How a Texas Hold'em Hand Plays Out
Every hand of Texas Hold'em follows the same skeleton: hole cards, then three community-card streets, with a betting round after each. Learn this before you sit down.
Phase 1: Pre-Flop
The dealer gives each player 2 cards face down — these are your hole cards. Only you can see them. The two players to the left of the dealer post the small blind and big blind. Action starts with the player to the left of the big blind.
Phase 2: The Flop
Three community cards are dealt face-up in the center of the table. All players can use these cards. A new betting round begins, starting with the first active player to the left of the dealer.
Phase 3: The Turn
A fourth community card is dealt. Another betting round follows. The turn often increases bet sizes — in limit games, the bet typically doubles on the turn.
Phase 4: The River
The fifth and final community card is dealt. This is the last chance to bet. After this round, if more than one player remains, hands are revealed.
Phase 5: Showdown
Remaining players table their hole cards. Best five-card hand wins. You may use both hole cards, one, or none. If hands tie, the pot is split. In most rooms the last player to bet or raise shows first; house rules vary.
Pre-Flop
2 hole cards dealt. Blinds posted. First betting round.
Flop
3 community cards. Second betting round.
Turn
4th community card. Third betting round.
River
5th community card. Final betting round.
Winning Without Showdown
You don't always need the best hand. If every other player folds during any betting round, you win the pot immediately — no need to show your cards. This is the basis of bluffing.
The Dealer Button
The dealer button rotates clockwise after each hand. It determines who posts blinds and the order of action. The button position is the most advantageous because you act last on every post-flop street.