Basic Rules Of Poker

The objective of a poker game is basically one thing: to win as many chips as possible. Even though there are different kinds of poker, the main objective of the game does not change. Players win chips by successfully betting on poker hands. Bets are made by players that are based on the quality of their hands. The pot will be won by the player that stays in the game with the strongest hand, or makes other players fold.

A strong hand in poker is identified, based on the rankings given below; all are ranked from highest to lowest.

Rankings of Poker Hands:

Royal Flush - Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten, of the same suit. Straight Flush - Five cards in successive rank and same suit. Four of a Kind - Four cards all of the same ranking. Full House - Three cards of same rank, grouped with two cards of another rank; a pair, along with three-of-a-kind. Flush - Five cards of the same suit. Straight - Five cards of successive rank. Three of a Kind - Three cards with same ranking. Two Pair - Two cards of one rank, along with another two cards of one rank. One Pair - Two cards with same ranking. High Card - If no player gets any of the above hands, high card is the winner, starting with the ace.

Five Card Draw:

This is probably the most familiar form of poker game, recognizable immediately. Compared to other variations of play this is the least complicated one.

Ante - in most poker games there is a small requirement bet before the dealer deals the cards. This is the "Ante"; this also guarantees that money is present inside the pot.

After everybody has finished doing their antes the dealer deals five cards to each player. After everyone gets their cards they will begin betting in turn; the bet will start with the player at the left side of the dealer.

The player has the following options: > Check - a player can bet nothing, provided there is no one else willing to bet in the current round. > Fold - a player can fold if they do not wish to wager on their hand. The player who folds is quitting the hand, and is no longer involved. > Bet - player will simply put their bet inside the pot. > Raise - the player can raise the size of the bet if the bet has already been placed by other players. They should, at least, double the amount of the bet. > Call - player can match the present bet inside the pot.

The game continues, clockwise, until everybody has finished doing their betting, folding, or calling.

After everyone has done their part, players may now discard three cards from their hands, and draw new cards to replace them. If someone replaced cards another round of betting is required.

This is the point where players can have a showdown; at this time players will reveal their cards and the player with the strongest cards in their hand wins the game, and the money inside the pot.