How to play poker (Texas Hold'em) in five minutes.
Texas Hold'em is simple to learn and takes a lifetime to master. Here's everything you need to play your first hand tonight.
The goal
Win chips by having the best five-card hand at showdown, or by betting so that everyone else folds. You make your hand from your two private cards (hole cards) plus five shared cards on the table (the board).
Blinds and the button
The dealer button moves one seat clockwise each hand. The two players to its left post forced bets called the small blind and big blind, so there's always something to play for. In tournaments the blinds go up over time.
The four betting rounds
- Preflop. Everyone gets two hole cards. Action starts left of the big blind.
- The flop. Three shared cards are dealt face up, then another round of betting.
- The turn. A fourth shared card, then betting.
- The river. The fifth and last shared card, then a final round of betting.
If more than one player is left after the river, it's a showdown: the best five-card hand wins the pot.
Your options on your turn
- Fold: give up the hand.
- Check: pass without betting, only when nobody has bet this round.
- Call: match the current bet.
- Bet or raise: put in more chips. In No-Limit you can bet any amount up to everything you have.
- All in: bet your whole stack. If others have more, extra bets go into side pots you can't win.
Which hand wins?
From best to worst: royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair, high card. See the full poker hand rankings with examples.
Practice for free
The fastest way to learn is to play. Start a free table with friends on wen.poker, no download or money needed. The table shows your hand strength as you play so you can learn as you go.
Common questions
How many cards do you get in Texas Hold'em?
Two private hole cards, plus five shared cards on the board. Your best five-card hand from those seven cards plays.
What's the difference between a check and a call?
A check passes when nobody has bet. A call matches a bet someone else made.
What is a side pot?
When a player goes all in for less than others are betting, the extra chips go into a separate side pot that only the players who covered them can win.
Can beginners play on wen.poker?
Yes. It's free play money, and the table shows your hand strength so you learn while you play.