Texas Hold’em ➤ How to Play, Hand Rankings & Poker Hands

Two private cards, five shared community cards, and a whole lot of tension: Texas Hold’em is surprisingly intuitive once you grasp the sequence of play. Below, we clearly explain the regulations, the step-by-step process, and how poker hands are ranked—giving you all the confidence you need to try your luck at MERKUR Casinos.

The Journey: From the Opening Deal to the Final Reveal

How the Texas Hold’em Table Is Set Up

Before you even peek at your hole cards, it's important to understand the table dynamics. The dealer button and the blinds act as the invisible conductors of the game.

The dealer button (often just called 'the button') indicates the dealer's position and dictates who acts when. While a professional dealer handles the cards, the button rotates one spot clockwise after every hand. The players sitting immediately to the left of the button are the small blind and the big blind.dealer button (usually just called the button) marks the dealer position and determines the order of play. While the dealer actually deals the cards, the button moves one position clockwise after each hand, rotating the positions at the table. To the left of the button sit the small blind and the big blind.

Keep in mind: the small and big blinds are compulsory bets that must be placed before any cards are dealt. These create the initial pot. Only after these are set do you decide your strategy during the betting phases (pre-flop, flop, turn, and river)—whether to call, raise, fold, or push all your chips into the middle.Important: The small blind and big blind are mandatory opening bets. They go into the pot before the dealer deals any cards. Only then do you decide during the betting rounds (pre-flop, flop, turn, river) whether to call, raise, fold or go all in.

As a side note, Texas Hold’em uses a standard 52-card deck, and jokers are never used. If you find yourself missing that wild-card energy, maybe Jokers Cap is more your speed. Give it a try! Jokers Cap is just your thing.

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Your Step-by-Step Texas Hold’em Playbook

The button is set, the blinds are in. Now, the action begins:

1. The Deal: Receiving Your Hole Cards. Each player is dealt two cards face-down. These are your 'hole cards'—private information that stays hidden until the very end (unless you fold). Glance at them, but remember: they are only half the story; the community cards will change everything.1 | The Deal: Two Hole Cards for Each Player:
The dealer gives each player two face-down cards. These are your hole cards – they belong only to you and remain hidden until you show them at the end (or fold earlier). Take a look at your cards, but don’t judge them in isolation yet – the board is still to come.

Example: You see A♠ K♦. It's a powerhouse start, but not a guaranteed win just yet.Example: You’re dealt A♠ K♦. Strong starting material, but not a finished hand yet.

2. Pre-Flop: The Opening Betting Round. Before the shared cards hit the table, the first round of betting occurs. This is where you decide if your hand is worth playing.2 | Pre-Flop: First Betting Round:
Before any community cards are revealed, the first betting round begins. Now you decide whether you want to play this hand or not.

During this and every subsequent betting round, you can:

• fold,
• call,
• raise,
• check (pass the action to the next player, provided no one has bet yet),
• or, in no-limit variants, go all-in—though doing this before the flop is a bold and rare move.

Example: With A♠ K♦, most players will stay in to see the flop. However, with 'trash' cards like 7♣ 2♦, most will fold immediately. Remember: the pre-flop stage is about potential, not a finished result.Example: With A♠ K♦, many players choose to play the hand and wait for the flop. With weak, unconnected cards like 7♣ 2♦, others fold immediately.
Important: Pre-flop is about potential – not about having already “won” the hand.

3. The Flop: Three Community Cards & Betting. The dealer reveals three cards face-up on the table. Now you can combine these with your hole cards to see if you've already hit a strong hand or if you're still chasing a draw.3 | Flop: Three Community Cards + Betting Round:
The dealer places three face-up cards on the table – the flop. From here on, you can combine your hole cards with the board and see for the first time whether something has already “hit” or whether you are playing for development.

Scenario: Your hand is A♠ K♦ and the flop comes K♣ 7♥ 2♦. You've hit a pair of Kings. Now you must weigh how strong that pair is relative to the board—and remember, those community cards might be helping your opponents just as much.
Your hand: A♠ K♦
Flop: K♣ 7♥ 2♦ → you hit the king: one pair.
From here on, it’s about how strong your hit is in the context of the board. And: the board can help other players too – not just you.

4. The Turn: The Fourth Card & Betting. Next comes the turn—a single card dealt face-up. This is often the tipping point where a 'maybe' becomes a serious hand.4 | Turn: Fourth Community Card + Betting Round:
Then comes the turn – the fourth face-up card. This is often the moment when “maybe” turns into “now it’s serious.”

Example: The turn is a Q♠. This might open up a straight (e.g., if you have J♦ Q♠ K♥ A♠ and a ten appears) or potentially a flush if several cards of the same suit are now visible.Example:
Turn: Q♠ → The board opens up straight possibilities, e.g. J♦ Q♠ K♥ A♠ with a matching ten.
If several cards of the same suit are already on the board and another ♠ appears later, a flush becomes possible.

5. The River: The Final Card & Last Bet. The river is the fifth and final community card. The board is now complete. This is your last chance to bet, bluff, or fold.5 | River: Fifth Community Card + Final Betting Round:
Finally, the river is dealt. The board is complete; no new cards will be revealed. Now comes the last betting round.

Final Scenario: The river is a 2♣. Your hand hasn't improved. Now you face the big question: do you fight to the end, or is it time to let it go?
River: 2♣ → your hand does not improve any further.
Now it counts: Do you want to go to the end with this hand, or is folding the better decision?

6. The Showdown: The Reveal. If two or more players are still in after the final bet, it's time for the showdown. Everyone flips their cards, and the best 5-card combination takes the pot. If the hands are identical in strength, the pot is divided equally.6 | Showdown: Cards Are Revealed, Best Hand Wins:
If at least two players remain after the final betting round, the showdown takes place. All players reveal their cards – and the best 5-card combination wins. If both hands are equally strong, the pot is split.

Our example at the showdown: The board is K♣ 7♥ 2♦ Q♠ 2♣. You have A♠ K♦, and Player B has K♥ J♠. You both actually have two pair: Kings and Twos.
Board: K♣ 7♥ 2♦ Q♠ 2♣ → you have: A♠ K♦.
→ Player B has: K♥ J♠.
Both therefore have: two pair – kings and twos (from the board).

This is where the 'kicker'—the highest remaining side card—breaks the tie.

• Yours is the ace
• Player B’s is the jack

→ Ace beats jack: you win the pot.

When does a pot get split? If the five cards on the board are stronger than any combination using the hole cards, all remaining players are playing the same hand, resulting in a split pot.When is the pot split in Texas Hold’em?
If the board alone already forms the best possible 5-card hand and no hole card improves this combination, all players are effectively playing the same five cards.

Texas Hold’em at our MERKUR Casinos:

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