1
Shuffle before dealing the cards. The first thing a professional dealer would do is fan out the deck and inspect the cards to see they are all there. Next turn the deck face down and mix them up. You are also checking to see that all the cards are the same color on the back. Now push them together and shuffle the cards.
2
After shuffling twice "strip" the deck. Hold the deck in one hand. Use your other hand to take off the top 1/3 of cards and set them on the table. Then take the middle section and place it on top. Finally set the bottom third on top of the others. Then shuffle the cards normally again.
3
Cut the deck onto the 'cut card' and get ready to deal.
4
After the blinds are posted, deal each player two cards face down, starting with the person clockwise of the dealer button.
5
Note: There will be four betting rounds. During each round, move all folded cards into a "muck pile" under the hand in which you hold the deck ( the "stub" ). When each round is complete, the dealer moves all the chips in to a pile at the center/right (or left, if the dealer holds the stub in the right hand) of the table. ( The "pot" ) Betting always begins with the player seated clockwise of the dealer, and continues until all players have either folded or called the total bet, including all raises.
6
Round 1 (Preflop): Betting starts with the player clockwise of the Big Blind. Each player must either: 1. call the amount of the Big Blind as a minimum, 2: fold their hand, or 3: raise the bet, in accordance with predetermined table rules.
7
Round 2 (The Flop): The dealer takes the top card from the deck and "burns" it, face down, under the pot. (This is a matter of protocol and does not truly affect the randomization of the cards.) The dealer then places three cards face up on the table. Another betting round commences.
8
Round 3 (The Turn): The dealer once again burns a card and places another card face up on the table. Another betting round commences.
9
Round 4 (The River): The dealer burns a card again and places the fifth and final card face up on the table. This will be the last betting round before players reveal their hands.
10
The Showdown: After betting/checking on the river, any players left in the pot have to either show their hands or fold them. Traditionally, the last person to bet or raise will show first...IF there was betting on the last round. If everyone checks the final round then the player to the left of the dealer button is first to show.
11
Whoever has the best hand wins the pot. Announce what the winning hand is and kill (muck) all the losers. Push the pot to the winner. Leave the 'Board' and the winner's hand face up while pushing the pot. Don't go too fast in this phase. Make sure everyone sees who has the winner so there are no arguments. Anyone at the table, whether in the pot or not, has the right to correct the dealer. It is not personal, it just helps to avoid mistakes.
