In Hold'em, players get two down cards and five community cards (which are
face-up in the middle of the table). Your hand is determined by using the best
five of those seven cards (in any combination) with the best hand winning the
pot.
There are four betting rounds in Holdem. To continue to play, players must
act on each betting round and call all action to them (unless they are "all-in").
Betting always proceeds in a clockwise rotation.
Here is the basic procedure for Texas Holdem:
1) Prior to dealing the cards, two blinds (the Small Blind and the Big Blind) are
placed in the pot by the two players to the immediate left of the dealer
(indicated by the white "dealer" button). The blinds are put in to start the
action.
2) Everyone is dealt two down cards ("hole cards"). The action begins with the
player to the left of the Big Blind folding, calling, or raising. Action continues
with all players making one of these decisions. This is the first betting round.
3) Upon completion of the first round of betting, the dealer then turns over
three cards (community cards known as "The Flop"). This is the second
betting round. Beginning with this round of betting (and throughout the
remainder of the hand), the player to the left of the button acts first. A player
may now check (not bet or fold) or bet if there is no betting in front of them. If
there is betting and/or raising in front of them, they may Call, Raise, or Fold.
4) Following the completion of action on the "flop", the dealer turns over
another card (known as "The Turn" or "Fourth Street"). This is the third round
of betting. The betting again starts with the player to the left of the button.
5) Following the completion of action on "the turn", the dealer turns over the
last card (known as "The River" card or "Fifth Street"). This is the final round
of betting.
6) Upon completion of the final round of betting, the best hand wins the pot.
