Strategy guide
Poker decoded.
Outwit opponents in this classic game of skill and strategy.
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Best for
- Skilled play
- Key tips
- 4
- 01
Introduction
Poker rewards patience and reading your opponents more than luck. Here's how Texas Hold'em works and how to start playing it well.
- 02
How to play
Each player is dealt two private cards. Five community cards are dealt face-up in three stages the flop, turn and river with a round of betting after each. Make the best five-card hand using any combination of your two cards and the five community cards.
- 03
Rules
Two hole cards are dealt to each player, followed by a betting round. The flop reveals three community cards, followed by betting. The turn and river each add one more community card, each followed by betting. Remaining players reveal hands at showdown; best five-card hand wins the pot.
- 04
Odds and house edge
Poker is played against other players, not the house, so there's no fixed house edge though most casinos take a small percentage of each pot as rake. Your actual edge depends entirely on skill relative to your opponents.
- 05
Common mistakes
The most common beginner mistake is playing too many starting hands out of boredom. Discipline beats excitement in Hold'em.