You play only against the dealer, and the dealer never folds. Of your three mandatory areas, two are built to lose: the Ante only pays when the dealer qualifies, and the Blind only pays when you win with a straight or better. The Play bet is the one part of the game that favors you, because you act with information the dealer does not have. So the whole strategy is simple: get the Play bet in as big and as early as you can when you are ahead, and put in nothing when you are behind. Before the flop the max raise is 4x, on the flop it is 2x, on the river it is 1x. Earlier raises are worth more, which is why the preflop decision matters most.
This is the most important decision in the game. Always raise the full 4x or check. Never raise 3x. Raise 4x with any of these starting hands, and check everything else:
| Pairs | Any pair of 3s or higher. Check pocket 2s. |
| Aces | Any ace, any kicker, suited or not. Never slow play an ace. |
| Kings | Any suited king. Offsuit, K5 or higher. |
| Queens | Q6 suited or higher. Q8 offsuit or higher. |
| Jacks | J8 suited or higher. J10 offsuit only. |
Checking a weak hand is not a mistake. It keeps the 2x and 1x options open if the board helps you.
Only if you checked before the flop. Raise 2x with any of these, otherwise check:
| Made hands | Two pair or better. |
| Hidden pair | A pair using at least one of your hole cards, any rank above deuces. |
| Flush draw | Four to a flush that includes a 10 or higher in your hole cards. |
Only if you checked twice. There is no checking here. Bet 1x with either of these, otherwise fold:
| Hidden pair+ | A hidden pair or any better hand using your hole cards. |
| 21 outs rule | Bet if fewer than 21 unseen cards would give the dealer a winning hand. Count the cards that pair the dealer above your hand, plus cards that out-kick you. 21 or more means fold. |
Folding forfeits both the Ante and the Blind right away, so the bar to fold is high. Any hidden pair is almost always a 1x bet.
| Slow playing aces | Checking an ace preflop is the single most expensive habit. Any ace is a 4x raise. |
| Raising 3x | The 3x option is always worse than 4x on a hand worth raising. Never use it. |
| Folding too early | Folding the river is only correct when 21 or more cards beat you. Players fold far too many live hands. |
| Missing the 2x | When the flop connects with your hand, press it. Checking a made hand to call 1x later costs money. |
| Gut feel | No hunch bets, no chasing losses. Bet exactly what the chart says and let the math work over time. |
The dealer needs a pair or better to qualify. The Play bet always has action. If the dealer does not qualify, your Ante pushes and your Play bet still wins if you beat the dealer. The Blind only pays when you win with a straight or better.
| Royal flush | 500 to 1 |
| Straight flush | 50 to 1 |
| Four of a kind | 10 to 1 |
| Full house | 3 to 1 |
| Flush | 3 to 2 |
| Straight | 1 to 1 |
| Less than straight | push |
| Royal flush | 50 to 1 |
| Straight flush | 40 to 1 |
| Four of a kind | 30 to 1 |
| Full house | 9 to 1 |
| Flush | 7 to 1 |
| Straight | 4 to 1 |
| Three of a kind | 3 to 1 |
Computer-perfect play gives a house edge near 2.19% per ante. This simple memorizable strategy gives about 2.43%, which is still one of the lowest edges on the casino floor.
This free Ultimate Texas Hold'em trainer drills the three decisions that decide the game: the 4x raise before the flop, the 2x raise on the flop, and the 1x bet or fold on the river. It deals a real hand against the dealer, grades each decision against optimal strategy, and explains the rule behind it, including the 21 outs rule that most players get wrong on the river. It resolves the Ante, Blind, and Play bets with dealer qualification, pays the Blind pay table and the optional Trips bonus, and uses a full seven-card poker evaluator so every showdown is exact.
Is the Ultimate Texas Hold'em trainer free?
Yes. It runs in your browser with nothing to download, and it is free to use.
When should I raise 4x?
Before the flop, raise 4x with any pair of 3s or higher, any ace, any suited king, K5 offsuit or better, Q6 suited or better, Q8 offsuit or better, J8 suited or better, and J10 offsuit. Check everything else.
What is the 21 outs rule?
On the river, bet 1x if you have a hidden pair or better, or if fewer than 21 unseen cards would give the dealer a winning hand. If 21 or more cards beat you, fold.
What is the house edge?
About 2.19% per ante with computer-perfect play, and about 2.43% with the simple strategy this trainer teaches.
The Blind bet only pays when you win with a straight or better, pushes on weaker winning hands, and loses whenever you fold or the dealer wins. That quirk makes the Blind one of the most important bets to understand before you sit at a real table, and the trainer resolves it correctly on every hand.
For practice and training only. No real-money wagering. 21+. Gamble responsibly. Call 1-800-GAMBLER.