Small blind and big blind
Before the cards are dealt, two players post forced bets: the small blind and the big blind. Their amounts are set for the table or tournament level. In heads-up play, the button posts the small blind.
The blinds give players an amount to contest from the start. Once they are posted, each player receives two private cards.
The four betting rounds
- Pre-flop: players act after receiving their two private cards.
- Flop: three community cards are dealt face up, followed by a betting round.
- Turn: a fourth community card is dealt, followed by another betting round.
- River: the fifth and final community card is dealt, followed by the last betting round.
What a player can do
Depending on the action so far, a player can fold, check, bet, call or raise. Checking means staying in the hand without adding chips when no bet is facing you. Calling matches the current bet; raising increases it.
A betting round ends when every remaining player has either matched the highest bet or folded. If everyone but one player folds, that player wins the pot without needing a showdown.
Showdown and all-in hands
If two or more players remain after the river, they reveal their cards. The best five-card poker hand wins; equal best hands split the pot.
If a player is all-in for less than another player's bet, they can win only the portion of the pot they matched. The remaining chips form a side pot for players who contributed to it.
Blinds in tournaments
Tournament blinds usually increase at scheduled levels. The current blind amounts and the time remaining in a level are shown in the tournament information. Check those details before joining a specific event.
For the full deal and hand structure, read the Texas Hold'em rules.