Texas Holdem Rules
Complete Texas Holdem rules reference: blinds, hole cards, betting rounds, showdown and side pots. Also covers rules of Texas Holdem and texas holdem poker rules. For a beginner path through starting hands, use How to Play Texas Holdem.
Rules of Texas Holdem in order
- Post small blind and big blind
- Deal two hole cards to each player
- Preflop betting round
- Flop (three community cards) and betting
- Turn (one card) and betting
- River (one card) and betting
- Showdown: best five-card hand wins; side pots if stacks differ
Hand rankings
Showdown uses the best five-card hand. The full chart with examples is the poker hand rankings page — this list is only the order.
- Royal flush
- Straight flush
- Four of a kind
- Full house
- Flush
- Straight
- Three of a kind
- Two pair
- One pair
- High card
Blinds and betting rounds
Small blind and big blind post before cards. Action then goes preflop, flop, turn and river. Remaining players show down the best five-card hand.
FAQ
Is this the same as how to play Texas Holdem?
No. This page is the rules reference. The beginner path with starting-hand guidance lives on How to Play Texas Holdem.
How many hole cards in Texas Holdem?
Two private hole cards per player, plus up to five community cards.