Poker Basics
Understand the objective of Texas Hold'em, the deck, hole cards, community cards and how a hand is won.
Introduction
Texas Hold'em is a poker game in which each player combines private hole cards with shared community cards to build the strongest possible five-card hand.
The objective
Your objective is to win the pot. You can do this by reaching showdown with the strongest five-card poker hand or by making every other player fold before showdown.
Hole cards
Each player receives two private cards called hole cards. Only you can use and see your own hole cards during the hand.
Every player receives exactly two hole cards.
Hole cards remain private.
You are not required to use both hole cards in your final hand.
Community cards
Up to five community cards are dealt face up in the center of the table. Every remaining player may use them.
The flop contains three community cards.
The turn adds one card.
The river adds the final community card.
Building your hand
At showdown, your hand is always the best possible combination of exactly five cards selected from the seven cards available to you: your two hole cards and the five community cards.
Key Takeaways
Remember these concepts.
Win the pot with the best hand or by making everyone fold.
You receive two private hole cards.
Five community cards can appear on the board.
Your final poker hand always contains exactly five cards.
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02
Hand Rankings