Texas Hold 'Em 

A full Texas Hold 'Em table typically has nine or ten players. The dealer position is indicated by a white plastic chip referred to as the button, which is also what the dealer position is called, sometimes referred to as being on the button. 

Pre-flop: Before cards are dealt the forced bets must be paid, which are called the Big Blind and the Little Blind. The little blind is sometimes called the small blind as well. A bet is when money is put into the pot for the first time in a round. The amounts of the bets and blinds are predetermined, and the little blind is always half the big blind. 

The dealer will then deal two cards (referred to as pocket cards or hole cards) face down to each player, one at a time, starting with the player on his left. Once the cards are dealt, each player looks at their cards; on their action they must then decide if they wish to call the current bet (the big blind, which is the highest amount bet at this point) which means to match it, fold their hand with out betting if they don't like their cards, or raise the bet by putting in more money. 

Each player, starting with the seat to the left of the big blind, makes their choice and acts. If a player raises the bet, each player must now call the new amount, including those who may have already acted. At any time a player may re-raise, meaning that they raise it again beyond the amount it was raised previously. 

If no player raises the big blind, then the player in that position may check, meaning they do not want to put more money in, or raise. It is important to note that if a player raises he may not raise again unless he was re-raised, as opposed to called. The round of betting stops when all players have either folded or called the last raise. 

Flop: The dealer burns a card, which means they deal it to one side and it is not used in play, and then deals three cards face down. The dealer then turns the three cards face up simultaneously; this is called the flop. These are the first of five community cards that all players can use, along with their pocket cards, to make the best possible poker hand. 

The standard poker hand ranks are used. A player must make a decision as in pre-flop play, with one change: they can choose to check if they don't want to bet or fold. Many experts advise players to stop here if they do not improve their hand, as they have now seen five of the seven cards they will use. Once again, the betting round ends only when all players have folded or called the last bet or raise. 

Turn: The dealer burns another card and then deals a fourth community card, called the turn, face up. There is another round of betting, exactly as after the flop. 

River: After a final burn card, the dealer turns over the fifth and last community card, called the River. 

There is one final round of betting. At this point (or before) if all but one player folds, the last player who didnt fold wins the pot. This player may fold his hand, which means to toss it into the discard pile by the dealer without showing anyone what it was. 

Showdown: A showdown occurs when a player is called after the River, and could involve anywhere from two players to the entire table, depending on how many stayed in to this point. 

All players still in the hand show their cards, starting with the last person to bet. At any point after this player showed his cards other players in the showdown may muck their hand, essentially conceding the pot; just think of mucking as folding. They are admitting they have been beaten without having to show their cards. 

The best five-card poker hand wins using the cards dealt on the table and the cards in your hand. 

Hand Example Description 
Royal Flush A K Q J 10 The Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Ten, all of the same suit. All suits are equal, so all royal flushes are equal. Straight Flush 10 9 8 7 6 The straight flush is 5 cards in sequential order, all of the same suit. Aces can be high or low. 
Four of a Kind K K K K Four cards with the same rank, the fifth card can be anything. 
Full House K K K 8 8 A full house is 3 of a kind with another pair of cards. The highest Full-House would be "Aces over Kings", meaning 3 aces and 2 kings. 
Flush K 2 6 3 J A flush is 5 cards of the same suit. The cards are not in sequence. 
Straight J 10 9 8 7 A sequence of 5 cards, in order, but not of the same suit. Aces can be high or low. 
Three of a Kind 8 8 8 3 cards of the same rank. 
Two Pair 9 9 4 4 Two sets of two cards of the same rank 
One Pair Q Q Any two cards of the same rank 
High Card A The highest card, when there are no pairs, straights, or flushes!