Each hand (or round) begins with a player receiving the dealer button. Throughout the game the dealer button is passed clockwise as each hand is played. Normally the person with the dealer button also deals the cards but on the internet this is done automatically by the computer. The cards are dealt clockwise starting with the person following the dealer.

Before the cards are dealt two blind (forced) bets are made creating an initial pot. The blind bets are made by the two players sitting directly after the button. The person sitting next to the button, also known as the small blind, bets half of the current bet size. In turn the person next to him, also known as the big blind, then puts another bet into the pot. If you are playing $1/$2 then the small blind puts $0.50 and the big blind puts $1 in the pot.

The cards are dealt

Now that we have a pot we can deal the cards. Each player receives two cards the two hole cards. After the cards are dealt the person sitting after blinds (third seat after the button) is first to speak. He can now do one of three things, muck, bet or raise (double the bet). If he mucks he throws his hand away and the action passes to the next player. If he bets or raises then all the remaining players must call or raise his bet to continue to the next round. If you are playing $1/$2 the player would bet $1 and raise $2.

As we mentioned above after a bet is made all remaining players must either call or raise this bet or throw away their hand. The action continues around the table until it reaches the blinds. The blinds naturally also have to call or raise a bet but since they already have put money in the pot they do not always have to put more money in the pot. The small blind must always call at least another half bet to continue playing while the big blind might have the option to check if the pot hasn’t been raised (since he or she already put a bet in the pot). If for instance no one has raised the big blind only has to check to see the flop.

If the pot is raised after an initial bet or raise then the player making the first bet or raise must then call the raise if he or she wants to continue. For instance say that a player bets $1 and the pot is then raised by another player to $2 the first player must then call this raise (paying another $1) to continue. There is maximum of four raises on each betting round in fixed limit. In the case you are playing $1/$2 the maximum bet is $4 the first two betting rounds and then $8 the last two.

If someone raises and no one calls the player immediately wins the pot and the current hand is finished.

When all the players have spoken it is time to see the flop!

The flop

The flop contains the first three community cards which are placed face up on the middle of the table. These community cards can then be used in combination with the hole cards by all players to combine his or hers poker hand. After the cards are dealt it is now the small blinds turn to speak (he or she will speak first on all later rounds as well). He or she can either check or bet. The action then continues around the table until all the players have spoken.

As in the first and in any following betting rounds if someone bets or raises and no one calls the player immediately wins the pot and the hand is finished.

The turn

The turn contains the fourth community card which is placed face up to the right of the first three cards. The third betting round starts and the small blind is first to speak. The bets are now doubled. The action then continues around the table until all the players have spoken.

The river

The last community card is placed on the table. The players now have seven cards to combine the best hand with (their hole cards plus the five cards on the table). The final betting round starts. After everyone has spoken and more than two players remain the players show their hands (also known as the showdown). The player who put in the last bet (and then is called) now has to show his or her hand first. The remaining player/s then show their hands one after the other. A player may choose to muck his or hers hand if it’s worse than a hand already shown. The highest ranking hand wins!