You are the dealer, and you can see that Player 1 has "posted" the small blind of 1, and Player 2 has posted the big blind of 2. The hole cards are then dealt. You have been dealt the King and 10 of diamonds.

Player 3 is first to act. He can fold, call or raise. He raises the bet to 3.

It is now your turn. You can fold, call or raise. If you don't like your hand, you can fold and take no further part in the hand. If you want to stay in the hand, you can call - i.e you match the largest bet made so far i.e. 3. If you think you have a great hand, you might decide to raise the bet even higher. You decide to call.

Player 1 now has the same choice. He can fold, call or raise. If he folded he would of course lose the chips he has already put into the pot. He calls and so does Player 2. You can now see that everyone has had a chance to act and everyone has now bet the same amount of chips. When this point is reached, the betting round ends.

At this point, the chips in play are usually pulled into the centre of the table. Three communal cards are then dealt. These three cards are know as "The Flop" and you can use them as part of your hand. You can see that you now have a pair of Kings, using the King in your hand and the one in the middle (or, as we say, "on the board").

The player to the left of the dealer acts first. He can check or bet. Player 1 checks - this means he has decided not to bet at this point. He remains in the hand because no-one has yet bet in this particular betting round.

Player 2 can check or bet. He bets 2. Player 3 then decides to fold. He takes no further part in the hand.

It is your turn. You can fold, call or raise. You call and Player 1 then folds. Only you and Player 2 remain in the hand and you have both bet the same amount, so the betting round ends.

A fourth communal card, known as the "turn" card, is then dealt. You use the best 5-card hand from the cards in your hand and those in the middle (on the board). You can see that you now have Two Pairs, Kings and Tens. Player 2 bets 5. You can fold, call or raise. You raise the bet to 15.

Player 2 can fold, call or raise. He calls and the betting round is over.

The final communal card, known as the "river" card, is then dealt. Your hand has improved again. You now have a flush, using the two diamonds in your hand and the three diamonds on the board. Player 2 checks and you bet 25.

Player 2 can fold, call or raise. If he calls, the betting round and the hand will be over and there will be a "showdown." You both show your cards and the best hand will win. In this particular case, you are bound to win the hand because you have the best possible hand in the circumstances - a flush with the ace and king. No matter what cards player 2 has in his hand, he cannot match what you have.