At the start of the game each player pays the same amount of money into a ‘pot’ to buy a stake (represented by X amount of chips) Each player starts with the same amount of chips. The winner is the person with all the chips at the end.

A dealer is selected
If playing online the cards are dealt automatically by the dealer; otherwise (if playing in real life) a dealer may deal the cards - usually players in home-games take it in turns to deal (the dealer moving clockwise around the table after each hand)
‘Ante up’

To ensure there is always something to play for, the person left of the dealer places a small blind bet before seeing any cards (small ante / small blind) The person left of the ’small ante/blind ‘ places double this bet (the large ante/big blind).
Game Starts!

Two cards are dealt to each player, then players take it in turns to bet. Betting is done in a clockwise order around the table. The betting starts with the person in the seat left of the ‘large ante’(or big-blind).

Calling
The large ante / big blind is a compulsory raise to start the betting. The player left of the ‘large ante’ must at least match this bet to stay in the game (call). Calling is betting enough chips to match a raise.

Raising
A raiser ‘calls’ by matching the large ante and bets more chips. Each player must then match their raise as well to call. The total chips to call must equal the highest total chips bet by any individual (or if a player does not have enough, they may bet all their remaining chips)

Re-Raise
The other players can of course choose to re-raise and add even more chips. More than one raise may take place before the decision to check/bet/fold/raise comes round to you again. If you are not confident in your hand you can ‘fold’.

Folding
You choose not to call. You lose the chips you have bet on the hand so far and take no further part. Even if you would have had the best hand at the end, it is too late, you ‘folded’ your cards.

Ending a round of betting
Eventually the betting will reach a point when nobody is willing to raise or someone has to bet all their chips to call. If a player raises and everyone to their left calls or folds in succession ,the round is over. This raiser cannot decide to bet again.

Round 2: Post-Flop
Three shared cards are dealt face up. The betting starts again, this time the person immediately left of the dealer decides what to do first. There are no ante bets. At the start of this round players left in the game have bet exactly the same amount of chips.

Checking (knocking)
No compulsory raise is made. Therefore the raise is ‘zero’ chips. A check is a zero bet. If a person checks, the decision is passed to the player on the left. If everyone ‘checks’ the betting round is over. No bets were made and round 3 begins. If a player raises, the choices revert to ‘call, raise or fold’.

Round 4: Fifth Street
A fourth shared card is dealt face up. The betting begins again with the player on the left of the dealer. The choices for this player are check or raise. Once a raise is made by a player, the choices revert to ‘call, raise or fold’.
winning!

Once the final hand of betting is complete, players still in the hand (those who have not folded) show their two cards, starting left of the dealer and moving clockwise. Player with the best five card hand wins all the chips.

Tied/Drawn hands
If hands are drawn the chips are split between the winning players (a `split-pot’). If the best five card hand is the five ’shared’ cards, it is a draw and the pot is split evenly between the players left in the hand (those players who folded still lose their staked chips).
Going ALL IN

In NO LIMIT poker there is no maximum raise. Players can bet everything on one hand. The player stands immediately for the remainder of the hand (in readiness to leave the table). If the player loses, their game is over (they have no chips left to bet with).

Next hand
The cards are shuffled by the dealer, or the next person to deal (the pack passes to the left each hand). A cut is offered to the player on the right. Antes bets are placed. The cards are dealt and another poker hand begins. Betting rounds as before.
Raising the antes (compulsory ‘blind’ bets)

The size of the compulsory bets is doubled at set times during the game e.g. every 40 minutes. For a quicker game 20 minute intervals can be used. Raising the antes ensures the game will come to an end and promotes betting.
Side pots

A player cannot reraise someone who is all in. The person would have no chips to match them. Instead, any players who wish to remain in the game match the ‘all in’ stake and start betting against each other for a ’side pot’. At the showdown, two pots are up for grabs. If the ‘ALL IN’ player wins they take the original pot. The remaining players then showdown for the ’side pot’. The ‘ALL IN’ players cards do not count in this second showdown.