5 Quick Tips: How to Play Texas Hold’em Poker

Ready to conquer the felt? Whether you’re a poker newbie or a seasoned player looking to tighten up your strategy and get a few big wins under your belt, Texas Hold’em poker is the game of kings (and queens). This iconic card game, hailing from the Lone Star State, exploded in popularity thanks to the poker boom of the early 2000s, and it hasn’t looked back since. Played in casinos across the globe—both online and in the most glitzy casino venues—Hold’em is poker’s undisputed heavyweight champ. Ready to level up? Here are five essential poker tips to help you hold your own at the table.

1. Choose Your Opponents Like You Choose Your Battles

Poker isn't just about the cards—it's about the players. Texas Hold’em offers a sea of competition, and you have the luxury of picking your spots. Aim to find tables with players who show clear signs of inexperience. The ones who limp in, overbet, or fold hands they should have played—they’re gold mines. Spotting the “wild cards” (aka loose, erratic players) and outsmarting them will give you the edge. Remember, it’s much easier to win when you're up against someone prone to making rookie mistakes than seasoned pros who know all the poker rules and tricks.

2. Master the Power of Position

In Texas Hold’em, your position at the table can be your secret weapon. Acting early or late in the poker betting rounds gives you a tactical advantage, allowing you to dictate the pace of play or see how others are acting before you commit. When you’re "on the button" (last to act), you have more information than anyone else at the table—use that to your advantage. Playing hands from a strong position can be the difference between walking away with the pot or walking away empty-handed.

3. Don’t Show Your Cards—Ever

Unless it’s the final showdown and you’re required to, never willingly show your cards. Every time you do, you’re giving your opponents a free look into your strategy—how you play certain hands, when you bluff, when you bet big. The best players guard their tells like treasure. In a game where poker tells is everything, why hand it over for free? Keeping your cards close to the chest ensures that you remain unpredictable and keeps your opponents guessing.

4. Discipline is Your Best Friend

Poker can be a test of patience, especially when the cards aren’t going your way. Folding hand after hand might seem tedious, but staying disciplined is crucial. Resist the temptation to play subpar hands just to break the monotony. The minute you let impatience get the better of you, you risk bleeding chips on weak plays. Instead, trust the process and stay sharp—those low-ranked cards will eventually give way to winning hands, and when they do, you’ll be ready with a full stack.

5. Go Big with Pocket Pairs

When you catch a pocket pair, it’s time to turn up the heat. Pocket pairs show up more often than you’d think—about once every 17 hands—but it’s not enough just to have them. You’ve got to play them right. When the action’s light, don’t be afraid to put in a big raise, ideally around 10 times the big blind. The goal? Thin the herd and get to the flop with just one or two players remaining. The longer the round drags out, the more chances there are for someone to outdraw you. Stay aggressive, and if the board doesn’t favor you, it’s okay to fold. But more often than not, going bold with your pocket pair will pay off big.

Now that you’ve got the basics down, it’s time to hit the tables. Play smart, stay sharp, and always keep them guessing. After all, in Texas Hold’em, the cards are only half the battle.

Texas Hold’em FAQs

What is Texas Hold’em?

Texas Hold’em is a popular variant of poker where each player is dealt two private cards (known as "hole cards") and shares five community cards with the other players. The goal is to make the best five-card hand using any combination of the seven available cards.

How do the betting rounds work?
There are four betting rounds in Texas Hold’em:

1. Pre-Flop – Players bet after receiving their two hole cards.
2. Flop – Three community cards are dealt face-up, and another round of betting follows.
3. Turn – A fourth community card is dealt, followed by a third round of betting.
4. River – The fifth and final community card is dealt, and players place their final bets.

What is "the button" and why does position matter?

The button is a marker that represents the dealer’s position. It rotates clockwise around the table after each hand. Position matters because the later you act in a betting round, the more information you have about what the other players are doing. Acting last (known as being "on the button") is the most advantageous position in Texas Hold’em.

What are blinds in Texas Hold’em?

Blinds are forced bets that are posted by the two players to the left of the dealer button before the cards are dealt. The small blind is typically half of the minimum bet, and the big blind is the full minimum bet. These blinds ensure there's money in the pot to get the betting started.

How does a showdown work?

A showdown occurs when two or more players remain after the final betting round. Players reveal their hole cards, and the person with the best five-card hand wins the pot. If everyone folds before the showdown, the last player standing wins without showing their cards.

What is a "check" in poker?

A check means passing the action to the next player without placing a bet. You can only check if no one has made a bet during the current round. Checking is essentially saying, "I'm still in, but I don't want to bet right now."

What’s the difference between calling, raising, and folding?

• Calling means matching the current bet.
• Raising means increasing the current bet amount.
• Folding means you give up your hand and any claim to the pot by not matching a bet.

How do you win in Texas Hold’em?

You can win in two ways:

1. Showdown – Make the best five-card hand using your two hole cards and the five community cards.
2. Everyone else folds – If all other players fold during a betting round, you win the pot without needing to reveal your cards.

What are the best starting hands in Texas Hold’em?

The top starting hands (before the flop) are:

• Pocket Aces (A♥ A♠)
• Pocket Kings (K♥ K♠)
• Pocket Queens (Q♥ Q♠)
• Ace-King Suited (A♠ K♠)
• Pocket Jacks (J♦ J♣)
  
  Starting with strong hole cards can give you a big advantage going into the later rounds.
  
  What should I avoid doing as a beginner?
   
• Here are some key beginner mistakes to avoid:
• Playing too many hands.
• Not playing position.
• Showing your cards when you don’t have to.
• Letting emotions or boredom lead you into risky plays (going on tilt).
• Underestimating the value of folding weak hands.