A hand, start to finish
Blinds, four rounds of betting, showdown.
- 01, open this step in the interactive version
Six players sit at a table. One seat has the dealer button. It moves one seat to the left after every hand.
- 02, open this step in the interactive version
The two players left of the button put in forced bets before any cards are dealt: the small blind and the big blind.
- 03, open this step in the interactive version
Why have forced bets at all?
show answer
answerSo there is something to win
whyWithout blinds, everyone could wait for perfect cards. The blinds give every hand a pot worth fighting for.
- 04, open this step in the interactive version
Everyone gets two cards. The first round of betting starts with the player left of the big blind, and goes around to the left.
- 05, open this step in the interactive versionYour cardsQ♠ Q♦BoardJ♣ 8♥ 3♠ 2♦ 9♣
Then the flop, a round of betting, the turn, another round, the river, and a last round.
- 06, open this step in the interactive version
Everyone else folds before the river. What happens?
show answer
answerYou win the pot
whyThe last player left wins without showing their cards. Many pots end this way.
- 07, open this step in the interactive versionYour cardsQ♠ Q♦BoardJ♣ 8♥ 3♠ 2♦ 9♣Their cardsJ♠ 10♠Best fiveQ♠ Q♦ J♣ 9♣ 8♥
If two or more players are left after the last bet, they show their cards. Best five-card hand wins. That’s the showdown.