• The game begins with the posting of the small blind by the person to the left of the virtual dealer.
• The player to the immediate left posts the big blind.
• Each player is dealt two cards, face down, at the start. These are called the pocket cards.
• Following the dealing of the pocket cards is a round of betting, beginning with the first participating player to the left of the virtual dealer. This first round of betting is at the lower level of the table stakes. In a $10/$20 game, each bet in this round is $10.
• Next, three community cards are dealt, face up. These are called the flop.
• Now there is another round of betting. This second round is again at the lower stakes level.
• A fourth card, called the turn is dealt face up.
• Once again, there is a round of betting. Now betting in this third round is at the higher stakes level. Using the $10/$20 game example, all bets are now $20.
• A fifth and final face up card, called the river is dealt.
• A final round of betting is held. Once again, the betting in this fourth round is at the higher stakes level.
• Beginning with the last player to bet, players must show or muck their hands. This is called the Showdown.

In Texas Hold'em, betting always begins with the first active player to the left of the dealer button.

The winning hand is the strongest hand found by combining a player's pocket cards and the community cards. You can win with a hand made up from both your pocket cards and three community cards, or one pocket card and four pocket cards. You can even share in the winning if you are still in and the board, the five community cards, makes up the winning hand.