Texas Hold'em rules and terms
Each player makes the best five-card hand from their two hole cards and the five community cards, and the strongest hand wins.
Key terms
Hand
One round of play, from the deal until the pot goes to the winner. A table plays hand after hand.
One round of play, from the deal until the pot goes to the winner. A table plays hand after hand.
Dealer button (BTN)
Marks the dealer position that the blinds are measured from. It moves one seat to the left each hand. Shown as "D" next to a name at the table.
Marks the dealer position that the blinds are measured from. It moves one seat to the left each hand. Shown as "D" next to a name at the table.
SB (small blind)
A forced bet from the seat left of the button, usually half the big blind. With two players, the button posts it.
A forced bet from the seat left of the button, usually half the big blind. With two players, the button posts it.
BB (big blind)
A forced bet from the seat left of the small blind. It sets the minimum to call.
A forced bet from the seat left of the small blind. It sets the minimum to call.
Community cards
The shared cards on the table: three on the flop, one on the turn and one on the river.
The shared cards on the table: three on the flop, one on the turn and one on the river.
Pot
All the chips bet in the hand. The winner takes it.
All the chips bet in the hand. The winner takes it.
Side pot
An extra pot that holds the chips above an all-in player's stack.
An extra pot that holds the chips above an all-in player's stack.
How a hand plays out
- Blinds: the small and big blinds post their forced bets.
- Preflop: each player gets two cards. Action starts left of the big blind.
- Flop: three community cards are dealt. Action starts with the small blind (the big blind with two players).
- Turn: a fourth card is dealt, then another round of betting.
- River: a fifth card is dealt, then the last round of betting.
- Showdown: everyone still in shows their cards and the best hand wins.
Betting actions
FoldGive up the hand and throw your cards away.
CheckPass the action on without betting, when no one has bet.
CallMatch the current bet.
RaiseBet more than the current bet.
All-inPut in all of your chips. Anything above your stack goes into a side pot.
Hand rankings (strongest first)
Royal Flush
10 through A, all the same suit
e.g. ♠10 ♠J ♠Q ♠K ♠A
10 through A, all the same suit
e.g. ♠10 ♠J ♠Q ♠K ♠A
Straight Flush
Five in a row, all the same suit
e.g. ♥8 ♥7 ♥6 ♥5 ♥4
Five in a row, all the same suit
e.g. ♥8 ♥7 ♥6 ♥5 ♥4
Four of a Kind
Four cards of the same rank
e.g. ♠7 ♥7 ♦7 ♣7 ♠K
Four cards of the same rank
e.g. ♠7 ♥7 ♦7 ♣7 ♠K
Full House
Three of a kind plus a pair
e.g. ♠K ♥K ♦K ♣6 ♥6
Three of a kind plus a pair
e.g. ♠K ♥K ♦K ♣6 ♥6
Flush
Five of the same suit, any ranks
e.g. ♦K ♦J ♦8 ♦4 ♦2
Five of the same suit, any ranks
e.g. ♦K ♦J ♦8 ♦4 ♦2
Straight
Five in a row, any suits
e.g. ♠10 ♥9 ♦8 ♣7 ♠6
Five in a row, any suits
e.g. ♠10 ♥9 ♦8 ♣7 ♠6
Three of a Kind
Three cards of the same rank
e.g. ♠Q ♥Q ♦Q ♣8 ♠3
Three cards of the same rank
e.g. ♠Q ♥Q ♦Q ♣8 ♠3
Two Pair
Two separate pairs
e.g. ♠J ♥J ♣5 ♦5 ♠A
Two separate pairs
e.g. ♠J ♥J ♣5 ♦5 ♠A
One Pair
Two cards of the same rank
e.g. ♠A ♥A ♦10 ♣7 ♠4
Two cards of the same rank
e.g. ♠A ♥A ♦10 ♣7 ♠4
High Card
No made hand. The highest card decides, and A is highest
e.g. ♠A ♥Q ♦10 ♣5 ♠2
No made hand. The highest card decides, and A is highest
e.g. ♠A ♥Q ♦10 ♣5 ♠2
When two hands are the same
The higher ranks in the five-card hand win. If the hands are truly identical it is a split (a chop), and the pot is shared evenly.
Chip and interest limits
Your chips
You can hold up to 10,000,000,000. Above that, winning hands and the daily bonus add nothing, and you can't borrow past it.
You can hold up to 10,000,000,000. Above that, winning hands and the daily bonus add nothing, and you can't borrow past it.
Loan interest
Every 3 hands of a Ranked Match, 10% of your outstanding loan is added. It stops once the outstanding loan reaches 300,000.
Every 3 hands of a Ranked Match, 10% of your outstanding loan is added. It stops once the outstanding loan reaches 300,000.
To try the rankings yourself, pick some cards in the Hand Evaluator.For how the app itself works, see how to play.