Texas Hold'em Poker is the most commonly played Poker game.
The objective of Texas Hold'em poker is to finish up with the best Poker hand and get the cash.

Each player gets 2 cards face down, this cards are called "Pocket Cards" and can only be seen by the player who gets them.
In addition to those 2 cards received by each player 5 more community cards will be dealt by the dealer that will be mutual to all players.

 

The game

The cards will be dealt in clockwise direction from the dealer.
Each player receives 2 cards, face down, so that only he could see them.
Now, it is time to start betting, (after all this is why we are all here, to make money).
In this stage, each player will put the bet according to his 2 "Pocket Cards" only.

In order for a player to stay in the hand he should at least match the bet, his other options are to fold, or raise the bet.
The bets are made clockwise, each player should fold, raise or match.

Now, after the first round of bets is done, it is time for the "Flop", the flop is the first 3 community cards that should be turned, face up, so that all players can see.
Each player can use this cards to built a hand together with his "Pocket Cards".

Now it is time for another round of bets.
After the second betting round is over, another card is turned, the fourth community card, the "Turn Card".
Like the three "Flop Cards" before, this card can be used by all players, with the "Pocket cards" and the "Flop cards" to build a hand.
Now, another round of bets.

When this round is over it is time for the last card, "River Card" to be turned face up.
Now each player can see the strongest 5 cards hand he can built and another betting round commence.

When that last round is over, it is time for all players to show their hands from the last one who made the bet and see who is the lucky winner with the strongest hand (my personal favorite stage of the game, unless, it is not me).

If a player wins because he is the only player left, he doesn't have to show his cards and can do so only if chooses.

The winner with the strongest hand is determent by the universal poker hand ranking.

Hold'em

Hole Cards A		Hole Cards B
The Flop	The Turn	The River
Final Hand A		Final Hand B
Two pair (Q's and 3's with a K)		Two pair (K's and 3's with an A)

 

Poker hands ranking:

This is the universal poker hands ranking from strongest hand to weakest:

1. Straight flush
Straight flush is a hand of 5 sequential cards of the same suit (same type).
For example:
J(S) - 10(S) - 9(S) - 8(S) - 7(S).
The strongest Straight flush is called Royal Flush, which is a straight flush with 10 - J - Q - K - A.
For example:
A(D)- K(D) - Q(D) - J(D) - 10(D).

Notice that: The Ace card can be used as the highest card or as the lowest card.
For example:
A(S) - 2(S) - 3(S) - 4(S) - 5(S) is also a Straight flush.
However:
Q(S) - K(S) - A(S) - 2(S) - 3(S) is not a Straight flush.

2. Four of a kind
Four cards of the same index.
For example:
7(H) - 7(D) - 7(C) - 7(S) - Q(D)
The strongest Four of a kind hand is A - A - A - A - K
For example:
A(D)-A(C)-A(S)-A(H)-K(H).

3. Full House
three cards of the same index and another two of the same different index.
For example:
5(C) - 5(S) - 5(H) - 8(C) - 8(D)
The strongest Full House is A - A - A - K - K
For example:
A(C) - A(H) - A(D) - K(S) - K(H)

4. Flush
Any five cards of the same suite but not in sequence.
For example:
Q(S) - J(S) - 9(S) - 5(S) - 3(S)

5. Straight
Any five cards in a sequence but not all from the same suit.
For example:
J(D) - 10(S) - 9(S) - 8(H) - 7(D)

Notice that: The Ace card can be used as the highest card or as the lowest card.
For example:
A(S) - 2(H) - 3(D) - 4(C) - 5(C) is also a Straight.
However:
Q(D) - K(S) - A(D) - 2(C) - 3(H) is not a Straight.

6. Three of a kind
Any three cards of the same index.
For example:
9(H)-9(S)-9(D)-Q(H)-5(C)
The strongest "Three of a kind" hand is A - A - A - K - Q
For example:
A(D) - A(C) - A(H) - K(S) - Q(H)

7. Two Pairs
two cards of the same index and another two of the same different index.
For example:
Q(D) - Q(H) - 5(D) - 5(C) - 8(S)
The best Two pairs is A - A - K - K - Q
For example:
A(S) - A(D) - K(S) - K(H) - Q(D)

8. Pair
two cards of the same index.
For example:
7(S) - 7(D) - K(S) - 8(H) - 2(D)
The strongest "Pair" is A - A - K - Q - J
For example:
A(H) - A(S) - K(C) - Q(H) - J(S)

9. High Card
In a series of cards from 2 till Ace, the higher the card is the stronger its rating is. After 10 the rating goes up for a Jack, Queen, King and Ace (Strongest).
For example:
9(S) - 7(S) - 6(H) - 4(C) - 2(D)
The strongest "High Card" hand is A - K - Q - J - 9
For example:
A(H) - K(D) - Q(D) - J(C) - 9(D)