Home » Guides » How to Play Poker: Texas Hold’em Rules for Beginners (November 2026) How to Play Poker: Texas Hold’em Rules for Beginners (November 2026)To play poker, you make the best five-card hand you can, or get every other player to fold. In Texas Hold’em, the most popular version, you combine two private cards with five shared cards on the table.This guide covers the rules of Texas Hold’em, the hand rankings, each player action and where to play poker-style games online.Poker BasicsPoker uses a standard 52-card deck, and the goal is to win the pot, the chips in the middle. You win it by holding the best hand at showdown, or by being the last player left.Players: Texas Hold’em works best with 2 to 10 players.Hole cards: your two private cards, dealt face down.Community cards: five shared cards dealt face up in the middle.Dealer button: a disk that marks the dealing position and moves one seat left each hand.Poker Hand RankingsEvery poker game uses the same ten hands, from strongest to weakest. A higher hand always beats a lower one, whatever the cards.RankHandWhat it isExample1Royal flushA, K, Q, J and 10 of one suitA♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠2Straight flushFive cards in order, all one suit9♥ 8♥ 7♥ 6♥ 5♥3Four of a kindFour cards of one rankQ Q Q Q 74Full houseThree of a kind plus a pair8 8 8 K K5FlushAny five cards of one suitA♦ J♦ 9♦ 6♦ 3♦6StraightFive cards in order, mixed suits10 9 8 7 67Three of a kindThree cards of one rank5 5 5 K 28Two pairTwo different pairsJ J 4 4 A9One pairTwo cards of one rank10 10 K 7 310High cardNo combination; the top card playsA Q 8 5 2When two players hold equal hands, they split the pot. Only the five cards in each hand count.How a Hand of Texas Hold’em WorksEvery hand follows the same fixed order, with four rounds of action. The steps below run from the deal to the showdown.Blinds: the two players left of the button post the small blind and big blind before any cards are dealt.Pre-flop: each player gets two hole cards, then the first round of action begins.Flop: the dealer burns one card and deals three community cards face up, followed by the second round.Turn: a fourth community card is dealt, followed by the third round.River: the fifth community card is dealt, followed by the final round.Showdown: remaining players reveal their cards, and the best five-card hand wins the pot.You can use any five of your seven cards: both hole cards, one, or none. If every other player folds, the last player wins without showing cards.Poker ActionsWhen it is your turn, you choose one of five actions. Which ones you can take depends on what players before you did.ActionWhat it meansCheckPass the action without adding chips, when no one has put chips in this roundOpenPut the first chips into the pot in a roundCallMatch the chips another player has put inRaiseIncrease the amount other players must matchFoldGive up your cards and any chips already in the potTexas Hold’em vs OmahaOmaha is another popular community card game. It uses the same hand rankings but changes how you build a hand.FeatureTexas Hold’emOmahaHole cards24Community cards55How you make a handAny five of your seven cardsExactly two hole cards plus three community cardsBeginner Poker TipsGood habits matter more than clever plays when you start. These four help most.Learn the rankings first. Keep the hand table nearby until you know it by heart.Play fewer, stronger hands. Fold weak starting cards, especially in early seats.Watch your position. Acting last gives you more information before you decide.Practice free. Play with free coins before you put anything of value at risk.Where to Play Poker-Style Games OnlineSeveral CasinoRoom partners offer poker-style table games played against the house, not against other players. They are a free way to practice hand rankings.CasinoPoker-style gameFull reviewPulszTexas Hold’em, in its table gamesPulsz reviewFortune WheelzTexas Hold’em Bonus, in its table gamesFortune Wheelz reviewSweepSharkGravity Poker, a live Iconic21 tableSweepShark reviewNo purchase is necessary at these sweepstakes casinos. Each one sets its own minimum age and eligible locations, so check the legal states guide before you register. First purchase bonus362,000 Gold Coins+ 30 Sweepstakes CoinsVIP ProgramCash PrizesDaily Login OffersSocial Media Promotions PLAY NOWTerms 18+ Sign-up Offer250,000 Gold Coins+100% Sale on 1st purchaseDaily Login BonusWeekly TournamentsRefer a Friend for 900K GCAvailable in 46 US States PLAY NOWTerms 18+ Complete Sign-up Bonus175,000 GC + 3 SCNo purchase necessary5% Daily Playback1.20 SC + 15 FreePlays DailyReferral Bonus: 9,000 GC + 25 SCVIP Program PLAY NOWTerms 18+Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is the highest hand in poker?A royal flush is the highest hand: A, K, Q, J and 10, all of one suit. It beats every other hand.Can you play poker with two people?Yes. Texas Hold’em works with 2 to 10 players, and a two-player game is called heads-up.What is a small blind in poker?The small blind is a forced amount posted by the player left of the button before cards are dealt. The next player posts the larger big blind.Does a flush beat a straight?Yes. A flush, five cards of one suit, ranks above a straight, five cards in order. A full house beats both.What happens if two players have the same hand?The pot is split equally between them. Only the best five cards in each hand count toward the tie.How many cards do you use in Texas Hold’em?You make your best five-card hand from seven cards: your two hole cards plus the five community cards.Related ReadingThese guides cover more card and table games.The online blackjack guide covers blackjack rules and strategy.The online baccarat guide explains baccarat rules and payouts.The free casino games hub compares every partner’s games.CasinoRoom may earn a commission when you sign up through affiliate links on this page. This never affects our reviews, which stay independent and unbiased.Sweepstakes play should stay fun. If you or someone you know needs support, visit the National Council on Problem Gambling at ncpgambling.org.Last updated: November 2026
