It doesn't matter what type of poker you are playing, pay or free poker. Hold'em is played in this way: Each player gets two cards, face down. Like any other game, you ante at the start and the first betting interval comes after the first two down cards are dealt. The play rotates to the left of the dealer. On this opening round, a player must stay or get out (fold).

Next, three cards are dealt face up in the center. This is called the flop, and these are community cards to be used by all players in making their "hands", along with the two they have already got in their hand. You make a second wager after the flop. This time, a player can pass, because a pot has already been started.

As with before 2 additional cards ("the turn" and "the river") are then dealt out to the middle of the table with the suit facing upwards for all to see. After each card there is a further chance to have a flutter, check or walk away and fold.

In the games in which I play, we always burn (discard) the top cards at the start of every turn–you burn one and turn one. This is a precaution, and the main reason for it is that burning or discarding that top card eliminates cheating about ninety percent of the time (marked cards won't work for a cheater when the top card is burned).

We're not accusing anybody of being a cheater: Burning the top card is just a traditional thing in professional and in many amateur games.

Depending on the game your involved in will determine if there is a cap to the money which be won. However Holdem is an appealing game due to the amount of opportunities you will be presented with to have something to draw at.

If you are new to Hold'em then have a go at playing free poker online where its totally free and you wont lose any of your own cash.