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Texas Hold 'Em

Texas Hold 'Em is a variant of poker in which each player receives two private cards and shares five community cards on the table.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Texas Hold 'Em is a variant of poker in which each player receives two private cards and shares five community cards on the table. Players use any combination of these seven cards to make the best five-card hand, and the pot is won at showdown by the highest-ranking hand or by the last player remaining after others fold.

Rules and deal structure

Texas Hold 'Em begins with two private cards for each player and a round of betting. Three community cards are then revealed on the flop, followed by the turn and river, each separated by additional betting rounds.

Hand formation and winning the pot

Players make the strongest possible five-card poker hand from seven available cards: two hole cards and five community cards. The winner is the player with the highest-ranking hand at showdown, unless all opponents fold first.

Hand rankings and ties

Hand strength follows standard poker rankings, and suits are of equal value. If two players have equivalent hands, the pot may be split.

Popularity and variants

Texas Hold 'Em is the most widely played form of poker in casinos, home games, and online play. It is often played in no-limit format, though limit and pot-limit versions also exist.

Key facts

  • Each player is dealt two private hole cards and shares five community cards.
  • The game has four betting rounds: preflop, flop, turn, and river.
  • The best five-card hand wins the pot at showdown, or the last player remaining after others fold wins.
  • Texas Hold 'Em is the most popular poker variant in casinos, home games, and online.
  • It is commonly played in no-limit format, but limit and pot-limit versions also exist.
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Canadian context

Texas Hold 'Em is widely played in Canadian home games, casinos, and poker rooms, and it is a standard format in North American poker culture.

Frequently asked questions

How many cards does each player get in Texas Hold 'Em?
Each player gets two private hole cards.
How many community cards are used?
Five community cards are dealt face up on the table.
How many betting rounds are there?
There are four betting rounds: preflop, flop, turn, and river.
What is the goal of the game?
To make the best five-card hand or win by getting all other players to fold.
Can a player use both hole cards?
Yes. A player may use both hole cards, one hole card, or none if the board makes the best hand.
What happens if two players have the same hand?
The pot is split between the tied players if their hands are of equal value.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_hold_'em
    Supports: Basic structure of the game, betting rounds, and tie/split-pot handling.
  2. PokerNews — https://www.pokernews.com/poker-rules/texas-holdem.htm
    Supports: Step-by-step rules, blinds, dealing, betting rounds, and showdown procedure.
  3. Bicycle Cards — https://www.bicyclecards.com/how-to-play/texas-holdem-poker
    Supports: Best five-card hand, equal suits, and split pot in identical hands.
  4. Pagat — https://www.pagat.com/poker/variants/texasholdem.html
    Supports: Shared-card structure, best five-card hand from seven cards, and use of hole cards and board.