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The Shuffle, The Deal and The Blinds
The dealer shuffles a standard 52-card deck.
(In casinos, the dealer never plays. A round disc -- known as a "dealer
button" -- moves clockwise from player to player with each hand. The button
marks which player would be the dealer if the deal were advanced from player to
player as the game went along.
Most Texas Hold 'Em Poker games start with the two players to the left of the
dealer (the button) putting a predetermined amount of money into the pot before
any cards are dealt, ensuring that there's something to play for on every hand.
This is called "posting the blinds." Most often, the "first
blind" or "small blind" -- the player to the left of the dealer -- puts up half the minimum
bet, and the "second blind" or "big blind" puts up the full minimum bet.
Each player is dealt two cards, face down. These are known as the "hole
cards."
Betting Begins
A round of betting takes place, beginning with the player to the left of the
two who posted the blinds. Players can call, raise, or fold when it's their turn
to bet.
The Flop
After the first betting round, the dealer discards the top card of the deck.
This is called burning the card and is done to ensure that no one accidentally
saw the top card, and to help prevent cheating.
The dealer then flips the next three cards face up on the table. These cards
are called the "flop."
NOTE: Eventually, a total of five community cards will be placed face up
on the table. Players can use any combination of the community cards and their
own two hole cards to form the best possible five-card Poker hand.
After the flop, another round of betting takes place, beginning with the
player to the left of the dealer (the button). During this and all future rounds
of betting, players can check, call, raise, or fold when it's their turn to bet.
Fourth Street
The dealer burns another card and plays one more face up onto the table.
This, the fourth community card, is called the "turn" or "Fourth
Street."
The player to the left of the dealer (the button) begins the third round of
betting.
Fifth Street
The dealer burns another card before placing the final face-up card on the
table. This card is called the "river" or "Fifth Street."
Final Betting and The Winner
Players can now use any combination of seven cards -- the five community
cards and the two hole cards known only to them -- to form the best possible
five-card Poker hand.
The fourth and final round of betting starts with the player to the left of
the dealer (the button).
After the final betting round, all players who remain in the game reveal
their hands. The player who made the initial bet or the player who made the last
raise shows their hand first.
The player with the best hand wins.
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