Community Cards in Poker: Flop, Turn, River Explained
Community cards in poker are the five shared cards dealt face-up in the middle of the table in Texas Hold’em. Every player who is still in the hand uses the same board: the flop (first three community cards), the turn (fourth card), and the river (fifth card). You combine those shared cards with your two private hole cards to make the best five-card hand.
That quick definition answers most beginner questions, but three details matter just as much:
- there are five community cards in Texas Hold’em
- all players use the same community cards
- you do not have to use both hole cards in your final hand
If the board already gives you your best hand, you may even use zero hole cards. That is why community-card rules are tightly connected to the Best Five Rule.
What are community cards?
Community cards are the shared face-up cards that everyone can see and everyone can use.
In Texas Hold’em, each player starts with:
- 2 private hole cards
- access to the same 5 community cards
Those five shared cards are also called the board.
So when someone asks, “what are community cards in poker?”, the simplest answer is:
They are the five shared board cards that all players can use to build a hand.
That shared-board rule explains why two players can sometimes make the same hand, and why some pots become a split pot.
The order: flop, turn, river
A lot of new players know the words but not the order. Here is the full sequence.
| Stage | What happens | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Preflop | Each player gets 2 hole cards | Only private cards are known |
| Flop | The first 3 community cards are dealt face-up together | Everyone sees the first version of the board |
| Turn | A 4th community card is added | The board changes again |
| River | A 5th and final community card is added | The full board is complete |
So if you are wondering how many community cards are there in poker, the Hold’em answer is simple:
Five total, revealed as 3 + 1 + 1.
The easiest beginner memory trick is:
Flop, turn, river = 3, 1, 1.
How players use community cards
Once the board is out, each player tries to make the strongest possible five-card hand from:
- 2 hole cards
- 5 community cards
That gives you seven available cards, but your actual hand is always just five cards.
This is where many beginners get confused. In Texas Hold’em, you can use:
- both hole cards
- one hole card
- zero hole cards
| Hole cards used | What it means |
|---|---|
| 2 | Both hole cards are part of your best five-card hand |
| 1 | Only one hole card improves the board |
| 0 | The board itself is already your best hand |
That last case is called playing the board.
Best five cards only: your hole cards do not have to play. They matter only if they improve the strongest five-card combination.
So the question “Do all players use the same community cards?” has a clear answer:
Yes. Everyone uses the same board, but each player’s hole cards may connect with that board differently.
3 simple examples
These examples show exactly how community cards work in real hands.
1. Top pair using one hole card
Your hand: A♣ K♦
Board: K♠ 8♥ 3♣ 2♦ 7♠
Your best five cards are:
K♦ K♠ A♣ 8♥ 7♠
You have top pair: a pair of kings using one hole card and four community cards.
2. Flush on the board
Player 1: A♦ 9♥
Player 2: K♠ K♥
Board: Q♣ J♣ 8♣ 4♣ 2♣
The board itself already makes a club flush.
Neither player has a club, so both players use the same five community cards as their final hand:
Q♣ J♣ 8♣ 4♣ 2♣
This is one reason community-card rules matter so much: the same board can create the same made hand for multiple players.
3. Playing the board
Player 1: 8♥ 3♠
Player 2: A♦ 2♠
Board: A♠ K♦ Q♣ J♥ T♣
The board already makes a straight:
A-K-Q-J-T
Neither player can make a better five-card hand than that straight, so both players are playing the board.
Result: split pot.
Common mistakes
1. Thinking each player gets different community cards
They do not. The whole point of community cards is that they are shared cards.
2. Thinking you must use both hole cards
You do not. In Hold’em, your job is to make the best five-card hand. That might use two, one, or zero hole cards.
3. Forgetting that the board can be the best hand
A straight, flush, or other strong hand can sometimes sit entirely on the board. When that happens, players may tie.
4. Mixing up flop, turn, and river
Remember:
- flop = first 3 community cards
- turn = 4th card
- river = 5th card
5. Ignoring the best five-card rule
You do not count all seven cards at once. You always reduce the hand to the strongest five-card combination.
Quick recap
If you want the fast version, here it is:
- Community cards are the five shared cards in Texas Hold’em
- They are revealed in order: flop, turn, river
- All players use the same board
- You combine the board with your hole cards to make the best five-card hand
- Sometimes the board itself is the best hand, which can lead to a split pot
FAQ
What are community cards in poker?
Community cards are the five shared face-up cards on the board in Texas Hold’em. All remaining players can use them to make the best five-card hand.
How many community cards are there in Texas Hold’em?
There are five community cards total.
Do all players use the same community cards?
Yes. Everyone still in the hand uses the same board, but each player combines it with different hole cards.
What are the first three community cards called?
The first three community cards are called the flop.
Do you have to use both hole cards with the community cards?
No. In Hold’em you may use both hole cards, one hole card, or no hole cards at all.
Final takeaway
If you remember one line, make it this:
Community cards are the five shared board cards in Texas Hold’em, and every player uses that same board to make the best five-card hand possible.
For public rules references, see WSOP’s Texas Hold’em guide, Texas Hold’em on Wikipedia, and Bicycle Cards’ Texas Hold’em rules.