Texas Hold'em (NLH) Rules
Author: Roman Shaposhnikov
Date: 12.01.2026
No-Limit Hold'em is the world's most popular and exciting poker variant. Players try to make the strongest five-card hand using two hole cards and five community cards on the table.
I. Game flow and betting rounds
Play moves clockwise. Before the hand, two players left of the Dealer (Button) post Small Blind (SB) and Big Blind (BB).
1. Dealing (preflop)
Each player receives two closed hole cards.
- First betting round: starts left of the Big Blind. Players may fold, call (match BB), or raise.
2. Flop
After preflop the dealer reveals the first three community cards.
- Second round: starts with SB or first active player left of the dealer. Players may check or bet.
3. Turn
The fourth community card is dealt.
- Third round: check, bet, raise, or fold.
4. River
The fifth and final community card is dealt. Players see all seven cards for their best five-card hand.
- Final betting round.
5. Showdown
If two or more players remain, showdown occurs. Cards are revealed and compared. The strongest hand wins the pot.
II. Hand rankings (high to low)
Victory depends on the best five-card hand from any five of seven cards (two hole + five community).
| Hand | Description | Example |
| Royal flush | Five consecutive cards of one suit from Ten to Ace. | A♠️K♠️Q♠️J♠️10♠️ |
| Straight flush | Five consecutive cards of one suit. | 7♥️6♥️5♥️4♥️3♥️ |
| Four of a kind | Four cards of the same rank. | J♥️J♦️J♣️J♠️ |
| Full house | Three of one rank and two of another. | A♠️A♥️A♦️7♣️7♠️ |
| Flush | Five cards of one suit. | J♦️8♦️7♦️3♦️2♦️ |
| Straight | Five consecutive cards of mixed suits. | J♣️10♠️9♥️8♥️7♣️ |
| Three of a kind (set) | Three cards of the same rank. | K♥️K♦️K♣️7♦️4♣️ |
| Two pair | Two different pairs. | Q♣️Q♠️J♠️J♥️5♦️ |
| Pair | Two cards of the same rank. | A♦️A♣️8♠️6♥️3♠️ |
| High card | No made hand — winner by highest card. | K♠️J♣️8♥️4♠️2♦️ |
Examples of determining the winner
- Four of a kind vs full house: Four of a kind always beats full house.
- Flush vs straight: Flush always beats a plain straight.
- Set vs two pair: Set always beats two pair.
III. Strategic basics
Success in Hold'em comes from applying key strategies consistently:
- Play aggressively: aggression controls the pot, realizes fold equity, and maximizes profit with strong hands.
- Play positionally: position matters hugely — on the Button you have more information.
- Read opponents: watch bet sizing, timing, and lines to estimate hand strength.
- Know when to fold: do not fear folding weak hands — it protects your bankroll.
- Manage bankroll: set limits and do not play stakes above your bankroll.
IV. Safety and ethics
Despite competition, poker requires ethical conduct:
- Respect other players: behave well and follow sportsmanship.
- Fair play: do not use solvers or multi-accounts for unfair advantage.
- Fund safety: choose reliable platforms that protect your money and data.
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