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Deck
Standard 52-card deck (no jokers).
Poker Quick Guide: Learn Texas Hold’em in 5 Minutes ⏱️
Zero fluff. This is the fastest way to understand how to play. Read top-to-bottom, then try a few hands. For deeper help, the buttons at the end link to full guides.
What you need 🧰
💰
Chips & Blinds
Two forced bets start each hand: small blind and big blind.
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Goal
Win the pot by having the best 5-card hand or by making others fold.
How one hand works 🧭
- 1 Blinds (or antes) go in the pot.
- 2 Deal: everyone gets 2 hole cards.
- 3 Preflop bet: fold, call, or raise.
- 4 Flop: 3 shared cards → bet round.
- 5 Turn: +1 card → bet again.
- 6 River: +1 card → last bets.
- 7 Showdown: if 2+ players remain, best 5-card hand wins.
New to the flow? The full walkthrough is here: Texas Hold’em Rules.
Your choices each turn 🎛️
✅
Check
Pass the action (only if no bet yet).
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Bet
Put chips in first (value or bluff).
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Call
Match a bet to continue.
⤴️
Raise
Bet more than the last bet.
🚫
Fold
Throw it away. New hand soon.
Simple rule: Bet/raise strong hands and good draws. Fold the rest, especially out of position.
Hand strength at a glance 💪
Royal Flush
Straight Flush
Four of a Kind
Full House
Flush
Straight
Three of a Kind
Two Pair
One Pair
High Card
Need examples + tie-breaks? See Full Hand Ranks.
Start with these hands 🏁
Premium 🔥
- AA, KK, QQ, JJ
- AKs / AKo
Raise anywhere.
Strong 👍
- TT–88, AQs–ATs, KQs
- QJs, JTs, T9s
Raise in middle/late seats.
Speculative 🎯
- 77–22, A9s–A2s
- 98s–54s
Play mostly on the Button or Cutoff.
Full charts live here: Starting Hands (Hold’em).
Easy bet sizes 🎯
Small
⅓ Pot
Dry boards (A-7-2). C-bet often.
Standard
½ Pot
Default on many turns/rivers.
Big
⅔–¾ Pot
Wet boards (J-T-9). Charge draws.
More detail: Bet Sizes Guide.
Table tips 🧠
- Act in turn. Keep cards and chips on the table.
- Don’t talk about a live hand you’re not in.
- Be polite — win or lose.
Information only. We do not run games or accept bets. In Uganda, casinos and most betting are 25+. Play safe.