hold’em: This is pretty rare, but you will sometimes find Pot Limit Hold’em tables. In this format, the maximum bet amount is determined by the current size of the pot.

Texas Hold’em Hands

The goal is to compile the best possible hand when you play Texas Hold’em. These are the different Texas Hold’em hands, ranked from best to worst:

• Royal Flush: A, K, Q, J, 10 of the same suit.
• Straight Flush: Five cards in a row, same suit.
• Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank.
• Full House: Three of a kind, plus a pair.
• Flush: Five cards of the same suit.
• Straight: Five cards in order, but of different suits.
• Three of a Kind
• Two Pair
• One Pair
• High Card

Strategy for Beginners

Learning Texas Hold’em strategy for beginners can boost your chances of success. Here are 10 top tips to help you win:

1. Learn When to Fold

Consult a starting hand guide. It will tell you which hands to play and which hands to fold, according to your position at the table. There are three positions:

• Early: Usually the 2-3 players to the left of the big blind.
• Middle: The next 2–3 players after the early position.
• Late: The dealer (the player on the button) and the player just before the dealer.

For example, you should always play premium hands like AA, KK, QQ, JJ, TT, AK, or a suited AQ, regardless of where you’re sitting.

Meanwhile, hands like AJ, AT, KJ, KT, QJ are often worth playing in a middle or late position on the table. Hands like Q9, J8, or T7 might look tempting, but they’re often best avoided, especially when you’re in an early position.

2. Player Fewer Hands, and Play Them Aggressively

You’re likely to lose if you play every hand. Stick to strong starting hands, such as big pairs (AA, KK, QQ), high cards (AK, AQ), and suited connectors (suited JT).

Learn to play aggressively at the right times. Raise instead of just calling, as this will pile pressure on your opponents.

3. Play Tight from an Early Position

Make your betting decisions according to your position at the table. The earlier you act in a hand, the more cautious you should be.

Early position: Play tight, which means play with caution. You might end up playing around 15-20% of hands in an early position.

Middle position: You can loosen up a little when you’re in a middle position, but it’s best to still err on the side of caution. You might decide to play around 25% of hands in a middle position.

Late position: You have a major advantage, as you can see how your opponents have acted. It allows you to control the pot, bluff more effectively, and make more informed decisions. You could play approximately 35-40% of hands in a late position.

Here’s an example of how you might play the same hand differently depending on where you’re positioned at the table:

If you’re unsure, it’s okay to fold. Weak hands occasionally win, but they often lose. Focus on quality over quantity, especially when you’re learning how to play Texas Hold’em.

4. Learn Pot Odds and Expected Value (EV) Basics

Pot odds tell you whether it would be beneficial to call, based on the size of the pot and the amount you’d need to risk. This is the formula:

• Pot Odds (%) = Amount to Call / (Pot Size + Call Amount)

It looks complex, but it’s actually pretty simple. For example, let’s say there’s $100 in the pot. Your opponent bets $20, taking the pot total to $120. That means you need to bet $20 in a bid to win $120. If you calculate that your chances of winning are better than 1 in 6, it’s worth risking $20 to try.

Here’s a basic way to approach it:

5. Don’t Chase Every Draw

A draw in poker refers to a hand that is not yet complete. It requires further cards to turn it into a strong hand.

For example, you might need one more card to complete a straight or a flush. If so, consider the odds of the right card being drawn. Don’t simply call large bets when hoping for one more card unless the math justifies it.

Consider how many cards are left in the pack, and work out the probability of the right card being dealt. Only call if your odds of winning are higher than the pot odds. If not, fold. 

Here’s a simple rule of thumb for beginners: if it’s a big bet, and you need one card to complete a straight or flush, fold unless it’s cheap to call.

6. Only Bluff When it Makes Sense

Bluffing is a key skill to develop when you learn Texas Hold’em strategy. It’s exciting to fool your opponents and win a pot with a weak hand, but you should only bluff when it makes sense.

A successful bluff should tell a believable story. Beginners often bluff too often, or they bluff at the wrong time.

7. Observe Your Opponents

You’ll seriously improve your chances of success by watching how your opponents play. There are four main styles:

Figuring out which types of players you’re up against can help you tweak your strategy, allowing you to counter their strengths and exploit their weaknesses.

8. Manage Your Bankroll and Keep Your Emotions in Check

Only play Texas Hold’em with money you can afford to lose. Start out by placing small bets, and don’t move up in stakes too quickly while you’re learning the ropes.

Some players make emotional decisions after losing. This causes them to pursue a suboptimal strategy, as they’re angry or frustrated. They may play too many hands, bet in an overly aggressive manner, or chase losses. This emotional state of confusion is known as tilt, and successful players learn how to avoid it.

9. Be Patient and Disciplined

The best Texas Hold’em players have a long-term mindset. They know they can’t win every hand or session. Learn from them by displaying patience and discipline when playing Texas Hold’em.

Fold often, stay calm, wait for profitable spots, and capitalize upon them. Learn to spot tilt in your opponents, and try to exploit it.

10. Practice for Free or in Low-Stakes Games

Sharpen your skills by playing Texas Hold’em for free. There are a few options:

• Play with friends in-person or online.
• Take part in freerolls at online poker rooms.
• Download a poker app or software that helps you learn the basics.

You can then switch to playing Texas Hold’em for real money when you feel confident.

Where to Play Texas Hold’em Online

These are the best sites to play Texas Hold’em online:

Bovada

Bovada is the busiest online poker room in North America. It offers greater liquidity and higher traffic than any rival sites, and it guarantees $2 million in weekly prize pools. You can compete in a busy schedule of Texas Hold’em tournaments and cash games at Bovada.

Sign up at Bovada

BetOnline

BetOnline allows you to compete in a wide array of Texas Hold’em tournaments and cash games, with broad betting limits. The site also offers a wealth of bonuses, including a 100% poker welcome bonus, weekly leaderboards and bad beat jackpots. You can also play poker games against the house at BetOnline.

Sign up at BetOnline

Everygame

Everygame is a great place to play Texas Hold’em for beginners. This established site hosts regular freerolls, so you can sharpen your skills without risking any money. You can also win prizes, such as bonus credits or free spins for the online casino. There are plenty of Texas Hold’em tournaments and cash games too, and Everygame also offers a market leading 36% rakeback rate.

Sign up at Everygame

Free Apps and Websites

You can download free apps or visit free sites, which help you master Texas Hold’em. Here are some options:

• Poker Heat: This iOS and Android app offers social gameplay, with useful tutorials, hand ranking information, and beginner-friendly language.
• Learn Poker: An app provides clear lessons on how to play Texas Hold’em for beginners, with simple breakdowns of the Texas Hold’em rules.
• SnapShove Lite: This app helps you figure out when to push and fold when you play Texas Hold’em.
• Poker Now: A free online poker room, where you can invite friends and set up practice rooms.

Summary

We’ve explained how to play Texas Hold’em for beginners. It’s now time for you to put your knowledge to the test. You can hone your skills by competing in freeroll tournaments at elite online poker rooms like Everygame, BetOnline, and Bovada.

You’ll soon learn when to play tight and when to bet more aggressively. If you learn to keep your emotions in check, and you manage to exploit your rivals’ emotions, you can enjoy great success when playing Texas Hold’em. Visit one of our recommended poker sites to claim your welcome bonus, and you can then start playing Texas Hold’em right away.