The world’s most popular form of poker. Each player gets two hole cards, five community cards are dealt on the table, and the winner is whoever makes the best five-card hand — or forces everyone else to fold.
You want to win the pot — all the bets in a hand. There are two ways: make the best five-card hand and show it at showdown, or bet so that every opponent folds. A hand is built from your two hole (“pocket”) cards and the five community cards — take the strongest five of the seven available.
The dealer position is marked by the dealer button, which moves one seat left after each hand. The two players to the dealer’s left post forced “blind” bets: the small blind (first to the left, usually half the minimum bet) and the big blind (next player, equal to the minimum bet). Blinds keep money in the pot and the action moving.
From the flop on, the first active player left of the button acts first.
A round ends when all remaining players have matched the bet or folded.
If two or more players remain after the river, there is a showdown: players reveal their cards and the strongest hand wins the pot. Equal hands split the pot; among equally strong hands the kicker (the highest card not in the combination) decides.
The ace can be high (10-J-Q-K-A) or low (A-2-3-4-5).
By bet-size limits there are three formats: no-limit (bet your whole stack), pot-limit (no more than the pot) and fixed-limit (fixed bet sizes). Beginners are usually advised to start with fixed-limit — simpler and less risky.
Five — from your two hole cards and the five community cards, taking the best five of the seven available.
A royal flush — ace, king, queen, jack and ten of the same suit.
Forced bets by the two players to the dealer’s left before the deal; the small blind is usually half the big blind.
The kicker — the highest card outside the combination.
Yes — poker is a gambling game, for adults (18+). Play responsibly.