Each player gets two private cards
Five community cards are dealt face up in the center
The goal is to make the best five-card hand using any combination of your two cards and the five community cards
A hand begins with two players posting blinds
The player to the left of the big blind acts first preflop
Players can fold, call, or raise on their turn
Three community cards are dealt on the flop
Another betting round follows the flop
One more community card is dealt on the turn
Another betting round follows the turn
The final community card is dealt on the river
A final betting round follows the river
If more than one player remains after the final betting round, there is a showdown
The best five-card hand wins the pot
Hand rankings from highest to lowest are royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair, high card
If two hands are equal, the pot is split
Position matters because acting later gives more information
The dealer button moves one seat clockwise after each hand