Stepping up to a Texas Hold’em table for the first time can feel like learning a new language. With terms like “the river,” “blinds,” and “all-in” being thrown around, it’s easy to get lost. To play your best game, you need to understand what’s happening.
This guide will walk you through the essential Texas Hold’em (德州撲克 英文) terminology. We’ve structured it as a series of frequently asked questions to help you quickly find the answers you need and build your confidence at the table.
What are the “blinds”?
Blinds are mandatory bets made by two players before any cards are dealt. They ensure there’s money in the pot to play for from the very beginning of the hand. There are two types:
Small Blind: This is the smaller of the two bets, placed by the player sitting immediately to the left of the dealer button.
Big Blind: This bet is typically double the small blind and is placed by the player to the left of the small blind.
What does “check,” “call,” “raise,” and “fold” mean?
These are the four basic actions you can take during a betting round:
Check: If no one has bet before you in the current round, you can “check.” This means you are passing the action to the next player without betting any money. You can only check if there hasn’t been a raise in the current betting round.
Call: This means matching the amount of the current bet or raise. If the big blind is $10 and a player raises to $30, you would need to “call” with $30 to stay in the hand.
Raise: To “raise” is to increase the amount of the current bet. This forces other players to either call your higher bet, raise again, or fold.
Fold: Folding means you are surrendering your hand and forfeiting any chance to win the current pot. You simply discard your cards, and you don’t have to put any more money into the pot for that hand.
What are the “flop,” “turn,” and “river”?
These terms refer to the community cards that are dealt face-up in the middle of the table for all players to use.
The Flop: After the first round of betting (pre-flop), the dealer places the first three community cards on the table.
The Turn: After the betting round on the flop, a fourth community card is dealt. This is also sometimes called “fourth street.”
The River: Following the betting on the turn, the fifth and final community card is dealt. This is also known as “fifth street.” A final round of betting occurs after the river.
What does it mean to go “all-in”?
Going “all-in” means you are betting all of your remaining chips. If another player with more chips calls your bet, you are only eligible to win the portion of the pot that matches your all-in amount. Any additional betting between other players creates a “side pot” that you cannot win. Going all-in is a high-risk, high-reward move that can either double your stack or send you home.