Poker is a collection of card games that share betting strategies and card rankings. Each poker player has their own favorite game from the long list of poker variants. Although a gambling game, poker is seen as a game of skill rather than one of simple luck, like roulette or slots. Poker tournaments are now even shown on major sports television networks, further strengthening the games popularity. These days online poker has become a popular pastime for many. This guide offers information on some of the basic poker variations and rules.
Poker Variations:
Five Card Draw: Players receive five cards and may hold those cards or replace cards by drawing new cards from the deck. Once all players have drawn their final cards, players bet on the cards in their hand.
Stud Variations: Players are dealt cards in a series of betting rounds with the best hands determined after each betting player has received their cards. In the seven card variation, players are able to select the best five card hand from their seven cards.
Community Cards Games: This popular category includes the Texas Hold’em. In community card games, players try to make the best hand using cards dealt to them and a series of community cards that everyone plays from.
Match Pot Games: Players create a hand of card based on game rules then must either hold or drop their hand. If they hold and lose the showdown, they must match the pot.
Three Strikes Games: Players start with stacks of chips and must place a stack in the pot for each losing hand. The winner is the last player with a stack left.
Hand Rankings
To play poker, you’ll need to learn the basic hand rankings – which hands are good and which are bad – because these rankings determine the winner.
High card: A player has the highest card in a game where no one has cards to make a better hand.
Pair: A player has two cards of the same rank, say two tens. If more than one player holds a pair, the highest rank pair wins. So kings when over tens.
Two Pair: two sets of cards having the same rank, such as two eights and two tens.
Three of a Kind: holding three cards of the same rank, such as three jacks.
Straight: Any five cards in sequence, such as ten, jack, queen, king, ace.
Flush: Five cards in the same suit, so all hearts, all spades, all diamonds or all clubs.
Full House: Three of a kind, plus a pair, such as three jack and two tens.
Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank, such as four aces.
Straight Flush: Five cards in sequence and all of the same suit.
Royal: The best possible poker hand. The five cards in sequence will be ten, jack, queen, king and the ace, and these will all be of the same suit.
Betting
Betting is the heart of poker. Games have variations on the betting structure and limits. Many games start with an ante, which is usually a small bet placed before receiving any cards. Then depending on the game, players may check (pass without betting), bet, call, raise or fold (lay down their cards and lose their money). When the betting ends, those players who have not folded compare cards to see who wins. If a single player is left who hasn’t folded, he doesn’t need to show his hand. So players with bad or low hands can bluff other players out of the game.
