Community Cards
Community cards are the face-up cards in the middle of the table that all players share.
The simple explanation
In games like Texas Hold'em and Omaha, some cards are dealt face up in the middle. These are the community cards. Every player can use them, together with their own cards, to make their best hand. Because everyone shares the same cards, the best hand depends on the private cards you hold. That is why hold'em is a game of reading your opponents' possible holdings.
A closer look
The community cards come in three stages: the flop with three cards, the turn with one and the river with one. The collection of community cards is called the board. Games that use them are called community card games or flop games. The nature of the board, whether it is connected, suited or paired, strongly affects strategy. Community cards create the board texture. Wet boards connect and suit, while dry boards do not. You choose bet sizes and lines based on the texture.
A practical example
In hold'em the flop is K♠ 7♦ 2♣, the turn is 9♥ and the river is 4♠. These five cards are the community cards.
Full explanation
Community cards are the face-up cards in the middle of the table that all players share.
Community cards are the shared cards in a poker game such as hold’em or Omaha. They are dealt face up in the center of the table so that all players can see and use them.
The flop is the first three, the turn is the fourth card, and the river is the fifth. Together they make up the board. Betting takes place between these stages.
Players combine the community cards with their private cards to make the best five-card hand. In Omaha, they must use exactly two of their own cards and three community cards. In hold’em, they may use both, one or none of their cards.
The community cards are what make hold’em a game of shared information. Every player knows what the others could have made with them.
Remember that some cards on the board can be used by everyone, so the best hand may be on the board itself, in which case players split the pot.
Postflop
No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.
Read the example transcript
Player A has the button (BTN) and posts the 1-chip small blind (SB). Player B posts the 2-chip big blind (BB).
- Preflop · Pot: 3 chips
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of hearts (Ah)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player B BB 99 of clubs (9c)88 of clubs (8c) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 8 chips
Player A raises to 6 before the flop.
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of hearts (Ah)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB 99 of clubs (9c)88 of clubs (8c) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 12 chips
Player B calls. Each player has put in 6 chips.
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of hearts (Ah)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB 99 of clubs (9c)88 of clubs (8c) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Flop · Pot: 12 chips
The betting after the flop is called postflop. Player B acts first.
Board: KKing of spades (Ks)77 of diamonds (7d)22 of hearts (2h)
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of hearts (Ah)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB 99 of clubs (9c)88 of clubs (8c) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.