Basic Poker Rules for New Players

Poker rules are simple to learn but take a lifetime to perfect. It really doesn’t matter whether you're playing Texas Hold'em, Omaha, or Short Deck, the goal is the same—build the strongest five-card hand or force your opponents to fold.

This guide covers everything you need to get started. By the end, you’ll feel ready to join a table confidently, knowing the rules!

Let’s get started.

Do Poker Rules Vary Across the Different Variants of Poker?

Yes! Not all poker games are created equal. While every variant follows the same basic principle—build the best five-card hand or make your opponents fold—the rules can vary wildly.

If you want to know how Texas Hold’em differs from Omaha Poker or Short Deck Poker, keep reading for a quick overview of each game's unique rules.

Texas Hold’em Rules - Quick Guide

Texas Hold’em is the most widely played poker game in the world. Here's a simple breakdown explaining how gameplay works:

Every player gets two private hole cards.

The dealer reveals five community cards in stages: The Flop (3), The Turn (1), and The River (1).

You must make the best five-card hand using any combination of hole cards + community cards.

There are four betting rounds, and the player with the best hand at showdown (or the last one standing) wins the pot.

To learn more and improve your strategy, you can read our 'How to play Texas Hold’em' full guide.

Omaha Poker Rules - Quick Guide

If you love the game of Texas Hold'em, there is a good chance you are going to love Omaha Poker as well. Omaha Poker is a more action-packed variant of Texas Hold'em, and has bigger hands! Here's how it simply works:

• You’re dealt four (or more) hole cards, but you MUST use exactly two to make your best five-card hand.
• The board runs the same as Texas Hold’em: Flop, Turn, River.
• More cards = more possibilities, so expect wild action and monster hands.
• Omaha is often played in Pot-Limit format, meaning you can only bet up to the size of the pot at any time.

If you want to become an expert on Omaha Poker, take a look at our guide: How to play Omaha Poker

Short Deck Poker Rules - Quick Guide

Short Deck Poker (known as Six-Plus Hold’em) is a fast-paced version of Texas Hold'em with a couple of key differences:

• The game follows Texas Hold’em structure, but all low cards (2s, 3s, 4s, 5s) are removed.
• Flushes beat Full Houses (because flushes are harder to hit in a short deck).
• Aces can be used to complete a 9-high straight (e.g. A♣ 6♦ 7♠ 8♠ 9♣).
• Often played with antes instead of blinds, making every hand a battle.

Interested in strategy for Short Deck? Here is an in-depth post we have prepared for you: How to play Short Deck Poker

Poker Rules Comparison Table

For an easy comparison, we have provided you with a side-by-side breakdown of Texas Hold’em, Omaha Poker, and Short Deck Poker rules:

How to Win at Poker

There are two primary ways to win at poker:

1. Winning with the Strongest Hand at Showdown

At the end of a hand, if multiple players are still in the pot, a showdown happens. Each remaining player reveals their hole cards, and the best five-card combination wins the pot based on the poker hand rankings.

• If you hold the highest-ranked hand, you take the winnings.
• If hands are tied, the pot is split.
• If you don’t have the best hand, you lose the chips you’ve committed to the pot.

This is the most straightforward way to win—but relying solely on making strong hands isn't enough to be a successful player.

To maximize your winnings, you need to know not just which hands are the strongest, but also how to play them strategically in different situations. Below is a ranking of poker hands, along with their probabilities and key insights to help you make the most of each hand.

Poker Hand Ranking Example

2. Winning by Forcing Opponents to Fold

You don’t always need the best hand to win a pot.

In fact, most poker hands don’t reach showdown because players fold before the final betting round.

You force your opponents to fold by:

• Bluffing: Making aggressive bets with a weak or incomplete hand to convince opponents to fold.
• Semi-bluffing: Betting with a drawing hand (e.g. a flush draw) that has the potential to improve if called.
• Applying pressure: Raising and re-raising to make it too expensive for opponents to continue with marginal hands.

Forcing folds is a core element of winning poker strategy—a well-timed bluff can beat a stronger hand without ever reaching showdown.

Which leads us neatly onto...

Mastering Betting, Strategy & Reading Opponents

Winning poker players don’t just rely on luck—they analyze betting patterns, adapt their strategy, and exploit their opponents’ tendencies.

• Bet Sizing: Knowing when to bet big to build a pot and when to bet small to induce a call.
• Table Awareness: Watching how others bet, fold, or raise to identify weaknesses.
• Position Play: Using late position to gain an informational advantage before making decisions.

At its core, poker is a game of incomplete information—the better you can read your opponents while keeping your own actions unpredictable, the higher your chances of success.

Betting Rules in Poker

Not all poker games are created equal when it comes to betting. Some allow unlimited aggression, while others cap how much you can bet in a round.

Here’s how the main betting structures work:

No-Limit Poker (NL)

Players can bet any amount, up to their entire stack at any time.

Encourages aggressive play, huge bluffs, and dramatic all-ins.

Most commonly seen in Texas Hold’em cash games and tournaments.

Example: If the pot is $500, you can bet $1, $100, or shove all-in.

Pot-Limit Poker (PL)

The maximum bet is the current pot size.

Still allows large bets but prevents insane all-in shoves early in hands.

Popular in Omaha Poker, where equities run closer and post-flop play is key.

Example: If the pot is $100, the max bet is $100—but if you bet $100 and someone calls, the next max bet is now $400.

Fixed-Limit Poker (FL)

All bets are set at fixed increments, removing massive swings.

Less bluff-heavy—focus is on math, hand strength, and long-term profitability.

Used in games like Seven-Card Stud and Limit Hold’em.

Example: In a $5/$10 Fixed-Limit game, bets are exactly $5 on the flop and $10 on the turn & river—no more, no less.

Special Bets – Straddle Bets, Overbets, and All-Ins

Some advanced betting techniques can change the dynamics of a poker game.

Straddle Bets

A straddle is a voluntary blind bet placed before the cards are dealt.

Usually double the big blind, but can vary.

Straddlers act last preflop, giving them more power.

Overbets

An overbet is when you bet more than the pot size to pressure opponents.

Used to force folds or extract value from strong hands.

All-Ins

Betting your entire stack at once.

Can be used for maximum pressure or as a last stand with a strong hand.

What Are The Rules On Slow Playing & Bluffing?

Slow playing and bluffing are 100% legal strategies in poker—but they must be used correctly.

Slow Playing

Slow playing means acting weak when you have a monster hand to lure opponents into betting.

For example: You have A♠ A♣, but instead of raising big, you just call preflop. Your opponent makes a big bet post-flop, thinking you’re weak—then BOOM, you go all-in.

Be warned: Slow playing can backfire—if you let opponents stay in cheaply, they might outdraw you.

Bluffing

Bluffing is when you bet big to make your opponent fold a better hand.

For example: You missed your straight draw, but instead of checking, you bet three times the pot—your opponent folds, and you take the chips.

Bluffing is a great move for experienced players who can read opponents well and pick the right moments.

Again, this comes with a warning: bluffing too much will make you predictable and easy to exploit.

Are There Different Poker Rules For Poker Tournaments vs. Cash Games?

Ok, now, let's turn our focus to cash games and tournaments.

While both follow the same poker rules, they play out very differently.

The Rules of Cash Games

Cash games (also called ring games) are the purest form of poker. Every chip you play with has real cash value, and you can buy in, cash out, or leave whenever you like.

The Core Rules of Cash Games:

• Blinds Stay the Same – The small blind and big blind never increase. A $1/$2 game stays $1/$2 the entire time.
• Real Money, Real Chips – The chips in play represent actual money. A $5 chip is worth $5—simple.
• Sit Down & Cash Out Anytime – You can join a table whenever there’s an open seat and leave when you’re done playing.
• No Elimination – Unlike tournaments, losing your stack doesn’t mean you’re out. You can reload and keep playing.
• Buy-In Rules – Every table has a minimum and maximum buy-in, meaning you can't sit down at a $1/$2 table with just $5 (or $5,000).

Tournament Poker Rules

If cash games are a marathon, poker tournaments are a high-stakes race. Every player starts with the same number of chips, and the goal is simple: outlast the competition and win all the chips.

Key Tournament Rules:

Blinds Keep Rising – Unlike cash games, tournament blinds increase at set intervals (e.g. every 10 or 15 minutes). This forces action and keeps the game moving.

Fixed Buy-In, Equal Stacks – Every player starts with the same amount of chips, creating a level playing field.

Elimination Format – If you lose all your chips, you're out of the tournament (unless it’s a rebuy event).

Payouts Based on Finish Position – Unlike cash games, you don’t win money immediately. Instead, the top players receive a portion of the prize pool. The deeper you go, the bigger the payout.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are the basic poker rules for beginners?

Every poker game follows the same core rules: hand rankings, betting rounds, and winning by showdown or forcing folds. Learn the basics, play smart, and always know when to fold.

How do poker rules decide the winner at showdown?

At showdown, players reveal their hands. The best five-card combination (based on official hand rankings) wins the pot. If hands are tied, the pot is split. No bluffing here—just pure card strength.

What happens if a card is accidentally exposed?

If a card is exposed during the deal, it’s replaced immediately in most poker games. If it happens mid-hand, play continues, but the exposed card gives players extra information—use it wisely!

Why does the dealer button move each hand?

The dealer button rotates clockwise to ensure fairness. It shifts the blinds and betting order each round, so no one gets an unfair positional advantage over time.

What happens if a player leaves the table mid-hand?

If a player leaves mid-hand, their cards are automatically folded, and any chips already in the pot remain. Their stack will be blinded out if they don’t return in cash games or tournaments.

Can I place a straddle bet in any poker game?

Straddle bets—voluntary blind raises before the deal—are only allowed in some cash games, not tournaments. They create bigger pots and more action, but they aren’t always the best strategic move.

Get in the Game with WPT Global

Now that you know the essential poker rules, it’s time to put them into action.

Whether you’re perfecting your strategy in free games or diving into real cash games and tournaments, the best way to improve is through experience.

Join the action to play poker on WPT Global—where you can test your skills, compete against players worldwide, and take your game to the next level.

Ready to play online poker? Shuffle up and deal!