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How a Hand Plays Out

From deal to showdown

The Betting Rounds

Every Texas Hold'em hand follows four betting rounds. New community cards are revealed between each round, giving you more information to act on.

Pre-Flop

0 community cards

Blinds are posted, each player gets 2 hole cards, and betting begins.

Flop

3 community cards

Three community cards are dealt face-up. Second round of betting.

Turn

4 community cards

A fourth community card is dealt. Third round of betting.

River

5 community cards

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

What happens first in a hand of Texas Hold'em?

Actions You Can Take

On each betting round, you choose one of five actions depending on what has happened before you.

CheckPass the action without betting. Only possible if no one has bet yet.
BetPut chips into the pot. Opens the action for others to call or raise.
CallMatch the current bet to stay in the hand.
RaiseIncrease the current bet, putting pressure on other players.
FoldGive up your hand and forfeit any chips already in the pot.

How many community cards are dealt on the flop?

Watch a Hand Unfold

Watch how cards are dealt across each round. Notice the rhythm: deal, bet, deal, bet, deal, bet, deal, bet, showdown.

P
P

Press Deal to begin

The Showdown

If two or more players remain after the final betting round, they reveal their cards. The player with the best five-card hand wins the pot. If everyone but one player folds at any point, the remaining player wins without showing cards.

What does 'check' mean?

Complete the Quizzes

Answer all quiz questions correctly to complete this lesson and earn XP.

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