Texas Hold’em · example hand · 9 players · BlindsTwo small bets that two players must put in before the cards are dealt, so there is always something to win. The small blind is 1 chip and the big blind is 2 chips. of 1 and 2 chips · everyone starts with 200 chips
You get a free look at the first three cards and make three of a kind. On the last card, a player who calls a lot suddenly raises. Call or fold?
Queen-Ten, different suits. The lesson: When calling is cheap compared with the pot, you only need to be right a little of the time. Compare the price with your hand, not with your fear.
Before the flop
You are the big blind (you already put in 2 chips) and nobody raised, so you see the first three shared cards for free with Queen-Ten, different suits.
- Walt🐢 Relaxedposts the small blind (1)
- Youpost the big blind (2)
- Rosa🐢 Relaxedfolds
- Dev📞 Calls a lotfolds
- Marguerite🪨 Very carefulfolds
- Otis🐢 Relaxedfolds
- Kai🔥 Wildfolds
- Bea📞 Calls a lotcalls 2
- Jun🎯 Solidcalls 2
- Walt🐢 Relaxedfolds
- Youcheck
You checkClear
Coach: Check. Queen-Ten, different suits is one of the best 21% of starting hands. Nobody raised, so check and see the flop for free.
The flop (3 shared cards)pot: 7 chips
The flop, Q♥ A♠ Q♠, gives you three queens. Your other card is a weak side card (the tie-breaker card is called the Kicker (side card)Your other card when two players have the same pair or three of a kind. The higher side card wins the tie.), so the same three of a kind with a bigger side card beats you, as do the rare full houses. Everything else, including any ace, is behind. Bet so the aces pay you.
What beats you?
- You have three queens.
- Best possible hand right now: full house, three aces and two queens.
- 14 of the 1,081 hands another player could hold beat you: full house (6 ways), three of a kind (8 ways).
- 4 cards would help you (your outs): a 9% chance on the next card.
- Youbet 7
- Bea📞 Calls a lotcalls 7
- Jun🎯 Solidcalls 7
You bet 7Clear
Coach: Bet 7 (whole pot). You're probably ahead (about 82% to win), and worse hands will call. Bet to get paid.
The turn (4th card)pot: 28 chips
The 5♣ changes almost nothing. Jun folds. Bea, who calls a lot, keeps calling. Keep betting.
What beats you?
- You have three queens.
- Best possible hand right now: full house, three aces and two queens.
- 20 of the 1,035 hands another player could hold beat you: full house (12 ways), three of a kind (8 ways).
- 7 cards would help you (your outs): a 15% chance on the next card.
- Youbet 28
- Bea📞 Calls a lotcalls 28
- Jun🎯 Solidfolds
You bet 28Clear
Coach: Bet 28 (whole pot). You're probably ahead (about 80% to win), and worse hands will call. Bet to get paid.
The river (5th card)pot: 84 chips
Bea raises. Players like her rarely BluffBetting with a weak hand to make better hands fold., so this is a real hand. But look at the price: you only need to win about 1 time in 5, and many hands she raises with, like an ace with a good kicker, still lose to trips.
What beats you?
- You have three queens.
- Best possible hand right now: full house, three aces and two queens.
- 71 of the 990 hands another player could hold beat you: full house (18 ways), flush (45 ways), three of a kind (8 ways).
- Youbet 84
- Bea📞 Calls a lotraises to 163 (all-in)
- Youcall 79 (all-in)
You bet 84Clear
Coach: Bet 84 (whole pot). You're probably ahead (about 80% to win), and worse hands will call. Bet to get paid.
You call 79 (all-in)Clear
Coach: Call 79. You need at least a 19% chance to win, and yours is about 73%. You could raise, but calling keeps their weaker hands in.
Result
You win 410 chips with three queens. You finish 210 chips up.
- YouThree Queens
- BeaTwo pair, Aces and Queens
Bea had A♥ J♣: two pair, aces and queens. Your hand, three queens, wins a big pot.
The coach’s numbers are estimates against these computer players, worked out by dealing the rest of the hand thousands of times. The “what beats you” counts are exact.
More example hands
- Two pair against a player who calls everything: bet, bet, betThe first three shared cards give you two pair, against a player who never folds. Make him pay at every step.
- Chasing the nut flush draw: when the price is rightYou raise with Ace-King of the same suit and miss the first three cards. Then the fourth card gives you four spades, one away from the best possible flush. Is it worth calling?
- A small pair when a player who never bets suddenly bets: believe itEveryone checks after the first three cards. Then a player who almost never bets suddenly bets on the fourth card (the turn). You have the smallest possible pair.
- Omaha: the right two cards make a straightPot-Limit Omaha. You start with a high pair plus an ace and a three. The pair looks best, but on the fourth card a different two of your cards make a straight.
- Omaha Hi-Lo: win both halves of the potOmaha Hi-Lo splits the pot between the best high hand and the best low hand. You start with an ace and a two. By the fourth card you have the best low and a straight too.
- Limit: call when the pot paysLimit Hold’em. You have four hearts after the flop and nothing else. Two players keep betting and calling. With every bet a set size, the pot pays you to chase your flush until the last card.