Introduction
Make the best 5-card hand to win from 2 private cards and 5 community cards.
Game Flow
- Each player is dealt 2 hole cards face down.
- Pre-flop betting round (starting left of big blind).
- Flop: 3 community cards dealt face up.
- Second betting round.
- Turn: 4th community card dealt.
- Third betting round.
- River: 5th and final community card.
- Final betting round.
- Showdown: Remaining players reveal hands; best 5-card hand wins.
Variants
- No-Limit Hold’em (NLHE) – Most popular; bet any amount up to your stack.
- Pot-Limit Hold’em (PLHE) – Max bet = current pot size.
- Limit Hold’em – Fixed bet sizes per round.
Hand Rankings (Best to Worst)
Royal Flush
A♠
K♠
Q♠
J♠
10♠
Straight Flush
9♦
8♦
7♦
6♦
5♦
Four of a Kind
Q♣
Q♦
Q♥
Q♠
3♠
Full House
J♦
J♣
J♠
4♥
4♣
Flush
A♥
10♥
7♥
6♥
2♥
Straight
8♠
7♦
6♣
5♥
4♠
Three of a Kind
9♣
9♦
9♠
K♣
2♥
Two Pair
A♠
A♣
8♦
8♥
3♠
One Pair
K♠
K♥
Q♦
7♣
3♠
High Card
A♦
J♣
9♠
6♥
3♦
Best Starting Hands
- Premium Pairs: A♠A♠, K♥K♥, Q♣Q♣
- Strong Pairs: J♦J♦, T♠T♠
- Big Suited Aces: A♠K♠, A♥Q♥
- Suited Connectors: 9♣T♣, T♦J♦
Strategy Guide
- Play Tight Early: Only enter pots with strong hands from early position.
- Position is Power: Play more hands in late position (cutoff, button).
- Don’t Just Call: Raise to build pots or fold to avoid marginal spots.
- Bluff Smartly: Bluff on boards that favor your perceived range (e.g., dry A-high board).
- Manage Bankroll: Never risk more than 5% of your bankroll in a single session.
- Avoid Tilt: Take breaks after bad beats; emotions destroy profits.