Learn the Table

Texas Hold'em Path ยท Intro

Your First Round

One hand, from the deal to the showdown.

  1. The table. Four players, one deck. The gold disc is the button. It marks the dealer seat for this hand.
  2. The blinds. Before any cards, two players put chips in. Left of the button: the small blind, 1 chip. Next: the big blind, 2.
  3. The deal. Everyone gets two cards, face down. Only you see yours: the ace and jack of hearts.
  4. Who goes first?. Betting starts now. Tap the player who acts first. Before the flop, action starts left of the big blind. The blinds already put chips in, so they act last.
  5. Your options. Facing the big blind of 2, you can fold, call or raise. Tap one to see what it means. With a strong hand like this, you raise to 6.
  6. Around the table. Darius folds. Layla folds, and her 1 chip stays in the pot. Zofia calls: 4 more to match your 6.
  7. The flop. The bets go into the pot: 13 chips. The dealer turns three shared cards face up. Anyone still in can use them.
  8. Who goes first now?. A new round of betting. Tap the player who acts first. After the flop, the first player still in, left of the button, acts first. Layla folded, so it is Zofia.
  9. Check and bet. Zofia checks: she passes without betting. You bet 8. She calls.
  10. The turn. Pot: 29. One more shared card, the turn. Zofia checks. You check too, so no chips go in.
  11. The river. The last shared card, the river. Zofia bets 10. You call.
  12. Showdown. Cards turn over. Each player makes the best five cards from their two plus the five shared. Zofia bet last, so in most rooms she shows first.
  13. You win. Zofia has a pair of sevens. You have a pair of jacks. Higher pair wins: the 49-chip pot is yours.
  14. Next hand. The button moves one seat left, and the blinds move with it. Layla deals next, so you pay the big blind.

Play money only. Room rules differ, so ask the dealer when in doubt.