Texas Hold'em rules in 5 minutes

No-Limit Texas Hold’em is the version you see on TV: two private cards, five shared board cards, four betting rounds, and you may bet any amount of your stack at legal times.

Setup

• A dealer button moves clockwise each hand. The player left of the button posts the small blind; next player posts the big blind (usually twice the small).
• Each player gets two hole cards face down. Preflop action starts left of the big blind and goes clockwise.

The four streets

1. Preflop — fold, call the big blind, or raise. A raise must usually be at least the size of the previous raise (house rules vary on limps and straddles).
2. Flop — three community cards. First to act is the first active player left of the button (unless someone is all-in).
3. Turn — fourth board card, another round.
4. River — fifth board card, final round.

Check is only allowed if no bet is in front of you. If someone bets, you must fold, call, or raise.

Showdown

You make the best five-card hand from any mix of hole cards and board. If hands tie, the pot is split. Side pots form when players are all-in for different amounts—each pot is awarded separately.

House details to confirm once

• All-in etiquette (showing cards early, running boards twice).
• Angle rules on string bets and forward motion (especially live).
• Whether a low ace can play in a wheel straight (A-2-3-4-5) in your room—almost always yes in Hold’em, but say it out loud if you are hosting.

The video below is a full beginner lesson (about fourteen minutes): rules, sample hands, and table flow narrated step by step on the Puzzling Games channel.

Video: How to play Texas Hold ’Em — super simple beginner lesson.