In this game, five additional cards are placed in the center of the table.  They are gradually turned up, one at a time.  All players consider these cards as part of their hand.  Every player can use any of the community cards as part of his or her hand, although you must include your pocket cards in your hand as well.  A poker hand is only five cards, regardless of the seven cards that are out there. So the two cards in your hand, the pocket cards, must be put into your Texas Holdem hand. You can choose three cards from the community cards to also add to your hand. 

The betting in Texas Hold em starts with the flop.  These are the first three cards that are turned up, one at a time, on the table.  Because everyone can use these cards in their hand, you have a good idea of trying to figure out what everyone has or what they are shooting for.  You have no idea, however, the pocket cards of the other players.  You should stay in the game for the flop but, if you do not have a pair by the time the third card is turned over, you should drop the game.  If the pair is in the flop, remember that everyone has these cards in their hand and, if someone has a similar card, they already have three of a kind.  If a pair is turned over in the flop and you do not have one of the pair cards in your pocket cards, it is time to drop. 

The next aspect of the Texas Hold em game is the turn.  This is the fourth card that is turned over.  Many players will leave the game after the turn, especially if several of them are betting and raising.  If you think you have a good hand and players are simply calling bets and not raising, or if several players have dropped, you should stay in the game.  If you have a straight or higher in Texas Hold em, you should not leave the game.