Section 4: Gameplay
The Four Betting Rounds
- Pre-flop: after the hole cards are dealt.
- The flop: three community cards dealt face up, then betting.
- The turn: a fourth community card, then betting.
- The river: a fifth community card, then a final round.
Actions
- Check: pass, only when no bet is outstanding.
- Bet / raise: put chips in, or increase an existing bet.
- Call: match the current bet.
- Fold: surrender the hand and any chips already committed.
In no-limit hold'em a player may bet their entire stack at any point. A player who cannot cover a bet may go all-in and remains eligible for the portion of the pot they matched; further betting forms a side pot.
Making a Hand
Your hand is the best five cards from your two hole cards plus the five community cards. You may use both, one, or neither — playing the board is legal, and when the board is the best hand available the pot is split.