Poker guide
How to play poker, explained.
Poker is a game of cards, betting and decisions, played against other people rather than the house. This guide focuses on Texas Hold'em, the most widely played version: hand rankings, blinds, the four betting rounds, the different game formats and the habits that help beginners.
The basics
You play the other players, not the house
This is the big difference between poker and games such as pokies, blackjack or roulette.
No house edge
In table poker, you win chips from the other players at the table, and they win chips from you. The site isn't betting against you, so RTP and house edge figures don't apply.
How the site earns
In cash games the site takes a small share of each pot, called the rake, usually up to a set cap. In tournaments it charges an entry fee on top of the buy-in instead.
Skill matters
Luck decides any single hand, but better decisions win more over time. That also means you can lose steadily to stronger players, and the rake is taken whoever wins.
What beats what
Poker hand rankings
Your hand is the best five cards you can make. Hands are listed here from strongest to weakest. Suits have no rank, so equal hands split the pot.
Hand rankings, best to worst
| Rank | Hand | What it is | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal flush | A, K, Q, J and 10, all of one suit | A K Q J 10 of one suit |
| 2 | Straight flush | Five cards in sequence, all of one suit | 9 8 7 6 5 of one suit |
| 3 | Four of a kind | Four cards of the same rank | Q Q Q Q 3 |
| 4 | Full house | Three of a kind plus a pair | 8 8 8 K K |
| 5 | Flush | Any five cards of one suit, not in sequence | A J 8 5 2 of one suit |
| 6 | Straight | Five cards in sequence, mixed suits | 10 9 8 7 6 of mixed suits |
| 7 | Three of a kind | Three cards of the same rank | 7 7 7 A 4 |
| 8 | Two pair | Two different pairs | J J 4 4 9 |
| 9 | One pair | Two cards of the same rank | 10 10 K 6 3 |
| 10 | High card | None of the above; the highest card plays | A Q 9 6 2 of mixed suits |
When two players have the same type of hand, the higher cards win. If those match too, the remaining cards (the "kickers") decide it. An ace can be high (A K Q J 10) or low (5 4 3 2 A) in a straight.
How a hand plays out
Blinds, positions and the four betting rounds
Each player gets two private cards, called hole cards. Five shared community cards are dealt face up in the middle. You make your best five-card hand from any mix of the seven.
The button and blinds
A marker called the button moves one seat clockwise each hand. The two players to its left post forced bets: the small blind and the big blind, usually twice the size. Blinds make sure there is always something to play for.
Position
The button acts last on every round after the flop, which is the best seat. Players just left of the blinds act first and are "early position". Acting later means you see what others do before you decide.
Pre-flop
After the hole cards are dealt, the player left of the big blind acts first. Everyone calls, raises or folds in turn.
The flop
Three community cards are dealt face up. Another betting round follows, starting with the first active player left of the button.
The turn
A fourth community card is dealt, followed by a third betting round. In fixed-limit games the bet size usually doubles from here.
The river and showdown
The fifth and final card is dealt, then the last betting round. If two or more players remain, they show their cards and the best hand wins the pot. If everyone else folds earlier, the last player left wins without showing.
Your options
Betting actions
When it's your turn, you have up to six choices, depending on what has happened before you.
| Action | What it means | When you can do it |
|---|---|---|
| Check | Pass without betting, keeping your cards | Only when no one has bet in this round |
| Bet | Put the first chips into the pot this round | When no one has bet yet |
| Call | Match the current bet to stay in | When someone has bet |
| Raise | Increase the current bet; others must match it to stay in | When someone has bet |
| Fold | Give up your cards and any chips already in the pot | Any time it's your turn |
| All-in | Bet every chip you have in front of you | Any time it's your turn, in no-limit games |
Most online Hold'em is no-limit, meaning you can bet any amount up to your whole stack. Pot-limit and fixed-limit games cap the size of each bet. If you go all-in for less than others bet, you can only win the part of the pot you matched; the rest forms a side pot.
Ways to play
Cash games, tournaments and sit & gos
Cash games
Chips are worth real money. Blinds stay the same, and you can sit down, top up or leave at any time. The site takes rake from each pot.
Tournaments
Everyone pays the same buy-in plus a fee and gets the same stack of tournament chips. Blinds rise at set intervals, players are knocked out, and prizes go to the top finishers. Big fields mean long sessions.
Sit & go
A small tournament that starts as soon as the seats fill, often a single table. Quicker than a big tournament, with a smaller prize pool.
Other poker games
Omaha
Played like Hold'em, but you get four hole cards instead of two. The key rule: you must use exactly two of your hole cards and three community cards. It is usually played pot-limit and produces bigger hands.
Casino poker games
Games such as Casino Hold'em, Three Card Poker and video poker are played against the house, not other players. They use poker hand rankings, but they do have a house edge, like other casino games. Check each game's rules and paytable.
Live poker-style games
Some of these house-banked games are also dealt by real dealers on camera. See our live casino guide for how that works.
Before you play
Beginner tips and playing sensibly
Poker sessions can run for hours, and a few big pots can swing your balance fast. A little discipline goes a long way.
- Play fewer, stronger hands. Most beginners play too many hands. Folding weak starting cards is usually the right call.
- Use your position. Play more hands from late position, near the button, and fewer from early position.
- Manage your bankroll. Keep your poker money separate and play stakes that are small compared with it, so a bad run doesn't wipe you out.
- Start at low stakes or free-play tables to learn the flow of the game before risking much.
- Set a budget and a time limit before you sit down, and use the deposit limits and time-outs in your account settings.
- Check bonus terms. Poker bonuses often release in parts as you pay rake, and casino bonuses come with wagering requirements.
- Stop when you planned to, and never chase losses by moving up in stakes.
Good to know
Poker FAQ
Does poker have a house edge?
Not when you play against other players. The site makes its money from rake in cash games and entry fees in tournaments. Casino poker games played against the house, such as Casino Hold'em, Three Card Poker and video poker, do have a house edge.
Does a flush beat a straight?
Yes. A flush beats a straight, and a full house beats a flush. The full order from best to worst is royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair and high card.
What are the blinds in poker?
The blinds are forced bets posted by the two players to the left of the button before the cards are dealt. The small blind is usually half the big blind. They move round the table each hand so everyone pays them in turn.
What is the difference between Texas Hold'em and Omaha?
In Texas Hold'em you get two hole cards and can use any five of the seven cards available. In Omaha you get four hole cards and must use exactly two of them with three community cards. The betting rounds are the same.
Is poker a game of skill or luck?
Both. Luck decides individual hands, but skilled decisions win more over many hands. That doesn't make it a reliable way to make money, as you can lose to stronger players and the rake is taken from every pot.
Check the rules where you live. Whether online poker and casino games are legal, and which sites you can use, depends on local laws and each operator's own terms. This guide is general information only and isn't a recommendation. 18+ only. If gambling stops being fun, see our responsible gambling page.