DEALER BUTTON

• There is a marker (normally a small plastic disc) called the dealer button that indicates which player is the dealer. Action is always initiated to the left of the dealer and continues in a clockwise manner.
• At the end of each hand the button is moved clockwise to the next player, who then becomes the dealer.

BLINDS

• Before the cards are dealt the two players to the left of the dealer place initial bets called the 'small blind' and the 'big blind' in order to create a pot to play for.
• The small blind (to the dealers left) places a bet equal to half the smallest structured bet, and the big blind (to the small blinds left) places a bet equal to the smallest structured bet.

POCKET CARDS

• Each player is dealt two cards called 'pocket cards' which should not be revealed to other players.
• At a later stage five community cards will be dealt face up in the center of the table - each player must make their best possible 5 card poker hand using any 5 of the 7 cards they can see (their 2 pocket cards and the 5 community cards)

FIRST ROUND OF BETTING

• Because the small & big blinds have already started the pot, the player to the left of the big blind is the first to bet. Each player has these options:
• FOLD - Throw in their hand and forfeit.
• CALL - Make a bet equivalent to the last bet - at the start of the game the 'last' bet placed was by the big blind.
• RAISE - Make a bet equivalent to the last bet plus an additional bet.
• Betting continues in a clockwise manner until all players remaining in the hand have an equivalent stake in the pot.

THE FLOP

• After the initial betting round three community cards are dealt face up in the center of the table - this is called the 'flop' and can be used by all players to make up their hand.
• The second betting round is now started by the player to the dealers left. Players now have another betting option:
• CHECK - If no bets have been made then the player can opt to make no bet and control is then passed onto the player to their left.

THE TURN

• At the end of the second betting round the fourth community card is dealt which is called the 'turn' or 'fourth street'.
• The third betting round is now started by the player to the dealers left

THE RIVER

• After the third betting round is finished the fifth and final community card is dealt, this is called the 'river' or 'fifth street'.
• A final betting round is now initiated by the player to the dealers left.

END OF THE HAND

• Once the final betting round is complete the remaining players must show their cards to see who wins the pot.
• The player to the dealers left must first show their cards and then the remaining players, in order, can opt to fold or show their cards.
• The player with the highest 5 card poker hand made up from their 2 pocket cards and the 5 community cards wins the pot.
• In the event of 2 or more players having equivalent high hands, the pot is split equally.