<P> Texas hold ' em ( also known as Texas holdem , hold ' em , and holdem ) is a variation of the card game of poker . Two cards , known as the hole cards , are dealt face down to each player , and then five community cards are dealt face up in three stages . The stages consist of a series of three cards ( `` the flop '' ) , later an additional single card ( `` the turn '' or `` fourth street '' ) , and a final card ( `` the river '' or `` fifth street '' ) . Each player seeks the best five card poker hand from any combination of the seven cards of the five community cards and their own two hole cards . If a player 's best five - card poker hand consists only of the five community cards and none of the player 's hole cards , it is called `` playing the board '' . If you play the board on the river , then you can do no better than tie the other player ( s ) in the game if no player can make a better hand than the board represents , using either or both hole cards . Players have betting options to check , call , raise , or fold . Rounds of betting take place before the flop is dealt and after each subsequent deal . </P>
<P> Texas hold ' em ( also known as Texas holdem , hold ' em , and holdem ) is a variation of the card game of poker . Two cards , known as the hole cards , are dealt face down to each player , and then five community cards are dealt face up in three stages . The stages consist of a series of three cards ( `` the flop '' ) , later an additional single card ( `` the turn '' or `` fourth street '' ) , and a final card ( `` the river '' or `` fifth street '' ) . Each player seeks the best five card poker hand from any combination of the seven cards of the five community cards and their own two hole cards . If a player 's best five - card poker hand consists only of the five community cards and none of the player 's hole cards , it is called `` playing the board '' . If you play the board on the river , then you can do no better than tie the other player ( s ) in the game if no player can make a better hand than the board represents , using either or both hole cards . Players have betting options to check , call , raise , or fold . Rounds of betting take place before the flop is dealt and after each subsequent deal . </P>
what are the first 3 cards in poker called
what are the first 3 cards in poker called
`` the flop ''
`` the flop ''