How to Play Texas Hold'em Poker in 7 Quick Steps!

There are several basic rules to this poker format that you should know:

• Two forced bets – called the Small Blind and Big Blind are collected before cards are dealt.
• All players get two cards dealt face down in the pre-flop betting round.
• Only one player can act at a time, beginning with the player left of the big blind.
• That Under-the-Gun player can fold (not play the hand), call (match a prior bet or raise) or raise (increase the size of current bet or raise).
• The action moves clockwise around the table. Each player has the same available options.
• When all players have acted, and the pot is correct, the betting round ends.

Newbie Tip: Check out the table position names, as these will affect your actions both pre and post-flop. In general, the closer you are to the Button, the more hands you can play.

All players receive two face-down cards in the pre-flop round. (This round occurs before the first 3 (called the Flop) of 3 community cards.) Only one player can act at a time, beginning with the player left of the big blind.

That Under-the-Gun player can take one of the following three actions –

1. FOLD (not play the hand)
2. CALL (match a prior bet or raise)
3. RAISE (increase size of current bet or raise)

The action moves clockwise around the table. Each player has the same available options. With no prior raise, the Big Blind can also check.

When all players have acted, and the pot is correct, the betting round ends.

Newbie Tip: Make sure that you know when it’s your time to act. Online you can set your PC sound levels, so you don’t get timed out and fold a winner!

As soon as the pre-flop betting round ends, the post-flop action begins.

Three cards - called the Flop - are dealt face up in the centre of the table.

Betting options and rules are almost precisely the same as pre-flop.

Players can take the following actions –

1. CHECK (bet nothing)
2. BET
3. CALL
4. FOLD
5. RAISE – depending on their position and any other prior action.

The first player to act post-flop is the first player with a hand to the left of the dealer button.

Newbie Tip: It can take a bit of time to know whether to check, bet, call, raise or fold post-flop. But the more flops you see, the sooner you'll get a feel for it.

Once all players have had their chance to act post-flop, the next card to be dealt is called the Turn.

This round of betting has the same rules and options as the previous ones.

Players can exercise one of the following five options –

1. CHECK
2. BET
3. CALL (if there's a previous bet)
4. RAISE (if there's a bet)
5. FOLD

Hopefully, you will “turn” one of the top hands in the standard Texas Hold’em Poker Hand Rankings chart. (See section 7 below)

Now you could find yourself on the way to winning a monster pot!

Newbie Tip: The Turn is where your hand is either made or very far behind. You should evaluate where you stand before chasing that river card to win.

The next community card dealt out is called the River. In all previous rounds of betting, you had the possibility of improving your hand.

But this round is different.

The River is the fifth and final of the five community cards.

But players still have the following five options –

1. CHECK
2. BET
3. CALL(if there's already a bet)
4. RAISE (if there's already a bet)
5. FOLD

Next up is the final and most exciting step. You get to find out if you’ll be dragging the pot or mucking your hand!

Newbie Trivia: The River card possibly gets its name from Stud Poker Games - a poker format played on the Mississippi Riverboats in the 1800s.

Newbie Tip: Also, the River is your final stab and making a winning hand. So, make sure you get there with only your best made hands and/or draws.

The Showdown is one of the tensest and most exciting stages of the game.

At this point, if at least two players remain, the winner must show their hand to win the pot.

The player with the best 5-card poker hand wins - per the rankings listed in Step 7.

With no more betting rounds left, that player with the best five-card hand scoops the lot!

Fingers crossed, that's you

If that’s not you, the good news is that another poker hand is on the way!

Hey, you never know; the next hand could be the one that rakes you in a big pot!

Newbie Tip: Make sure you read your 5-card hand correctly at Showdown. Once you’ve made the call or raise, you can’t take it back – even if you misread your hand!

Bluffing and mind games aside, you'll still have to form the strongest 5-card hand possible to win at Showdown.

Players can use their two hole cards along with 3 of the 5 community cards (cards dealt in the middle of the table available for all players to use). They can also use any mix of 5-cards.

When players have the same hand, their other cards or “kickers” come into play.

See chart for the complete list of Poker Hand Rankings

Newbie Tip: Knowing what hand beats what will help you figure out what to do at Showdown (when the winner is announced). If you’re sure that you have the winner – bet or raise for value. If not, you might have to make a “hero call” or even make that tough fold.