The Flop

After the first round of betting is complete, the pot accumulated so far is gathered at the center of the table. In our example the pot has grown to $11 derived from 5 small bets of $2 and the small blinds $1. The cards of the players who folded pre-flop are no longer visible on the image above. Only the active players cards are depicted.

Now the "flop" is dealt face up on the board. The flop is the first three community cards. The flop in our case is K 8 Q and these cards are available to all active players. After the flop you have seen five of the seven cards that you will be able to use in order to create the best five-card hand. What this means is that you have so much information by now that you should know what kind of condition you are in.

Once the flop is revealed the second betting round begins with the first active player to the left of the button. In our case that is the big blind as the small blind folded pre-flop. All wagering in this round still occur in small bets, bets are made in $2 increments. The actions available are: check, bet, fold, call, or raise (depending on the previous action). The example continues as follows:

1. The big blind checks, thereby deferring the first move to the next player.
2. The next player is you, and you decide to lead the pot. You make a $2 bet.
3. Following you, one player calls.
4. Hereafter another player folds.
5. Now the player on the button decides to raise, making it $4 to go. $2 is a call and $2 is the one increment raise.
6. Facing two bets the big blind folds.
7. You decide to call, putting $2 more in the pot.
8. The following player also calls. As all players now have responded to the last raise, the second round of betting is complete.

- The "flop" consisting of three community cards is revealed.
- The first active player to the left of the dealers button begins the second betting round.
- Depending on the previous action, players may: check, bet, fold, call, or raise. The bet increments are still in small bets.