After the pre-flop betting round the dealer burns the first card in the card pack and deals a flop. The three face up cards dealt are called the flop, and then begins the second betting round. Betting begins with the player who is sitting to the left of the dealer and continues clockwise.

After the second betting round the dealer burns one card again and one card face up is dealt. This card is called the turn or the fourth street. It is followed by the third betting round after which the dealer burns again a card and the last community card is dealt. This one is called the river or the fifth street. It is followed by the fourth betting round. If there are still players after the last betting round, this is the time for showdown and to see who the winner is.

There are 10 possible card combinations in this game:

1. No-pair - also called high-card is a hand which does not contain any of the configurations below i.e. nothing
2. One pair - is a hand which contains two cards of the same rank and three other unmatched cards.
3. Two pair - is a hand which contains two cards of the same rank, two cards of another rank and one unmatched card.
4. Three of a kind - also known as trips and set is a hand which contains three cards of the same rank plus two unmatched cards.
5. Straight - is a hand which contains five cards in sequence but in more than one suit. A hand which contains A, K, Q, J, 10 is an ace-high straight, known also as Broadway.
6. Flush - a hand which contains five cards of the same suit but not in rank sequence
7. Full house - also called a full boat contains three matching cards of one rank and two matching cards of another rank
8. Four of a kind - known also as quads. It contains four cards of one rank plus one card of another rank
9. Straight flush - It contains five cards of the same suit in sequence

10. Royal flush - is the highest poker hand. It is an ace-high straight flush.

It is good to know that suits make no difference, they have no value. The cards in a poker hand which do not take part in determining the rank are called side cards or kickers and in many cases are very important. When part of a straight or straight flush, an ace can appear low. Hands contain always five card and are ranked by category and then by individual card ranks. The smallest two pair defeats all one pairs and high cards. The smallest three of a kind defeats all two pairs, one pairs and high cards etc.