How to Deal Texas Hold’em Poker

You Don't Need to Be a Professional Dealer

If you are hosting a home Texas Hold'em game, someone needs to deal the cards and keep the game moving. Fortunately, dealing Hold'em is not difficult once you understand the order of play.

The dealer's main jobs are to shuffle and deal the cards, keep track of the betting, place the community cards on the table and award the pot to the correct player or players.

Accuracy is more important than speed. Take your time, especially when you are learning.

What You Need

One standard 52-card deck
Poker chips
A dealer button (this is completely optional - the fact that you're dealing shows who the dealer is...)
A table or other comfortable playing surface

Remove jokers and any advertising or extra cards from the deck before the game begins.

Choose the First Dealer

Before the first hand, choose who will have the dealer button. One simple method is to deal one card face up to each player and give the button to the player with the highest card. Your group can agree on a simple method for breaking a tie. (For example: whoever gets the first of the highest card.)

After each hand, move the dealer button one seat clockwise. The small blind and big blind move with it.

In a casual home game, the player with the button often deals the cards. If one person deals every hand, the button should still move because it determines the betting positions.

Post the Blinds

Before any cards are dealt, the two players to the left of the dealer button post the blinds.

The player immediately to the left of the button posts the small blind.
The next player to the left posts the big blind.

For example, a friendly home game might use a $1 small blind and a $2 big blind. The blinds put chips in the pot before the cards are dealt and give players something to compete for.

Shuffle and Cut the Cards

Shuffle the deck thoroughly before each hand. Many home games also let the player to the dealer's right cut the deck after it has been shuffled. Keep the cards face down while shuffling, cutting and dealing.

Deal Two Cards to Each Player

Texas Hold'em begins with two private cards for each player. These are called hole cards.

Start with the player immediately to the left of the dealer button and deal one card face down to each player, moving clockwise. Then go around a second time so every player has two cards.

The First Betting Round: Preflop

The first betting round is called preflop. The first player to act is normally the player immediately to the left of the big blind. This position is called Under the Gun (UTG).

Each player may fold, call the current bet or raise, depending on the action before them. Play moves clockwise.

Note that the small and big blinds are 'live' bets - either (or both) can raise when the betting comes around to them.

The round ends when every player still in the hand has matched the current bet, except a player who is all-in and does not have enough chips to match it.

Deal the Flop

When preflop betting is complete, place the top card of the deck face down to the side. This is the burn card. Then deal three cards face up in the center. These community cards are the flop.

The Second Betting Round

After the flop, betting begins with the first remaining player to the left of the dealer button. Action continues clockwise. A player may check if no bet has been made. If someone bets, the other players may fold, call or raise.

Deal the Turn

After flop betting is complete, burn one card and deal one new community card face up. This fourth community card is the turn. Another betting round follows.

Deal the River

After turn betting is complete, burn one more card and deal the fifth and final community card face up. This is the river. A final betting round follows.

The Showdown

If two or more players remain after the final betting round, the hand goes to a showdown.

Each player makes the best five-card hand possible using any combination of the two hole cards and five community cards. A player may use both hole cards, one hole card or neither. The best five-card hand wins the pot.

The last player to raise (or open the betting for the last round) shows their cards. Each remaining player that called that last bet only needs to show their cards if they want to claim the pot. In other words, you don't have to show your cards at the end of the betting unless someone has called your bet.

If everyone except one player folds before the showdown, the remaining player wins without having to show a hand.

How to Handle a Split Pot

Sometimes two or more players have exactly the same best five-card hand. When that happens, the pot is split between the tied players.

Count the chips and divide them as evenly as possible among the tied winners. Do not use suits to break a tie between otherwise equal poker hands. In standard Texas Hold'em, one suit does not beat another at showdown.

For more detail on split pots, see: How Side Pots Work in Texas Hold’em.

What If There Is an Extra Chip?

Sometimes the pot cannot be divided evenly. Your home game should decide in advance how an odd chip will be awarded. One common home-game rule is to give it to the tied player closest to the left of the dealer button. Whatever rule you choose, use it consistently.

What Does All-In Mean?

A player is all-in when all of that player's remaining chips have been bet.

An all-in player cannot be forced to fold because another player bets more. The all-in player can still win the part of the pot that the player was able to match. If other players continue betting, you may need a side pot.

How to Handle a Side Pot

The easiest rule to remember is: a player can win only chips that the player was able to match.

Suppose three players remain:

Alice has $20 and goes all-in.
Bob puts in $50.
Carol puts in $50.

Alice can match only $20 from each opponent. The first $20 from Alice, Bob and Carol creates a main pot of $60.

Bob and Carol each have another $30 in the hand. Those chips create a side pot of $60. Alice can win the main pot, but she cannot win the side pot because she did not contribute to it.

Award the Side Pot First

At showdown, it is usually easiest to settle the side pot first. Compare only the hands of players who contributed to that side pot. In the example, only Bob and Carol can win it.

Then award the main pot. Alice, Bob and Carol are all eligible for the main pot. One player can win the side pot while another player wins the main pot.

More Than One Side Pot

If several players go all-in for different amounts, more than one side pot can be created. Slow down and separate the chips into clearly visible pots. Keep track of which players are eligible for each one.

The same rule always applies: a player can win only a pot that contains chips the player was able to match.

Keep Folded Cards Separate

When someone folds, collect the cards face down and place them in a discard pile, often called the muck. Keep folded cards away from the deck, burn cards and community cards.

What If You Make a Dealing Mistake?

Mistakes happen in home games. A card may turn face up, someone may be skipped or a community card may be dealt too early.

Have simple house rules and apply them consistently. If everyone agrees the hand can be corrected fairly, correct it and continue. If a serious mistake happens before meaningful betting, declaring a misdeal and starting again may be simplest.

Tips for a New Dealer

Deal slowly enough to avoid mistakes.
Always deal clockwise.
Make sure the blinds are posted before dealing.
Keep the deck, burn cards and folded cards separate.
Keep bets and pots organized, especially when someone is all-in.
Before awarding a complicated pot, make sure everyone agrees on the winning hand.

The Order of a Texas Hold'em Hand

Pass the deck to the next player. (Move the dealer button if you're using one.)
Post the small blind and big blind.
Shuffle and cut the deck.
Deal two hole cards to each player. (Deal one card to each player, then the second card to each player.)
Complete the preflop betting round.
Burn one card and deal the three-card flop.
Complete the flop betting round.
Burn one card and deal the turn.
Complete the turn betting round.
Burn one card and deal the river.
Complete the final betting round.
Hold the showdown and award the pot.

The Bottom Line

Dealing Texas Hold'em becomes much easier after a few hands. Remember the basic pattern: two private cards, betting, the flop, betting, the turn, betting, the river and the final betting round.

Keep the cards and chips organized, move the dealer button after every hand and take extra care when a pot is split or a player goes all-in. An accurate, fair and consistent dealer helps keep a home poker game friendly and moving smoothly.

How to Deal Texas Hold'em Poker