THE SHUFFLE, THE DEAL AND THE BLINDS The dealer shuffles a standard 52-card deck. (In casinos, the dealer never plays. A round disc -- known as a "dealer button" -- moves clockwise from player to player with each hand. The button marks which player would be the dealer if the deal were advanced from player to player as the game went along.) Most Texas Hold ' Em Poker games start with the two players to the left of the dealer (the button) putting a predetermined amount of money into the pot before any cards are dealt, ensuring that there ' s something to play for on every hand. This is called "posting the blinds." Most often, the "first blind" -- the player to the left of the dealer -- puts up half the minimum bet, and the "second blind" puts up the full minimum bet. Each player is dealt two cards, face down. These are known as the "hole cards."     Betting Begins  A round of betting takes place, beginning with the player to the left of the two who posted the blinds. Players can call, raise, or fold when it ' s their turn to bet.   The Flop After the first betting round, the dealer discards the top card of the deck. This is called burning the card and is done to ensure that no one accidentally saw the top card, and to help prevent cheating. The dealer then flips the next three cards face up on the table. These cards are called the "flop." NOTE: Eventually, a total of five community cards will be placed face up on the table. Players can use any combination of the community cards and their own two hole cards to form the best possible five-card Poker hand. After the flop, another round of betting takes place, beginning with the player to the left of the dealer (the button). During this and all future rounds of betting, players can check, call, raise, or fold when it ' s their turn to bet. Fourth Street   The dealer burns another card and plays one more face up onto the table. This, the fourth community card, is called the "turn" or " Fourth Street ." The player to the left of the dealer (the button) begins the third round of betting. Fifth Street   The dealer burns another card before placing the final face-up card on the table. This card is called the "river" or " Fifth Street ."   Final Betting and The Winner Players can now use any combination of seven cards -- the five community cards and the two hole cards known only to them -- to form the best possible five-card Poker hand. The fourth and final round of betting starts with the player to the left of the dealer (the button). After the final betting round, all players who remain in the game reveal their hands. The player who made the initial bet or the player who made the last raise shows their hand first. The player with the best hand wins. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So, always remember these two things: 1. The two cards you hold are the only cards that set you apart from the other players and give you the chance to win. 2. All of the face-up cards are community cards, shared by you and every other player.

HAND RANKINGS Standard five-card Poker hands are ranked here in order of strength, from the strongest Poker hand to the weakest. 1. Royal Flush This is the best possible hand in standard five-card Poker. Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10, all of the same suit.    2. Straight Flush Any five-card sequence in the same suit (e.g.: 8, 9, 10, Jack and Queen of clubs; or 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of diamonds).                                                                 3. Four of a Kind All four cards of the same value (e.g.: 8, 8, 8, 8; or Queen, Queen, Queen, Queen).    4. Full House Three of a kind combined with a pair (e.g.: 10, 10, 10 with 6, 6; or King, King, King with 5, 5).                                                                 5. Flush Any five cards of the same suit, but not in sequence (e.g.: 4, 5, 7, 10 and King of spades).    6. Straight Five cards in sequence, but not in the same suit (e.g.: 7 of clubs, 8 of clubs, 9 of diamonds, 10 of spades and Jack of diamonds).                                                              7. Three of a Kind Three cards of the same value (e.g.: 3, 3, 3; or Jack, Jack, Jack).    8. Two Pair Two separate pairs (e.g.: 2, 2, Queen, Queen).                                                              9. Pair Two cards of the same value (e.g.: 7, 7).    10. High Card If a Poker hand contains none of the above combinations, it ' s valued by the highest card in it.