If you’re looking to learn how to play poker, you’ve come to the right place! This comprehensive guide will teach you everything you need to know about this popular card game, from the basic rules to more advanced strategy.
Poker is a game of chance, but that doesn’t mean it’s purely luck-based. There is a significant amount of strategy involved in playing poker, and the better you understand the game, the more success you’re likely to have.
Here are the basics of how to play poker:
Poker is typically played with a standard 52-card deck. The Ace is the highest card, followed by the King, Queen, Jack, and 10. The Ace can also be used as a low card, in which case it would be worth 1 point.
There are a variety of different poker games, but the most common is Texas Hold’em. In this game, each player is dealt two cards (known as hole cards) that only they can see. There are then five community cards dealt face-up in the middle of the table that everyone can use.
The goal of the game is to make the best hand possible using any combination of your hole cards and the community cards. The player with the best hand at the end of the game wins!
Poker is a great game for both casual players and serious gamblers alike. It’s a fun game to play with friends, and can also be quite lucrative if you know how to play your cards right.
Now that you know the basics of how to play poker, it’s time to start learning some strategy. Check out our other articles on poker strategy for more tips on how to improve your game!
Poker Hand Rankings
The following is a list of poker hand rankings from highest to lowest.
- Royal Flush: A straight flush that goes from 10-A. The highest possible hand in poker.
- Straight Flush: Any straight flush. A hand made up of any five cards in sequential order, all of the same suit.
- Four of a Kind: Any four cards of the same rank.
- Full House: A hand consisting of three cards of one rank, and two cards of another rank. For example, three Kings and two 5s.
- Flush: Five non-sequential cards of the same suit.
- Straight: Five sequential cards, but not all of the same suit.
- Three of a Kind: Any three cards of the same rank.
- Two Pair: A hand consisting of two cards of one rank, and two cards of another rank. For example, two Queens and two 3s.
- One Pair: A hand consisting of two cards of the same rank.
- High Card: If none of the above hands are made, the hand is decided by the highest card in it. Aces are always high.
Bet, Call & Raise
In poker, there are three main actions you can take on your turn: bet, call, or raise.
A bet is when you put chips into the pot without having the best hand. This is usually done in an effort to bluff your opponents and make them think you have a better hand than you do.
A call is when you match the bet that has been made. This is usually done when you have a good hand and want to stay in the pot to try and win it.
A raise is when you increase the bet that has been made. This is usually done with a strong hand in order to get more value from your opponents, or to try and bluff them into folding.
Now that you know the basics of how to play poker, it’s time to start learning some strategy. Check out our other articles on poker strategy for more tips on how to improve your game!
Types of poker
There are a variety of different poker games, each with its own set of rules and variations. The most popular types of poker are:
- Texas Hold’em: This is the most common type of poker. It is a community card game, meaning that each player is dealt two cards (known as hole cards) that only they can see, and there are five community cards dealt face-up in the middle of the table that everyone can use. The goal of the game is to make the best hand possible using any combination of your hole cards and the community cards.
- Omaha: This is similar to Texas Hold’em, but each player is dealt four hole cards instead of two. The game is also played with community cards, but each player can only use two of their hole cards and three of the community cards to make their hand.
- Seven Card Stud: This is a more traditional type of poker where each player is dealt seven cards, three face-down and four face-up. The goal of the game is to make the best five-card hand possible using any combination of your cards.
- Draw Poker: This is a very basic type of poker where each player is dealt five cards. The players can then choose to “draw” or exchange up to three of their cards for new ones from the deck. The goal of the game is to make the best five-card hand possible.
No matter what type of poker you’re playing, the goal is always to make the best hand possible and win the pot. Use the tips and tricks in our other poker strategy articles to help you improve your game and start winning today!