Preparation: positions and compulsory bets
At a standard Hold’em table with at least three players, establish the button, post blinds and any antes, then deal two hole cards to each player. You may use your own hole cards and the board, never an opponent’s hole cards.
Pre-flop: action starts after the big blind
The first player clockwise after the big blind faces the existing blind and may fold, call or raise legally. Action continues until every player still able to act has responded to the latest wager and matched what is required. An all-in player may match only part of the amount; subsequent additional wagers are handled through side pots.
The flop: three community cards
Three community cards are revealed. Post-flop action begins with the first eligible player clockwise after the button. Before a bet is made, checking is available. Once a bet is made, the next player must respond by folding, calling or raising.
Turn and river: one more card each
The fourth community card is the turn, followed by another betting round. The fifth is the river, followed by the final betting round. Contributions are tracked separately for each round; chips from an earlier round do not count toward a new call.
Not every hand reaches the river
If everyone but one player folds, the hand normally ends immediately. There is no need to finish the board. When multiple players are all-in and no further betting is possible, the required board is dealt and the pots are resolved under the table’s rules.
Showdown, pot distribution and the next hand
For each pot, compare the best five cards of the eligible players. Equal hands split according to the rules; there is no sixth-card tiebreaker. After distribution, the button advances for the next hand. Follow local rules for showing order, all-in exposure and odd chips.
Rules may vary between platforms, tables and events. This guide explains common rules; available games, eligibility and dispute procedures are determined by the platform's official announcements.
Keep exploring
This guide was independently compiled in Chinese. The following sources let you verify the rules.
PokerStars Hold’em rules(new window)Official Poker TDA rules(new window)