Before you can think about strategy, you need the language of the game locked in. This guide walks through every hand ranking, how a typical Texas Hold'em hand plays out, and the table etiquette that separates a comfortable beginner from someone fumbling through their first session.
The 10 hand rankings (high to low)
- Royal Flush — A, K, Q, J, 10 all of the same suit.
- Straight Flush — five consecutive cards, same suit.
- Four of a Kind — four cards of the same rank.
- Full House — three of a kind plus a pair.
- Flush — five cards of the same suit, any order.
- Straight — five consecutive cards, mixed suits.
- Three of a Kind — three cards of the same rank.
- Two Pair — two separate pairs.
- One Pair — two cards of the same rank.
- High Card — no combination; highest card plays.
How a Hold'em hand flows
Each player gets two private cards (the hole cards). Five community cards are dealt face-up in three stages — flop (3), turn (1), river (1). You make your best five-card hand from any combination of your two cards and the five community cards.
Between each dealing stage there is a betting round, starting with the player left of the dealer button. You can check (pass), bet, call, raise, or fold.
Table etiquette that actually matters
- Act in turn — never reach for chips before it is your action.
- Keep your cards visible and on the table at all times.
- Announce raises clearly to avoid string-bet calls.
- Don't slow-roll. Show winning hands quickly.
- Tip the dealer on big pots — it is the NCR home-game norm.
Key takeaways
- Memorise the 10 rankings cold — hesitation gives you away.
- A flush always beats a straight.
- Aces play both high and low for straights (A-2-3-4-5 is valid).
- Suits have no ranking in Hold'em — same hand = split pot.