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How to deal poker, step by step
Updated November 2026
To deal Texas Hold'em, shuffle, offer the deck to be cut, then deal one card at a time clockwise starting with the player left of the button until everyone has two. Before the flop, turn and river, burn one card off the top.
- Shuffle and cut
- Blinds in, then two cards each
- Betting, starting left of the big blind
- Burn one, deal three: the flop
- Betting, starting left of the button
- Burn one, deal one: the turn
- Betting
- Burn one, deal one: the river
- Betting, then show the hands
How do you start?
Shuffle well, then offer the deck to the player on your right to cut. Have the small and big blinds put their chips in. The dealer button tells everyone who's last to act after the flop, so make sure it's in the right place.
A shuffle needs to mix the cards properly. Here's how to do it.
Before you deal
- Button is in place
- Blinds are in
- Deck has been cut
How do you deal the cards?
Start with the player on your left, one card each, and go round twice. Slide the cards low across the table so nobody can see them. Count the players first.
If you expose a card by accident during the deal, the usual rule is to finish the deal and replace that card.
Six players
What does burning a card mean?
Taking the top card and putting it face down off to the side before you deal the next street. It guards against marked cards, so nobody can gain from having seen the back of the next card.
A deal of the board
How do you run the betting?
- Keep track of the actionSay whose turn it is if people are slow.
- Keep each player's bets in front of themMove them into the pot at the end of each round.
- Know the size of the potKeep count, or count it down when someone asks.
- Handle the blindsThe big blind acts last before the flop.
How do you run the showdown?
If there was a bet on the river, the last player to bet or raise shows first. If not, it goes from the first player left of the button. Read the hands out loud, and let the cards decide. Push the pot to the winner before you collect the cards.
Shows first
What goes wrong most often?
- Forgetting to burnIt's easy to do. Check yourself before every street.
- Dealing the flop too earlyMake sure the betting round is really finished.
- Moving the button wrongIt goes one seat to the left each hand.
Could you run the table?
Twelve spots in three rounds.
Questions dealers ask
Who gets the first card?
The player to the left of the dealer button.
How many cards do you burn?
Three in a hand: one before the flop, one before the turn and one before the river.
What if I deal a card face up by mistake?
During the deal, the usual rule is to finish the deal, replace that card and burn it.
Know someone who always deals the flop early?
Send them this page.