1. The betting structure can be fixed or limited to the pot or limited to your total number of chips, but all texas holdem games start with two players placing money into the pot before they see their cards. This is referred to as "posting the blinds". These players, both immediately to the left of the dealer, are the only two players that must put money in the pot before they get their cards.

2. The game uses a regular deck of 52 regular playing cards.

3. Each participant is dealt two cards face down.

4. Then there is a round of betting starting with the poker player positioned to the left of the two who had to put money into the pot without seeing their cards. The betting proceeds in a clockwise formation until everyone has had a chance to call, raise. or fold.

5. The amount bet depends on what kind of game it is - limit, pot limit, or no limit. Limit is the easiest version to play as you cannot bet more than the limits on the table. Pot limit texas holdem allows any player to bet up to the total in the pot. No limit allows any player to bet all their chips at any time.

6. After the betting ends the dealer places the next three cards face up on the table. These cards are referred to as the flop and are community cards that anyone still playing the game (not folded) can use with their two cards to form their best possible five card texas holdem poker hand.

7. Another round of betting follows the flop with the player to the left of the dealer playing first. If it is your turn to play you can bet, call, raise, or fold.

8. Once the betting is finished the dealer turns the next card onto the table. This card is the "turn" card or "4th street" and now all the players left in the hand have the option of using either of their cards and the four cards on the table or both their cards and any three of the four on the table. At this point you should have a good idea if you have any chance of winning this hand.

9. The player to the left of the dealer starts another round of betting and each player has the option to bet, call, raise, or fold.

10. Again after the betting is over the dealer puts another card face up on the table. This card is the last card the players can use in making their best 5 card poker hand. Since there are no more cards dealt it becomes clear what combination of cards yields the best possible hand.

11. There is one final round of betting.

12. Once the betting is finished the players reveal their cards and the best hand wins (unless there is a tie).