It’s impossible to walk into a casino without knowing how to play one of the most iconic and revolutionary casino games: poker. These days, there are many different versions of poker, all of which enjoy widespread popularity. However, some variants – such as Texas Hold’em Poker, Stud Poker, Vegas Poker, and Joker Poker – are more successful than others. Fortunately, there’s plenty of choice, so you can try any version that appeals to you.
Learning how to play poker isn’t overly complicated, and after this explanation, the game will hold no secrets for you. We’ll walk you through the rules of classic poker and its key elements, so you can play with confidence.
The Basics of Poker
Poker is played at a table with 2 to 10 players, using a standard deck of 52 cards and chips for betting. The goal is to hold the best five-card combination to win the bets placed by other players.
Card Combinations
Below are the various poker hands, listed in ascending order of value:
- One Pair: A pair of cards with the same value, plus three unrelated cards.
Example: 9 of Spades, 9 of Clubs, 6 of Hearts, 10 of Spades, King of Spades. - Two Pairs: Two separate pairs of cards with the same value, plus one other card.
Example: 2 of Diamonds, 2 of Hearts, 5 of Hearts, 5 of Spades, Ace of Clubs. - Three of a Kind: Three cards with the same value, plus two unrelated cards.
Example: 3 of Spades, 3 of Diamonds, 3 of Hearts, 7 of Clubs, 9 of Spades. - Straight: Five consecutive cards in sequence, regardless of suit.
Example: 7 of Spades, 8 of Clubs, 9 of Spades, 10 of Hearts, Jack of Diamonds. - Flush: Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence.
Example: 2, 5, 9, Jack, King of Spades. - Full House: A combination of three cards of one value and two cards of another value.
Example: 8 of Spades, 8 of Clubs, 2 of Hearts, 2 of Spades, 2 of Diamonds. - Four of a Kind: Four cards with the same value, plus one unrelated card.
Example: Four 7s (Spades, Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts) and any 2. - Straight Flush: Five consecutive cards of the same suit.
Example: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 of Spades. - Royal Flush: The highest possible hand, made up of the five highest cards in the same suit.
Example: 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace of Hearts.
Card values follow the standard order found in a traditional deck. If two or more players have the same hand, the one with the highest-ranking cards wins.
The Basics of Betting Rounds
At the start of the game, each player places their chips in front of them, visible to all. If a player loses all their chips, they may only buy back in once they are completely out. In addition to the players’ chips, there is a “dealer” chip that indicates the dealer and serves as the starting point for the betting round. Betting proceeds clockwise from that position. Each player receives five cards, and the first player places a bet based on their hand, after which the others respond based on their own cards.
The four betting actions are:
- Bet: The first player wagers a chosen number of chips.
- Call: The next player matches the previous player’s bet.
- Raise: The player increases the current bet to a higher amount.
- Fold: The player opts out of the round and forfeits any claim to the current pot.
The Core of the Game
Poker is a game of persuasion and bluffing. Each player aims to throw their opponents off by convincing them that their hand is the strongest, all with the goal of winning the pot. It’s a game of attitude, strategy, and psychological finesse.