Each players gets one card at a time, starting with the player to the left of the dealer. These two cards are unique and can only be used by that player to make certain combinations. The first player that sits next to the dealer is called small blind, the second next to him is called the big blind. These two players must bet a certain amount. The big blind must bet double of the what the small blind bets. This to ensure that players will keep placing bets. After this the first round starts. The player left of the big blind has to place a bet first. He has three options: he bets the same as the big blind (call), raises the bet (raise) or decides to put his cards away (fold) and stop playing this round. Each player that follows has the same options. However, when one player raises the bet all other players have to raise as well (call) to the same amount. If a player thinks the bet is getting too high he can stop (fold) and can't join in anymore for that game. If he has already placed a bet, the money stays in the pot. After all bets are placed, the dealer removes one card (burn) from the stack and puts three other cards (flop) on the table. Then the second round starts. The first player, that's next to the big blind, has three options. He can decide to keep his bet and not to raise anymore (check), he can raise his bet or he can put his cards away (fold). A player in this position however does never use this last option.

Because he can always ‘check’ and see if the other players go with him. If not then raise. When the second round of placing bets is over, a new card is removed from the stack. The dealer then puts one card next to the other three cards (turn) on the table. This is followed by a new round of placing bets. In the end the dealer removes one card followed by the fifth card (river), that is placed next to the other four cards. Then new bets are made.

Every bet that has been made goes to one pot. Then there is the ‘showdown’ and players can compare there best five cards (hand) with each other. If a hand is the same as another, the pot will be devided. It's possible the round stops earlier, like when all players ‘fold’ and only one player is left. This player can then decide to show his cards, or throw them on to the stack (muck). With poker different strategies are used. One of the m is bluffing. A player can pretend to have a high combination of cards to make other players pass faster. Most of the time this is done by placing extremely high bets. A very well-known phenomenon is placing a bet with all the money (all-in). It's often difficult to see if a player really does have good cards or is just bluffing, so it's a gamble.

The combinations

The following combinations are possible (from highest to lowest of value): Royal flush: A series of five cards in order. The cards must all be of the same kind. With a royal flush the Ace is the highest. For example: A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠ Straight flush: A series of five cards in order. The cards must all be of the same kind. Incase the other player has the same combination, the player with the highest order wins. For example: 5♦ 6♦ 7♦ 8♦ 9♦

Four of a kind: A series of four cards of the same type. For example: A♦ A♥ A♣ A♠ 8♠

Full house: A series of three cards of the same type. For example: K♦ K♥ K♣ 10♥ 10♠

Flush: A series of five cards, of which the order is unimportant, but should be of the same kind. 5♦ 10♦ 2♦ 4♦ Q♦

Straight (straat): A series of five cards in order. They should be of the same kind. 5♦ 6♥ 7♥ 8♠ 9♣

Three of a kind: A series of three cards of the same type. For example:. K♦ K♥ K♣ 8♥ 5♠

Two pairs (twee paar): A series of two pair cards. One pair meaning: two cards of the same type. For example: 5♦ 5♥ 8♥ 8♠ 9♣

One pair (één paar): A series of one pair of cards. One pair meaning: two cards of the same type. For example: Q♦ Q♥ 7♥ 4♠ 2♣

Highcard of no pair: If none of the players have any combination from above, it's about who has the highest card. The ace is the highest and the 2 is the lowest. For example:. K♦ J♥ 5♥ 3♠ 2♣