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• The two players immediately to the left of the Dealer begin by posting the blind bets.
• Two pocket cards are dealt to each player, face-down.
• First round of betting - options are to fold, bet, or raise.
• Only one bet, and three raises per player are allowed on the first round.
• Players cannot "check" in the first round, as Blinds are live bets, not antes. The only player with the option of checking is the one who posted the big blind, as long as no one else has raised.
• Three communal cards (the "flop") are dealt face-up in the center of the table. All communal cards are active for all players and can be used in combination with each player's two cards.
• Second round of betting - options are to check, fold, bet, or raise.
• Fourth communal card (the "Turn") is dealt face-up.
• Third round of betting - options are to check, fold, bet, or raise.
• If at this stage there are still at least two players in the remaining hand, the fifth and final communal card (the "River") is dealt face-up.
• Final round of betting follows.
• The Showdown! All remaining players then create the best five-card hand possible. You can use:
• Both pocket cards and three communal cards
• One pocket card and four communal cards
• All five communal cards
• The best hand wins the pot. If two or more Players have the same winning hand, the pot is split equally between them.

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• As per normal poker rules - playing and betting proceeds in a clockwise direction.
• The two players immediately to the left of the Dealer post the blind bets.
• Small Blind (the player who sits to the immediate left of the Dealer) bets an amount equal to half the lower betting limit.
• Big Blind (the player who sits to the left of the Small Blind) posts an amount equal to the lower betting limit.
• Betting increments in the game determine the blinds. In a game of $2 and $4 betting increments, the small blind is $1, and the big blind is $2.
• The blind bets in Texas Hold'em are considered as active bets, and therefore, players have the option to check, fold, call, and raise when the betting action returns to their position.
• Only one bet, and three raises per player are allowed on the first round.
• Players cannot "check" in the first round, as Blinds are bets, and not antes. (The exception is the player who posted the big blind, as long as no one has raised.)
• Second and subsequent betting rounds - options are to check, fold, bet, or raise.
• All bets must be placed according to the game's betting increments.
• There are four possible betting rounds in Texas Hold'em poker. Each bet and raise during the first two rounds is set at the lower limit of the stakes structure, and for the last two rounds at a higher limit structure. For example in a $1/$2 Texas Hold'em game, all bets and raises are $1 for the first two rounds (after pocket cards are dealt and after the flop). All bets and raises are $2 for the last two rounds (after the turn and after the river).
• The maximum number of bets allowed per player during any betting round in Texas Hold'em poker is four. This includes a (1) bet, (2) raise, (3) re-raise, and (4) cap. The term cap is used to describe the 3rd raise in a round since further raises are not allowed. Once capped, players only have the options of calling or folding.
• In betting rounds where players have folded, the first active player to the left of the Disc/Dealer is first to act.
• To ensure fairness for all players, new players entering a Texas Hold'em game are required to post the equivalent of the big blind if they wish to participate in the next hand. All players have the option of sitting out and waiting for the actual big blind to come around to their position before starting play.
• By preventing players from constantly entering poker games in a late position and leaving before they're required to post a blind, these rules stop potential abuse of the online environment.

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• Five of the seven total cards can be seen after the flop. At this point, you will have a good indication of how strong your hand will be in the final round. Consider your cards, and bet carefully. Staying for the Turn and the River demands that you either have a strong hand, a draw to a potentially winning hand, or good reason to believe that betting aggressively in a future round may cause your opponents to fold.
• As a general rule, don't continue beyond the flop without diverse possibilities - a strong pair with a decent side-card, strong overcards, or a straight or flush draw. If you flop a draw, stick with it as long as the pot promises a greater payoff than the odds against making your hand.
• Although Ace-King is a terrific starting combination, it generally needs to catch a flop with either an Ace or King in it to play aggressively.
• When you must act before most of your opponents, play few hands. Acting last in Hold'em is like batting last in baseball. It's a big advantage. In fact, hands that you'd routinely fold from early position might be raising hands if you are last to act.
• Carefully consider how the communal cards can combine with your two hidden pocket cards to create a winning hand. By the same token, consider what possible hands your opponents could be holding.
• Call it quits when necessary. You haven't lost much if you have a worthless hand and fold early in the game. It's good practice to err on the side of caution; it costs less.
• Success at Texas Hold'em demands that you be patient, pay close attention to position, and take comfort in the knowledge that good hands are run down less often than the best seven-card stud hands.

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