EVERY FOLD TELLS A STORY
Showtime Hold’em.
Information stays on the felt after someone leaves the hand.
THE DEFINING TWIST
Folded private cards remain face up until the hand ends.
Exposed folds
Know the twist.
Enjoy the table.
Illustrative hand · explore the result in Read the Table
YOUR GUIDE TO THIS VERSION
Know your table.
The rules that matter.
- No-limit version described by PokerStars.
- Exposed folded cards provide information but cannot be used.
From first card to final reveal.
- Prepare. Use 52 cards; agree no-limit blinds.
Keep a separate area for exposed folded cards.
- Deal two. Post blinds and deal two private cards each.
They stay hidden while the player remains active.
- Pre-flop. Bet clockwise after the big blind.
Anyone folding exposes both cards and leaves them visible.
- Flop. Burn; reveal three shared cards. Bet.
First active seat after button begins.
- Keep folds visible. Expose any newly folded hands.
These are dead cards, never shared cards.
- Turn. Burn; reveal the fourth shared card. Bet.
Previously exposed folds remain visible.
- River. Burn; reveal the fifth shared card. Bet.
No changes to standard hand rankings.
- Showdown. Best five from two private plus five shared wins. Split ties.
Only active players can win. Collect exposed folds after awarding the pot.
Where these rules come from.
Established variation; this guide follows the linked rules and stated table conventions. Explanatory presentation and examples by Deal Different.
PokerStars: Showtime Hold’em rules ↗Curated by Maanas Chopra · reviewed October 2026 · session times are estimates