Texas Hold'em Poker Guide
The game of poker is one of the most popular card games in the world, and is played in live poker rooms and casinos as well as on the Internet by players across the globe. If you are unfamiliar with the rules of poker then it can be intimidating when you've starting out. However, the rules of poker are actually quite simple and easy to pick up.
There are many variations on the game of poker. Some of the most popular include Texas Holdem, Five Card Draw, Caribbean Stud, Seven Card Stud and Omaha Hi-Lo. While the way that these games are played varies, there are several main poker rules that are consistent across the board.
For starters, the objective in every poker game is the same-players attempt to get the best 5-card poker hand. The player with the best hand at the end of a round of poker wins. Only in Hi-Lo games, such as Omaha Hi-Lo, is this objective slightly different, as the players with the best and worst hands split the pot.
Poker hand rankings also are consistent throughout all poker games. Hand rankings in poker are as follows, from strongest to weakest:
- Royal Flush - This is the strongest hand and consists of Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10 of the same suit.
- Straight Flush - This hand is made up of any five cards in sequential order of the same suit.
- Four-of-a-Kind - This hand consists of all four cards of the same value (i.e. 10-10-10-10).
- Full House - This hand includes a three-of-a-kind and a pair.
- Flush - This hand is made up of any five cards of the same suit. Sequential order is not important.
- Straight - This hand is made up of five cards in sequential order that do not share the same suit.
- Three-of-a-Kind - This hand consists of three cards of the same value and any other two cards.
- Two Pair - Two Pair is made up of two pairs of cards of the same value.
- Pair - This hand includes one pair of cards with shared value.
- High Card - If no other hands are made then the winning player will be based upon whoever has the highest valued card in their hand.
If you'd like to see a graphic example set of poker hands ranking, many online poker sites offer the chart in their rules section.
In each hand of poker, no matter what variation you are playing, there are several rounds of betting. Before cards are dealt, players put up the ante or place blind bets to get the pot started. Once cards have been dealt a round of betting ensues. In a typical betting round each player must make the decision, based on his or her cards, to fold and leave the game, check and pass to the next player without betting, call the minimum bet or raise by putting up a bet higher than the minimum.
Now you understand the basic poker rules and rankings. One of the best ways to practice and familiarize yourself with any of the poker variations is by playing a free poker game online.