The Goal

Players take turns to bet before the reveal of each card(s). Players must put in the same amount of chips as each other to stay in the hand and see the next card.

The best 5-card poker hand formed from the player's hole cards and community cards wins the entire pot.

The Deal

Each player receives two face-down hole cards to start.

The dealer then deals five community cards face-up: the first three are the flop, then one turn card, then one river card.

The Play

Use your two hole cards combined with the five community cards to make the best possible 5-card poker hand. The community cards will be explained further below.

The Blinds

• A "dealer" button (Kraken) indicates the player dealing that hand.
• Player clockwise of the Kraken posts the small blind.
• Next player posts the big blind, typically double the small blind amount.
• Blinds vary based on stakes, like $1/$2, $2/$4 limit games.
• Players may also need to post an ante (forced bet for everyone).

Betting Options

• Fold - Remove your hand and discard your cards.
• Check - Decline to bet, but keep your cards and stay in the hand.
• Bet - The first bet made on that street/round.
• Call - Match the previous bet amount.
• Raise - Increase the previous bet amount.

• Pre-flop
• Flow
• Turn
• River

Image source: pokernews.com

Pre-Flop

• After getting 2 hole cards, action starts with player clockwise of the big blind.
• Option to call, raise, or fold the big blind amount.

The Flop

• Three community cards dealt face-up, called the flop.
• Betting starts with first active player clockwise of button.
• Can check if no bet, or bet/call/raise if facing a bet.

The Turn

• One more community card dealt face-up (fourth overall), called the turn or fourth street.
• Another round of betting starting with player clockwise of button.

The River

• Final community card dealt face-up (fifth overall), called the river or fifth street.
• Last round of betting - same rules as previous streets.

The Showdown

• If multiple players remain after river betting:
• Best 5-card hand using any combo of hole & community cards wins pot.
• Ties mean the pot is split evenly between winning hands.

The cycle then repeats - button, blinds, and new hands are dealt for the next round.

Other Texas Hold'em Poker Rules

These rules deal only with irregularities.

• If the first or second hole card dealt is exposed, a misdemeanor results. The dealer retrieves the card, reshuffles, and recuts the cards. If any other holecard is exposed due to a dealer error, the deal continues. The exposed card can not be kept. After completing the hand, the dealer replaces the card with the top card on the deck, and the exposed card is then used for the burn card. If more than one hole card is exposed, this is a misdeal and there must be a redeal.
• If the flop contains too many cards, it must be redealt. (This applies even if it is possible to know which card is the extra one.)
• If the flop needs to be redealt because the cards were prematurely flopped before the betting was complete, or the flop contained too many cards, the board cards are mixed with the remainder of the deck. The burn card remains on the table. After shuffling, the dealer cuts the deck and deals a new flop without burning a card.
• If the dealer turns the fourth card on the board before the betting round is complete, the card is taken out of play for that round, even if subsequent players elect to fold. The betting is then completed. The dealer burns and turns what would have been the fifth card in the fourth card's place. After this round of betting, the dealer reshuffles the deck, including the card that was taken out of play, but not including the burn cards or discards. The dealer then cuts the deck and turns the final card without burning a card. If the fifth card is turned up prematurely, the deck is reshuffled and dealt in the same manner.
• If the dealer mistakenly deals the first player an extra card (after all players have received their starting hands), the card is returned to the deck and used for the burn card. If the dealer mistakenly deals more than one extra card, it is a misdeal.
• If you are playing the board, you must declare before you throw your cards away; otherwise you relinquish all claim to the pot.