In Texas Hold 'Em, most of the time there are no antes, but forced blinds - small and big - by two different players every hand before any cards are dealt. If no other bets are made through the showdown, the winner wins the blinds only. These two players are determined by their position - on the left of a white disk marker (the dealer button) that travels clockwise around the table.

graphic credit: Wikipedia

Dealing is done clockwise, starting with the small blind and ending with the player who has the dealer button in front of them. Players receive 2 cards - hole (or pocket) cards - face down and use them to make the best 5-card hand from 5 community cards (the flop (3), the Turn (1) and the River (1), dealt face up).

Betting begins "pre-flop" with the player to the left of the big blind, continuing clockwise. The player with the big blind (the lowest bet that can be made) can check or raise. The player with the small blind (half the bet of the big blind) will have to match (call) the big blind to stay in the hand. All other players must fold to get out or call (or raise) the big blind to stay in the hand. If any of the players raise, the rest of the players must fold or call the raise to stay for the flop.

Once the initial betting round is completed, the dealer burns one card, then deals 3 cards in the middle of the table, face up for all players to see.

A new round of betting resumes starting with the player to the left of the dealer.

The dealer burns one card and deals 1 card, called the Turn. Four community cards are now visible to the players.

A new round of betting resumes with the player to the left of the dealer.

The dealer burns one card and deals 1 final card, the River. Five community cards are now visible to the players.

Players analyze their best five-card hand and a final round of betting resumes starting with the player to the left of the dealer.

There is a showdown of all active players (starting with the player to the left of the last player to call) and the winning hand wins all blinds and bets for that hand.

The dealer button moves clockwise to the next player and another round of play begins.

LEARNING SCENARIO:

Texas Hold 'Em can be played with as little as 2 players and as many as 10 at one table. So, here's our learning scenario. To make it easy, we'll be playing with 4 other players.

Blinds are $5 and $10. We are Player E (to the right of the dealer button) and we are holding the Ace of hearts and the King of diamonds, a strong starting hand.

Player A sits behind the dealer button

Player B is the small blind ($5)

Player C is the big blind ($10)

The dealer (Player A) deals cards face down to each player, starting on the left and moving clockwise around the table to Player B, C, D, E and A until all players have 2 cards.

Pre-flop betting begins to the left of the big blind, Player D. Players can check, raise (re-raise) or fold. All players must bet at least the big blind ($10) or a maximum of all their chips. Player D folds. Player E (us) bets $10. Player A also folds. Player B, the small blind, want to see a flop so they add $5 to equal the big blind. Player C, the big blind, does not raise. Pot total: $30

When the last player acts - checks, calls a bet, calls a raise, calls a raise and re-raise, or folds - the betting round is finished.

The dealer burns one card and puts 3 community cards - the flop - face-up in the middle of the table.

A new round of betting resumes, starting with the player to the left of the dealer, Player B.

Player B: checks

Player C: bets $10

Player E (us): calls $10 bet from Player C

Player B: calls $10 from Player C

New pot total: $60

The dealer burns one card and adds 1 card to the flop - the Turn.

A new round of betting resumes, starting with the player to the left of the dealer, Player B.

Player B: bets $20

Player C: folds

Player E (us): calls $20 from Player B

New pot total: $100

The dealer burns one card and adds 1 final card - the River. Remaining players analyze their hands, make a 5-card poker hand and bet on the results.

A final round of betting resumes, starting with the player to the left of the dealer, Player B.

Player B: bets $25

Player E (us): calls $25, raises $10

Player B: calls $10

New pot total: $170

Players reveal their hands face up on the table in a showdown starting with the player to the left of the last player to call. In our scenario, we only have 2 players left and Player B was the last player to call, so we reveal first. The highest ranked hand wins and takes the $170 pot.

Player E (us) made a Full House and wins the pot. Player E used the Ace of hearts and King of diamonds hole cards to make a Full House - three 9s and 2 Aces. The player's King and the Queen on the board are useless once all the cards are revealed. The player uses the Ace and three 9s from the community cards and his hole card Ace to make his best five-card hand. In this case, a Full House, nines full of Aces.

If at any time, all but one player folds, the last active player wins without having to show the hand.