- Play begins by dealing two cards in the Hole (face down) to each player. The player may then use none, one, or both of his hole cards, in combination with any or all of five community cards dealt face up, to make the best possible five-card hand.
- This is followed by a round of betting. Most Hold'em games get the betting started with one or two 'Blind Bets to the left of the dealer. These are forced bets which must be made before seeing ones cards. Check and raise are allowed.
- Each player is free to fold, call the blind bet, or raise. Usually the blinds are 'Live', meaning that they may raise themselves when the action gets back around to them.
- Now three board cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table; this is called the Flop. A round of betting takes place, with action starting on the first blind, immediately to the dealers left. Another card is dealt face up called the Turn, followed by another round of betting.
- Then the final card, the River, is dealt followed by the final round of betting.
- The game is usually played for high only, and each player makes the best five-card combination to compete for the pot.
- A player may even choose to 'Play the Board' and use no hole cards at all. Dead hits or identical five-card hands split the pot; the sixth and seventh cards are not used to break ties.
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