Play of the hand
Texas Holdem is played with a standard deck of 52 cards without jokers. When the small blind and the big blind are posted, each player is dealt with two cards face down (frequently referred to as “pocket cards”). Pocket cards are the only individual cards in the game – the rest of cards dealt throughout the game are shared by all players and are frequently called “community cards”. Pocket cards are only revealed at the showdown, unless a player folds.
The first betting round (preflop) begins with a player sitting to the left of the big blind, unless no blinds are used (in this case the game starts with a player sitting to the left of the dealer button). Note that all poker games including Texas Holdem are played clockwise. During the first betting round all players must either fold, call the big blind (unless you posted one of the blinds – if you have posted the big blind, which is considered a bet – you can check or raise and if you have posted the small blind than you will either have to call a half of the big blind, or raise) or raise bets made by someone sitting earlier than you.
For example, if you have posted the small $0,5 blind and the next player have posted the big $1 blind, then when your turn comes you can either fold, call $0,5 (to match the size of the minimum bet) or raise, if someone before your already made a bet or raised.
Right after the the preflop, if there are still two or more players staying in the pot, the first three community cards are dealt face-up (the flop). The flop is followed by the second betting round, which, as well as all subsequent betting rounds, starts with a player sitting to the left of the dealer button.
After the flop, as well as after all subsequent betting rounds, only one community card is dealt onto the table. The last community card is followed by the fourth betting round and then the showdown occurs, unless only one player still says in the pot (the others fold).
In live games, the dealer burns one card before the flop, turn and river, which is done to prevent players see the back of the next community card to come, because it can be somehow marked by coggers. In online Texas Holdem games no cards are burnt due to the fact that marking cards in online poker rooms is simply impossible.