The objective of Texas Hold’em (Limit) is to form the strongest 5-card poker hand using your hole cards and community cards, either through genuine hand strength or strategic bluffing, in order to win the pot.
Each player receives 2 private "hole" cards dealt face down. 5 community cards are dealt face up in the center of the table. Players use their hole cards and the community cards to make the best possible 5-card hand.
2 players to the left of the dealer post the small blind and big blind. The blinds are forced bets to start the betting. Starting with the player to the left of the big blind, players can call (match the big blind), raise (increase the bet), or fold (discard their hand).
After the first round of betting comes the flop, when 3 community cards are dealt face up in the center of the table. A second round of betting then starts with the player to the left of the dealer. Again, players can check (pass the action), bet, call, raise, or fold.
The turn refers to when a fourth community card is dealt face up. Similar to previous rounds, players can check, bet, call, raise or fold.
The river refers to the fifth and final community card, which is dealt face up. Players can check, bet, call, raise or fold.
After the round of betting following the river card, if there are 2 or more players remaining, they reveal their hole cards to determine the best 5-card hand. The player with the best hand wins the pot. The hand rankings are from highest to lowest: royal flush, straight flush, 4 of a kind, full house, flush, straight, 3 of a kind, 2 pair, 1 pair, high card.
In limit poker, betting is capped.