How a hand works
Texas Hold'em is played with a standard 52-card deck. Every player gets two private cards (hole cards). Five shared cards are dealt face-up in the middle (the board), and you make the best five-card hand from any combination of your two cards and the five on the board.
- Blinds. Two players to the left of the dealer button post forced bets, the small blind and the big blind. This creates something to win.
- Preflop. Everyone gets two hole cards. Betting starts with the player left of the big blind.
- Flop. Three board cards are dealt, then another round of betting.
- Turn. A fourth board card, then betting.
- River. The fifth and final board card, then the last round of betting.
- Showdown. If more than one player is left, hands are shown and the best five-card hand wins. If everyone else folds, the last player wins without showing.
Hand rankings (best to worst)
Your options on each turn
Fold gives up your hand and the chips you already put in. Check passes when nobody has bet. Call matches the current bet. Bet / Raise puts in more chips; everyone else must call, raise, or fold. All-in puts in every chip you have; if others bet more, side pots are created so you can only win what you matched.
The minimum raise equals the size of the last bet or raise. In this game you can drag the slider or use the quick buttons (half pot, three-quarter pot, pot) to size a bet.
Position
Position is where you sit relative to the dealer button (the white D). Acting last is a big advantage because you see what everyone else does before you decide. The button acts last after the flop, so it is the strongest seat. The small and big blind act first after the flop, which is the weakest.
A simple rule: play fewer hands from early position and more from late position. A hand like K-J offsuit can be a fold in the first seat but a raise on the button.
Reading your Percent Match
Your Percent Match is your equity: the share of the pot you would win on average if all the remaining cards were dealt out many times. Wins count fully and split pots count by their share.
With six players at the table, an even share is about 17%. If your Percent Match is higher than 1 divided by the number of players still in, you are ahead of average; much higher means you are a favourite.
Important: the Percent Match assumes your opponents hold random hands. Real players who bet and raise usually hold better than random, so treat the number as an upper bound, especially when someone raises big. The coach shades its advice down a little for this reason.
Pot odds
Pot odds tell you the price of a call. If the pot (counting their bet) is 100 and you must call 50, you risk 50 to win 150, so you need to win at least 50 / (100 + 50) = 33% of the time to break even. If your Percent Match is above that, calling is profitable over the long run.
Outs and draws
An out is a card that will improve your hand. Count the outs, then use the rule of 4 and 2: on the flop multiply your outs by 4 for the chance to hit by the river; on the turn multiply by 2 for the chance to hit on the river.
Common beginner mistakes
- Playing too many hands. Most hands are weak. Folding often before the flop is normal.
- Calling because you already put chips in. Chips in the pot are gone. Only the price of the next call matters.
- Ignoring position. The same hand is worth more on the button than under the gun.
- Never raising. Calling only wins when you have the best hand. Raising lets you win the pot before the showdown.
- Chasing weak draws. Compare your odds to hit with the pot odds before you call.
Frequently asked questions
Is Percent Poker free? Do I need an account?
Yes, it is free, and there is nothing to sign up for. The game uses play chips only. Nothing you win or lose has any real-world value.
Is this real gambling?
No. No real money, prizes or items of value are wagered, won or lost. It is an educational game to help you learn Texas Hold'em.
What does Percent Match mean?
It is your estimated chance to win the hand right now. We deal out thousands of random finishes and count how often your hand wins or splits the pot against the players still in.
Why does the coach sometimes disagree with what a strong player would do?
The estimates assume every opponent holds a random hand. Real players who bet and raise usually hold stronger hands, and the coach does not read bluffs or betting patterns. Use it as a learning aid, not as the final word.
How does the bot style change the game?
Tight bots play few hands and fold often. Loose bots play many hands. Aggressive bots bet and raise a lot. A mixed table has a bit of everything, like a real home game.
What is the Match score?
After each move you make with the coach on, we check whether it was the coach's top pick or got at least 30% of its suggestion. Your Match score is the share of moves that matched. It is saved only in your own browser.
What does training mode do?
It shows the bots' hole cards so you can see why they bet the way they do. Turn it off when you want a realistic game.
Does Percent Poker work on my phone?
Yes. The table and guides are built to work on phones, tablets and computers.
Glossary
