If antes are in play, each player pays their ante during the preflop round. The player to the immediate left of the dealer pays a small blind, and the player to their direct left pays a big blind, which is usually twice the size of the small blind. Preflop is where every Texas Hold'em hand begins. Preflop – What is Preflop in Texas Hold'em and How Does it Work? Every Texas Hold'em cash games and tournament features four betting rounds: preflop, the flop, the turn, and the river.