In holdem, the initial step is to get the card game started, and for this the competitors put out a certain amount of cash. ‘Posting the blinds’ is the commonly used expression for this play. In the next step, the croupier shuffles the cards and deals out 2 cards face down to every player. A normal deck of fifty two cards is used. Then there is the first round of betting. This sequence is usually referred to as a "pre-flop".

Following the first betting sequence, the top card is thrown away. This tossed aside card is referred to as the "burn card", and this is performed to guarantee that there is absolutely no treachery. The following 3 cards are then flipped face up on the poker table. These cards are referred to as ‘the flop’. Now comes a second sequence of betting, after which the dealer burns another card and deals one more card onto the table. After this, competitors can use the 6th card to form a 5card poker hand.

Another sequence of betting follows, and in a good many styles of poker, here is where the wager amount doubles. There is an additional round of tossing aside a card, and a final deal of a card face-up on the table. This is known as the "river". Bettors can now utilize any of the five cards on the board, and/or the 2 cards in their hand, to assemble a 5card poker hand.

To finish it up there is another sequence of betting. Then, all the remaining players begin to display their hands. This is referred to as the "showdown". Clearly, the competitor who shows the greatest hand is the winner. When competitors have equal hands a sharing of the winnings is used.

Texas hold’em is a very easy game to pick up, but to acquire ability one needs a lot of studying.