Texas Hold’em is the most popular variant of poker played in casinos and home games around the world. It’s a game of skill, strategy, and psychology. Here’s everything you need to know to learn and confidently play with others.

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OBJECTIVE

To win chips by either:

• Having the best five-card poker hand at showdown.
• Forcing all other players to fold before showdown.

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PLAYERS

Texas Hold’em is typically played with 2 to 10 players using a standard 52-card deck.

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BASIC TERMINOLOGY

• Hole Cards: The two private cards dealt to each player.
• Community Cards: Five shared cards placed face-up in the center of the table.
• The Pot: The total amount of chips players have bet during a hand.
• Blinds: Forced bets (Small Blind and Big Blind) that start the betting.

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THE DEAL AND TABLE SETUP

1. Dealer Button: A marker rotates clockwise around the table. The person to the left of the dealer posts the small blind, and the next person posts the big blind.
2. Blinds: The small blind is typically half the minimum bet; the big blind is the full minimum bet.
3. Hole Cards: Each player is dealt two private cards face down.
4. Betting Rounds: There are four rounds of betting.

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THE FOUR BETTING ROUNDS

1. Pre-Flop

• After hole cards are dealt, the player to the left of the big blind acts first.
• Each player can:
  • Fold: Throw away their cards and exit the hand.
  • Call: Match the current highest bet.
  • Raise: Increase the bet.

2. The Flop

• The dealer places three community cards face-up.
• Another round of betting begins with the first active player to the left of the dealer.

3. The Turn

• A fourth community card is dealt.
• Another round of betting takes place.

4. The River

• The fifth and final community card is dealt.
• Final round of betting.

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SHOWDOWN

• If more than one player remains after the final betting round, hands are revealed.
• Each player makes the best five-card combination using any of their two hole cards and the five community cards.
• The best hand wins the pot.

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HAND RANKINGS (from highest to lowest)

1. Royal Flush: A, K, Q, J, 10 of the same suit
2. Straight Flush: Five sequential cards of the same suit
3. Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank
4. Full House: Three of a kind + a pair
5. Flush: Five cards of the same suit
6. Straight: Five sequential cards of mixed suits
7. Three of a Kind
8. Two Pair
9. One Pair
10. High Card

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STRATEGY BASICS

• Starting Hands: Play stronger hands (like high pairs, AK, AQ) more aggressively.
• Position Matters: Acting later gives you more information. Being “on the button” is best.
• Pay Attention: Observe other players’ betting patterns.
• Don’t Bluff Too Much: Bluffing is part of the game, but overdoing it leads to losses.

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TABLE ETIQUETTE

• Act in turn.
• Do not reveal your cards or hand intentions mid-play.
• Avoid string betting (making a raise in multiple motions).
• Protect your hand (keep your cards safe until the hand ends).

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ALL-IN AND SIDE POTS

• If a player goes “all-in” (bets all their chips) and others still bet, a side pot is created for the additional bets. The all-in player can only win the main pot.

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COMMON TERMS

• Check: Pass action to the next player without betting (only allowed if no bet is currently made).
• Bet: Place chips into the pot.
• Raise: Increase the bet.
• Re-raise: Raise after another raise.
• Call: Match the current bet.
• Fold: Surrender your cards and any claim to the pot.
• Nuts: The best possible hand at the moment.

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EXAMPLE HAND FLOW

1. Blinds posted.
2. Hole cards dealt.
3. Pre-flop betting round.
4. Flop is dealt (3 community cards).
5. Second betting round.
6. Turn is dealt (4th community card).
7. Third betting round.
8. River is dealt (5th community card).
9. Final betting round.
10. Showdown if needed.
11. Pot awarded and new hand begins.

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HOW TO WIN CONSISTENTLY

• Practice patience. Not every hand is worth playing.
• Learn pot odds and implied odds.
• Understand player psychology and tendencies.
• Mix up your play to stay unpredictable.
• Play within your bankroll.

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This guide should equip you to confidently join a game of Texas Hold’em and understand the full mechanics from dealing to winning. Let me know if you want visual aids, a sample game walkthrough, or printable cheat sheets.