What is No Limit Hold’em?

Each player is dealt two private cards (“hole cards”), and there are five community cards placed face-up on the table that everyone can use to
form their best five-card hand.

“No Limit” means you can bet any amount of your chips at any time during your turn, including your entire stack (going “all-in”).

The objective is to win chips by either:

  • Having the best five-card hand at the end (showdown), or
  • Forcing all other players to fold before showdown.

Blinds

To start the betting, two players post forced bets:

  • The player to the dealer’s immediate left posts the Small Blind (a small forced bet).
  • The next player posts the Big Blind (typically double the small blind).

These bets create an initial pot and give players something to fight for in each hand.

Dealing Hole Cards

Each player is dealt two cards face down (your private cards, only you can see them).

These will combine with the community cards to make your best five-card hand.

First Betting Round (Pre-Flop)

Starting with the player to the left of the Big Blind:

  • You can fold (throw away your cards and exit the hand).
  • You can call (match the amount of the Big Blind to stay in the hand).
  • You can raise (increase the bet, and others must call your new amount to continue).

The Flop

The dealer places three community cards face-up in the center of the table.All players can use these shared cards to build their best hand.

A second betting round begins, starting with the player left of the dealer.

The Turn

The dealer places a fourth community card face-up on the table.

Another betting round occurs, starting with the player left of the dealer.

The River

The dealer places the fifth and final community card face-up on the table.

The final betting round happens, again starting with the player left of the dealer.

The Showdown

If two or more players remain after the final betting round, all remaining players reveal their two hole cards.

The player with the best five-card poker hand using any combination of their two hole cards and the five community cards wins the pot.

How Do You Form a Hand?

You can:

  • Use both of your hole cards + 3 community cards.
  • Use one of your hole cards + 4 community cards.
  • Use all 5 community cards (called “playing the board”).

The best five-card poker hand according to standard poker rankings wins.

Example of a Hand Played Out:

  1. Blinds are posted.
  2. You receive Ace of Hearts and King of Hearts (strong starting hand).
  3. You call or raise pre-flop.
  4. The flop comes: 10 of Hearts, 5 of Clubs, Jack of Hearts.
    • Now you have a flush draw (need one more Heart for a flush) and a straight draw (need a Queen for a straight).
  5. You can choose to bet or check based on your hand strength and your opponents’ actions.
  6. The turn comes: Queen of Diamonds.
    • You now have a straight (10-J-Q-K-A).
  7. Another betting round occurs.
  8. The river comes: 3 of Hearts.
    • You now have a flush (5 Hearts), which beats your straight.
  9. Final betting round
  10. If called, you reveal your cards, and you likely win the pot with a flush unless your opponent has a higher flush.