Play Texas Hold’em Poker Online USA

Thanks in large part to the World Series of Poker, Texas Hold’em Poker has become the most popular variation of online poker.

Where to Play Texas Hold'em Poker Online

Here are the online casinos our team of experts recommend US players use for playing Texas Hold’em online:

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Best Texas Hold'em Casinos

How to Play Texas Hold'em

Texas Hold'em Bet Types

Texas Hold'em FAQ

How to Play Texas Hold'em Poker Online

The Deal & Betting Rounds

The deal and wagering process in a game of Texas Hold’em Poker goes like this:

Before each round, the two players to the immediate left of the dealer place their small and big blind antes, respecitively.
Each player is dealt two cards, both of which are face down
There is a round of betting
The dealer reveals the first three community cards – this is called the “flop”
There is another round of betting
The dealer reveals the fourth community card – this is called the “turn”
There is another round of betting
The deal reveals the final community card – this is called the “river”
There is a final round of betting

Once all remaining players have finalized their bets, each player reveals their ‘hole’ cards, and the best poker hand wins the pot.

Want to know what it takes to dominate Texas Hold’em online or just catch your friends off guard at your next poker game? Watch our expert, Tommy Green, break it down for you.

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Bet Types in Texas Hold’em

In Texas Hold’em, like in other online poker variations, when it comes time to bet, players have five options: fold, check, bet, call, or raise.

Fold

To ‘fold’ is to turn your cards in and give up on that round, forfeiting any bets you have made up until this point.
You may want to fold if you don’t have a strong hand, believe another player has a very strong hand, or the wager sizes are getting higher than you hoped.

Check

To ‘check’ is to choose not to bet, but to stay in the game. It’s essentially the equivalent of choosing to wager zero dollars.
You may want to check if it’s early in the game, if you want to see how other players will bet, or if you like your hand, but don’t love it.

Bet

To ‘bet’ is to place a wager in the pot. Betting is how the pot (prize pool) gets full, and for players to stay in the game, they must match the current bet size.
You may want to bet if you feel confident in your hand, or if you think another player is likely to fold.

Call

To ‘call’ is to match another player’s bet. Once someone has placed a bet, if you want to remain in the game, you must either call or
You may want to call if you like your hand enough to stay in the game, if you’re close to having a winning hand, or if you want another player to think you’re confident in your hand.

Raise

To ‘raise’ is to match and increase another player’s bet. If you raise someone’s bet, all players must match this new bet size in order to remain in the game.
You may want to raise if you are confident in your hand and want to increase the pot size, if you believe you have a better hand than the other players, or if you want to appear more confident in your hand than you actually are.

Texas Hold’em Betting Rounds

Once you understand which bet types are available, you can apply those strategies to each of Texas Hold’em’s betting rounds: pre-Flop, the Flop, the Turn, and the River.

Betting Pre-Flop

After each player has been dealt their face-down cards – but before any community cards have been revealed – there is a “pre-flop” round of betting.

Like in most poker variations, there are big and small blinds – minimum buy-in amounts – and each player must at least ‘call’ the big blind amount in order to remain in the game.

Players also have the option to raise, if they have strong hole cards, or fold, if they do not have strong hole cards.

Once each player has either folded or wagered an equal amount, the first three community cards are revealed (the flop.)

Betting on the Flop

Now that the first three community cards have been revealed, there is another round of betting. The player clockwise from the dealer is the first to go, and can choose from any of the bet types. Once this betting round is completed, the next community card is revealed (the turn.)

Betting on the Turn

There are now four community cards face-up, plus the two face-down cards that each player has been dealt. Players should have a good understanding of what is in their hand and what they are targeting.

There is another round of betting at this time. Action once again begins with the active player clockwise from the dealer, and any of the bet types are available.

Once this betting round is complete, the final community card is revealed (the river.)

Betting on the River

At this point, all cards have been revealed, and each player knows what their best possible hand is. There’s another round of betting – again, starting with the player immediately clockwise from the dealer – where all remaining players once again must choose to check, raise, call, or fold.

Once this final round of betting is finished, the remaining players show their cards, and the best poker hand in Texas Hold’em online wins.

Texas Hold'em Poker Strategy

Think Long Term

Keep your emotions in check, don’t chase losses, and don’t bet recklessly. Have a plan and stick to it. Winning at Texas Hold’em poker is a marathon, not a sprint.

Folding Isn't Losing

Expert poker players know that there’s no shame in folding if you think you’ve been beaten in Texas Hold’em online. Watch the table carefully, learn your opponent’s tendencies, and don’t let your ego take over. By folding when you’re beaten, you can protect your bankroll and live to fight another day.

Manage Your Bankroll

This is a crucial part of any online wagering strategy, regardless of the game. Carefully decide how much money you have available per session & per hand, and stick to it. For beginners, we recommend setting a self-limitation of no more than two buy-ins per session.

Variations of Texas Hold'em

There are a few popular variations of Texas Hold’em online poker that you’ll encounter. While the rules largely remain the same, there are slight changes to the betting structures. Make sure you understand which variation you’re playing.

No-Limit Texas Hold'em

In No-Limit Hold’em, players can wager as much as they want (or as many chips as they have available.) The minimum bet is typically the same size as the big blind.

This variation often has a minimum raise amount – if a player wants to raise, the raise amount must be at least as much as the round’s previous raise or bet.

Limit Texas Hold'em

In Limit Hold’em, bet sizes are pre-determined.

Pre-flop and on the flop, raises and bets are the same sizes as the big blind.
On the turn and the river, all bets and raises are equivalent to twice the big blind.

Mixed Texas Hold''em

Mixed Texas Hold’em online is exactly what it sounds like – the game switches back and forth between rounds of Limit and No-Limit Hold’em.

The betting rules for each round match the game type, and note that each round’s blind sizes may adjust depending on which variation is currently being played.

Pot Limit Texas Hold'em

In Pot Limit Hold’em, players’ bets are limited to the size of the pot (e.g. if the pot is $20, the maximum bet allowed would be $20.) Minimum bets for this variation are the size of the big blind.

This variation, like No-Limit, has a minimum raise amount – for a player to raise, their raise amount must at minimum match the current round’s most recent raise or bet.

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Texas Hold'em Poker FAQs

Is it illegal to play Texas Hold'Em poker on the internet in the USA?

How do you bet In Texas Hold'em Poker?

How do I play Texas Hold'Em poker online in the USA?

How are cards dealt in Texas Hold'Em poker?

Can I play Texas Hold'Em poker for free online in the USA?

Is it illegal to play Texas Hold'Em poker on the internet in the USA?

No, enjoying Texas Hold'Em online is legal and no one in the United States has ever been prosecuted federally or at the state level.

How do you bet In Texas Hold'em Poker?

There are four rounds of betting in Texas Hold'Em Poker. The first betting round is done pre-flop when players only have their two hole cards. The next opportunity to wager is after the flop when the first three community cards are distributed. The turn is after the fourth community card is shown and the final betting round is after the last shared card (the river) has been revealed.

How do I play Texas Hold'Em poker online in the USA?

The first thing you need to do to get started with Texas Hold'Em online Poker is to sign up to a poker room. At the top of the page, our casino experts have listed a few of their favorite and trusted poker sites.

How are cards dealt in Texas Hold'Em poker?

In Texas Hold'Em Poker each players receive two cards face down referred to as hole card. Then throughout betting rounds, five more cards are eventually distributed in the middle of the table. These cards are called the "community cards or shared cards" because each player uses them.

Can I play Texas Hold'Em poker for free online in the USA?

Most online casinos and online poker rooms have Texas Hold'Em poker free games. These free poker games are great for new players looking to play hands and get some experience or veteran players experimenting with new strategies.