The objective
In Texas Hold'em, each player receives two private hole cards. Five community cards are eventually dealt face up. A player makes the best five-card poker hand available from any combination of the seven cards they can use.
1. Blinds
Before cards are dealt, the two players immediately left of the dealer button post the small blind and big blind. These forced bets create a pot to compete for.
2. Preflop
Each player receives two hole cards. Action begins with the player left of the big blind. Players can usually fold, call the current bet or raise, subject to the game format and room rules.
3. The flop
Three community cards are dealt face up. A new betting round begins.
4. The turn
A fourth community card is dealt, followed by another betting round.
5. The river
The fifth and final community card is dealt, followed by the final betting round.
6. Showdown
If more than one player remains after the final action, eligible hands are compared and the best five-card hand wins the pot, unless the pot is split by a tie.
Core actions
- Check: decline to bet when no bet is outstanding.
- Bet: put the first wager into a betting round.
- Call: match an outstanding bet.
- Raise: increase the wager.
- Fold: surrender the hand.
A simple example hand
You are dealt A♠ K♣. The flop is K♦ 7♣ 2♥, so you have one pair—kings—with an ace kicker. If the turn is 4♠ and the river is J♦, your best five-card hand is K♣ K♦ A♠ J♦ 7♣. You use one hole card and four community cards in this example.
What to learn next
- Poker hand rankings — know what beats what.
- Poker positions — understand where action starts and why position matters.
- Pot odds — later, learn the basic math behind calls.
- Live poker etiquette — useful before playing in a Toronto casino.