GENERAL
Before each hand begins, the two players to the left of the dealer will post the blinds. The "small blind" (player to the left of the dealer) puts up half the minimum bet, and the "big blind" (player to the left of the "small blind") puts up the full minimum bet. Antes will also be posted, if required. Players must keep their highest denomination chips visible, and at the front of their chip stack, at all times.

THE HAND
At the start of a hand, each player is dealt two cards face down (hole-cards). A round of betting takes place beginning with the person in first position (player to left of the "big blind"ť). After the first round of betting is complete, the dealer discards the top card of the deck (burning the card) and flips three cards face up on the table (flop). A second round of betting takes place. The dealer burns another card and places one more card face up onto the table (the turn). A third round of betting takes place. The dealer burns another card and places the final face-up card on the table (the river). A fourth and final round of betting takes place. Betting on the flop, turn and river begins with the player to the left of the dealer (typically the "small blind").

A player is responsible for protecting their hole-cards. This can be done by placing a poker chip or other small object on top of the cards. Unprotected cards that are discarded by the dealer cannot be retrieved and the cards will be considered folded.

BETTING ACTION
In limit holdem, bets and raises preflop and on the flop will be equal to the value of the big blind. All bets and raises on the turn and river will be double the value of the big blind. In pot limit holdem, the minimum bet is the value of the big blind and the maximum bet is the total amount of money in the pot. In no limit holdem, the minimum bet is the value of the big blind and the maximum bet is the total amount of money a player has in front of them.

When it's a player's turn to act, they can check, bet, call, raise, or fold (depending on the action of the players before them). An oral statement denotes a player's action and is binding. A player who bets or calls by releasing chips onto the table in front of their hole-cards is bound by that action. String bets (placing chips on the table and returning to the stack for additional chips) are not allowed.

Postflop, if no bets have been made, a player may “check” his hand. This can be down by saying “check” or tapping the table in turn.

A player may fold his hand by saying “fold” or tossing his cards face down toward the dealer or the muck (discard) pile.

WINNING HANDS
Players can use any combination of the seven cards -- the five community cards and their two hole-cards -- to form the best possible five-card poker hand. The player with the best five-card hand wins.

"Cards speak," which means the cards read for themselves and override any oral hand declaration. Players are responsible for protecting their hole-cards until the winner is finally declared.

The following standard five-card poker hands are ranked in order of strength, from the strongest hand to the weakest:

Royal Flush - The highest straight flush and the best possible hand (Ex: 10sJsQsKsAs)

Straight Flush - Any five-card sequence in the same suit (Ex: 2d3d4d5d6d)

Four of a Kind - Any four cards of the same value (Ex: 8c8d8h8s3c)

Full House - Three of a kind combined with a pair (Ex: 9d9h9s6c6s)

Flush - Any five non-sequential cards of the same suit (Ex: 2c4c7c10c8c)

Straight - Five cards in sequence, but not of the same suit (Ex: 7c8c9d10sJh)

Three of a Kind - Three cards of the same value (Ex: JdJhJs9c2d)

Two Pair - Two separate pairs (Ex: 3h3dQcQdAs)

Pair - Two cards of the same value (Ex: 7c7dJd2s9s)

High Card - Highest collection of non-paired cards (Ex: AdQs4c7c2d)