Poker for beginners
Poker rules, hand rankings and Texas Hold'em, explained in plain language
Start with how a hand is dealt and bet, then learn what beats what. Read it before you sit down at a table.
Hand ranking ladder
- 1Royal FlushA♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠
- 2Straight Flush9♥ 8♥ 7♥ 6♥ 5♥
- 3Four of a Kind9♣ 9♦ 9♥ 9♠ 2♣
- 4Full HouseK♦ K♠ K♣ 4♥ 4♠
- 5FlushA♦ J♦ 8♦ 6♦ 2♦
Where to start
Two ways into the game
Texas Hold'em
The most-played poker variant in the world, from your first hand to reading a board on the river.
Poker Rules & Basics
Betting structures, table etiquette, and the rules that hold true across every poker variant.
Featured guides
Start with these pillar guides
How to Play Texas Hold'em
The complete beginner's walkthrough: blinds, streets, betting rounds, and showdown.
Poker Hand Rankings, In Order
Every hand from royal flush to high card, with examples and tie-break rules.
Which Starting Hands to Play
A practical starting-hand chart for early, middle, and late position.
Poker Glossary
Every table term defined in one place, cross-linked to the guides that use it.
Research Library
A summary of the Levitt and Miles study on skill and luck at the World Series of Poker.
Who this is for
Built for people who want to actually understand the game
Each page here answers one question new players ask, and links to the rules and terms you need to follow it.
We are not a poker room and we do not take wagers. See our About page and editorial policy for more.