The Blinds – obligatory bets

The blinds are obligatory bets that are placed before the dealer hands out the cards. The player to the left of the dealer puts in the small blind and the player to his left enters the big blind. The big blind is normally twice the size of the small blind. You know the dealer from the “Dealer Button” that is placed in front of him or her. The dealer position is called “on the Button”.

Pre-Flop – betting round one

When the blinds have been entered all the players receives two cards placed face down. The player to the left of the big blind will act first in the opening betting round. He can call (the amount of the big blind), make a raise or fold. After this the turn goes clockwise around the table and if no one has made a raise the player who entered the big blind closes the betting. If a raise has been made the players still in the hand will be given an opportunity to respond to this by folding, calling or re-raising.

The Flop – betting round two

When the first betting round is finished the dealer places three cards face up on the table. These are called “The Flop” and are community cards that can be used by all the players. If the small blind is still playing, he opens the betting. The turn then goes clockwise around the table to every player that didn’t fold in the opening betting round.

The Turn – betting round three

When the second betting round is finished the dealer places another face-up card on the table. This card is known as “The Turn”. The betting in this round follows the same procedure as the betting on the flop.

The River – betting round four

When the third betting round is finished the dealer places a fifth and final face-up card on the table. This is known as “The River”. The betting in this round follows the same procedure as the betting on the flop and the turn. When all bets are made the player who was last to bet or raise reveals his cards. The other remaining players show their cards if they have a better hand, if they don’t the have the option to muck their cards. The player with the best poker hand wins. However, if a player made a bet or a raise that no one called he wins the pot without having to show his cards.

When the hand is finished the Dealer Button moves one step to the left and the next hand can begin with the entering of blinds.