Four-Round Betting Flow Quick Guide

The four betting rounds

Texas Hold'em has four possible betting rounds: pre-flop, flop, turn and river. A hand can finish earlier if everyone except one player folds. The remaining player then wins the pot without needing to show a hand, and no more community cards are needed.

Who acts first

In a standard hand with three or more players, pre-flop action starts immediately clockwise from the big blind. On the flop, turn and river, action starts with the first active player clockwise from the button. Folded players are skipped.

Heads-up is different: the button posts the small blind and acts first pre-flop; the big blind acts first after the flop. Always identify the street and the number of players before applying an action-order shortcut.

Choose a legal action

Facing an outstanding bet or raise, a player may fold, call, or raise when permitted by the betting rules and available chips. Checking is not an option while there is an unmatched amount to call. With no outstanding wager after the flop, a player may check or bet.

The big blind has already posted a live pre-flop wager. If at least one opponent has called and nobody has raised, the big blind may check or raise when action returns. If every opponent has folded instead, the big blind wins immediately: there is no check followed by a flop.

When the round ends

A raise may require players who have already acted to respond again. The round ends once the required action is complete and all remaining players have matched the wager or are all-in for fewer chips. Players who are all-in make no further betting decisions, although other players may continue in a side pot.

If multiple players remain after the river action is complete, compare their best five-card hands at showdown. Equal best hands share the pot. Use this guide to follow the action, not as a promise that any particular decision will win.