Texas Hold'em Rules

The Objective

Make the best five-card poker hand using any combination of your two private "hole cards" and the five shared "community cards" on the table. You can use both, one, or none of your hole cards.

The Setup

The Dealer Button

A round disc called the "button" marks the dealer position. It rotates clockwise after each hand. The player with the button acts last in every betting round (except preflop), which is a strategic advantage. In RbPkr, this is indicated below the community cards in the shared view.

The Blinds

Before cards are dealt, two players must post forced bets called "blinds":

• Small Blind — The player immediately left of the button posts the smaller forced bet
• Big Blind — The next player posts the larger forced bet (typically 2x the small blind)

These forced bets create action and give players something to compete for.

The Deal

Starting with the player to the left of the button, each player receives two cards face-down. These are your "hole cards" — only you can see them.

The Betting Rounds

There are four betting rounds in Texas Hold'em:

1. Preflop

After receiving hole cards, betting begins with the player to the left of the big blind. Each player can:

• Fold — Discard your hand and forfeit the pot
• Call — Match the current bet (the big blind, or any raises)
• Raise — Increase the bet amount

2. The Flop

Three community cards are dealt face-up in the center of the table. A new betting round begins, starting with the first active player to the left of the button.

3. The Turn

A fourth community card is dealt. Another betting round follows.

4. The River

The fifth and final community card is dealt. The last betting round takes place.

The Showdown

If two or more players remain after the final betting round, they reveal their hands. The player with the best five-card hand wins the pot.

If everyone folds to a single player at any point, that player wins the pot without showing their cards.

Hand Rankings

From strongest to weakest:

1. Royal Flush — A, K, Q, J, 10 all of the same suit

2. Straight Flush — Five consecutive cards of the same suit

3. Four of a Kind — Four cards of the same rank

4. Full House — Three of a kind plus a pair

5. Flush — Five cards of the same suit (not consecutive)

6. Straight — Five consecutive cards of mixed suits

7. Three of a Kind — Three cards of the same rank

8. Two Pair — Two different pairs

9. One Pair — Two cards of the same rank

10. High Card — When no other hand is made, highest card plays

Betting Limits

Texas Hold'em is played in three main formats:

No-Limit

Players can bet any amount up to all their chips at any time. The most popular format for tournaments and cash games.

Pot-Limit

The maximum bet is the current size of the pot.

Fixed-Limit

Bets and raises are fixed amounts. Less common in modern games.

Key Terms

Check

Pass the action without betting (only when no bet has been made)

All-In

Bet all remaining chips

Side Pot

A separate pot created when a player is all-in and others continue betting

Burn Card

A card discarded face-down before dealing community cards (prevents cheating)

Kicker

An unpaired card that breaks ties between similar hands

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