The Flop – The Rules of the Flop

Once the first round of betting is complete (preflop), the dealer places three cards face up in the middle of the table. These three cards are then known as the flop (as seen in the image above).

These cards are the first three of five cards referred to as community cards or the board, which everyone can use, along with their two hole cards, to make the best possible five-card poker hand.

After the flop-cards have been placed in the middle, another round of betting begins. In this round of betting, the first player after the dealer button still holding cards is first to act. In this round there is no blind bet, so the first player to act (often the small blind) may check or bet.

In no-limit Texas Hold'em, a bet must be an amount equal to or greater than the initial big blind. In limit hold’em, the bet must be exactly the amount of the big blind.

If everyone checks, or if a player bets and all of the other players match the bet or fold, then this round of betting is complete and we move on to the turn.

Continue reading about the rules of the next betting round called the turn.