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The most popular game on the poker circuit, Texas Hold’em, has seen phenomenal growth the past decade because of its exposure on television.  Texas Hold’em is a seven-card game, with two hole cards and five community cards.  To ensure that there’s money in the pot before each hand, the player to the left of the dealer (or dealer button) posts the small blind, and the player two lefts from the dealer posts the big blind. 

Sequence of Events

Blinds - Two players left of the dealer button both post blinds.  The big blind is equal to the maximum single bet in the first round.  The small blind is half the size of the big blind.  For example, in a $4/$8 Hold'em game, the big blind is $4 and the small blind is $2. Learn more about blinds poker betting basics. 

Before the Flop - Each player is dealt two cards face down, also called hole cards.  The player to the left of the big blind acts first, followed by clockwise rotation of players who can fold, call or raise. 

Flop - After the first of the four betting rounds, the dealer reveals three community cards, also called the Flop.  Another round of betting takes place. 

Turn - The dealer then turns over the fourth card, called the Turn.  Another round of betting. 

River - The dealer reveals the fifth and final community card, called the River.  A final round of betting takes place.  Since there isn’t a dealer in online games, the dealer button is used as a replacement and rotates around the table.

With five community cards on the table, players remaining in the hand can use all five or a combination of one of their hole cards and four board cards, or two of their hole cards and three community cards.  The player with the highest hand wins if a showdown is necessary. Learn more about poker hand rankings

Showdown – When, after all betting in a hand is complete, the players expose their hands and determine a winner. 

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After a hand is completed and the pot taken by the winner, the dealer button is moved one player to the left, and the next hand begins.

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